Signing up for a Travel Charge Card

PART ONE

Credit Worthiness

If you are a first time travel charge card applicant, then your agency is required to assess your credit worthiness pursuant to Section 846 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-115), prior to issuing you a travel charge card.

Refer to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-123, Appendix B, Chapter 6, credit worthiness, for more details. Visit www.whitehouse.gov/omb/financial/fia_travel.html. Contact your A/OPC to get details on the process your agency uses for assessing credit worthiness.

PART TWO

Fill out an application provided by the bank that your agency uses for travel charge cards.

1. Obtain an application from your A/OPC.
2. Provide an address where your travel charge card will be mailed. At most agencies, this is your home address.
3. Provide an identifier to activate your travel charge card, and remember what it is.
4. Based on agency policy, indicate whether you will have ATM access. You can find this out from your A/OPC.
5. Read the back of the form or the page, which advises you of your responsibilities in accepting a government travel charge card.

Be aware that:
• You are personally liable and responsible for all charges whether or not you are reimbursed by your agency;
• Your credit rating may be affected if the account has been cancelled;
• You may be subject to disciplinary action and/or salary offset for late payment.
6. Sign the form, and have your supervisor sign it also (required at most agencies).
7. Submit the signed form to your A/OPC who will verify it to make sure all necessary information is provided. Your A/OPC will send it to the bank.