Corporate credit card spending

Request transaction-level data on corporate credit card or procurement card use.

Public bodies issue corporate credit cards to staff for purchasing goods and services. Transaction data shows what is being bought, by whom, and whether spending is appropriate.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [PERIOD e.g. January to December 2024]: 1. The number of corporate credit cards or procurement cards currently issued to staff. 2. The total value of transactions during the period. 3. A list of all transactions above [THRESHOLD e.g. £500], showing the date, merchant name, amount, and the job title of the cardholder. I am not asking for the names of individuals, only job titles. I would prefer to receive this as a spreadsheet or CSV if possible. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Any Scottish public authority: council, health board, or government agency. Find the right authority on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • Setting a transaction threshold (e.g. £500) keeps the request within the cost limit. You can always follow up with a lower threshold if the first response is manageable.
  • If the authority says it would exceed the cost limit to provide cardholder job titles, consider dropping that item and asking for transactions only.
  • Some authorities call these procurement cards or purchase cards rather than credit cards. Use whichever term the authority recognises, or include both.