**New Corporate Card Program Announced - GE Capital MasterCard Chosen to Replace the American Express Corporate Card**


GE Capital MasterCard has been selected to replace the American Express Corporate Card program. Both cardholders and administrators will see enhanced service and costs savings including:

Acceptance
Acceptability is greatly improved worldwide as MasterCard is accepted at 31 Million locations in 220 countries.

Cost Savings
Increased insurance including primary CDW/LDW coverage on car rentals and increased baggage insurance. Extended (double) warranties on purchase of goods are among coverages added.

Customer Service
Proactive account management for administrators managing card holders accounts. Provides a full array of worldwide emergency card holder services.


Account Management
Access to your account on-line and view 13 months of historical statements compared to American Express's 6 months of historical data

Time line for implementation of the new GE Capital MasterCard program is as follows:

January 20th
Current cardholders will receive an e-mail (see attachment) describing the process for getting their newcorporate card. Automatic enrollment is not possible due to Harvard's policy on not providing a vendor with cardholders personal information such as social security number, etc. Cardholders will receive (mid-Feb) a simple electronic profile form that will provide GE Capital with information they need in order to issue a card. Cards will be issued in approximately 10 days after submission.

Mid-March
Cardholders will receive their new electronic profile (see above). Instructions will be included and once submitted, cards will be issued in approximately 10 days. Note for new cardholders: A PDF application will be available for new cardholder applications. The process for submitting new card applications will be the same as it is today - complete the form and send to Sharon Reine in the Finance Office for review and approval.

Early April
New cards will begin to arrive. Web Voucher splash page will advise users that the system will be changing in early May.

May
From May 3-5, the Web Voucher system will be reconfigured to directly pay GE Capital. The system will be down during these dates. Instead of choosing the option "Create Amex Direct Pay" it will say "Create GE Mastercard Direct Pay". Cardholders will continue to pay using the same process they have been using with American Express - but you will be paying GE Mastercard. After the Web Voucher system reconfiguration, if you have an outstanding balance on your American Express card you must pay them directly and request a reimbursement. Please keep in mind you may request a reimbursement prior to paying your American Express bill.

One May 6, American Express Mastercard direct pay will be available.

On May 28, American Express Corporate Cards will be deactivated.

Members Rewards Program
Cardholders that participate in the American Express Members rewards program must either use their points or transfer them to a personal American Express card by August 27, 2004.

Once the Finance Office has more information on the target dates and any further instructions we will be sending out additional information. The Travel Office website will also be posting a list of frequently asked questions and helpful hints shortly. In the meantime, please make sure to:
  • Use American Express on-line to make sure you are keeping on top of current charges and outstanding balances/credits.

  • We recommend logging into American Express on-line on a weekly basis and more frequently as we get closer to the target cutover date to GE Mastercard. In addition to paying current charges, cardholders, or those who manage cards, should be making sure that there are no outstanding balances or credits. Part of managing someone's card is making sure that not only current charges are submitted for payment but you know what outstanding charges/credits make up the outstanding balance. Outstanding balances need to be paid and credit balances need to be processed by choosing the option "Create Amex Credit". Instructions for making payments to American Express can be found on the ABLE webiste at: http://able.harvard.edu/wv/wv_index.shtml#3

If you have used an American Express card for prepaid items (ie holding a room prior to arrival but hotel doesn't charge until you have arrived) please make sure you change the credit card number to your new Mastercard number. This is also important for updates to sites such as our Corporate Expedia website. Please be reminded that if a card holder's American Express card is charged after the Web Voucher system has been reconfigured to accept GE Mastercard payments, then they will need to pay the card personally and submit an out of pocket reimbursement.


Any questions or comments should be directed to sharon_reine@hms.harvard.edu or 617-432-4401

 

 

 

 

 



Harvard Medical School. Last Updated: Aug 2004. Send feedback to: foa@hms.harvard.edu