Letter to the editor

I have two issues with the government travel card, as well as finding it amusing that our Congress is worried about others having a few million in unpaid credit card charges. ["Feds rack up travel card debt," FCW.com, May 3, 2001.]

First, I am currently trying to refinance my house mortgage. The so-called government credit card is treated as personal credit and thus lowers my credit score, even though I supposedly have no access to that credit except in performance of my government job.

Second, if I, in good faith, take a trip for government business and place $2,500 on the credit card and the pay office does not get my payment back to me in time to pay off the credit card (and it does happen), then it is my credit history that suffers. And do not tell me to pay the card ahead of time with my own money. What bill(s) do I make delinquent to pay off the credit card?

The pay office response when asked about this was, "We will pay any penalties and interest if you file for them." I wonder how much of the perceived default mentioned in the article is due to that?

Name withheld upon request