Exchange Rates

[hauger]

I'm looking for a ruling from some of the clerks on the board here.  While browsing DCBA's public website, I came across this message:

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Unclas 7209-30 (DCBA 3)

311848Z Oct 08 Routine
DCBA3 008/08
SIC WAF

NDHQ DGCB OTTAWA
AIG 1764, 1840

SUBJ: CHANGES TO CANADIAN FORCES TEMPORARY DUTY INSTRUCTIONS (CFTDTI)
REF: DCBA 3 003/08 021404Z APR 08

FURTHER TO THE INTERIM GUIDANCE PROVIDE AT REF, THE FOL ADDITIONAL INTERIM GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED:
ART 8.4 PARA 3 - CURRENCY EXCHANGE. WITH RESPECT TO ACCUMULATED TRAVEL EXPENSES, THE OFFICIAL RATE OF EXCHANGE SHALL BE CALCULATED BASED ON THE RATE ON THE FINAL DATE OUT OF THE COUNTRY
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With respect to the bolded section, am I to read that as the date I return to Canada is the date that determines the exchange rate?  What if I'm out of the Country for, I don't know, say 6 months time to the US, and for the first 3 - 4 months the bank exchange rate is around 70%, but on returning the CDN dollar has done well and the final day exchange is up to 85%?  I thus incurred expenses with a 30% loss on the dollar but only get a 15% reimbursement back if I read this right.

Thoughts? 
P.S.: This is assuming no US$ advance was given up front.

 

[George Wallace]

As I am literate it seems quite clear to me.  Regulations are made for a reason.  Exceptions for personal gain are not part of DND, nor Government, policy. 

It really is outside my comprehension as to why you would really pose this question and example.

What do you think we, who have been outside of the country for periods of over two or three years or more, think of your trivial question?  I could say "Suck it up buttercup", but I hit POST before I thought of it.





Thoughts?
Would you complain had your example gone the other way and you made a whole whack of money on the Exchange Rate?

 

[dapaterson]

You get the official rate for transactions without receipts.  For transactions with receipts, if you can show the exchange rate paid, you should be reimbursed actual $CAD, with the delta charged to an account called "Gain/Loss on Exchange".

For example, your per diems would be paid at the official rate; your lodgings & vehcle rental would be paid back at the actual $CAD amount you paid - bring a copy of your credit card statement.

Make sure the clerk handling your claims has experience with foreign currency claims - not all do, and Claims X, while an improvement over manual claims, has some quirks.

 

[hauger]

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Dapaterson:  Thank you.  I figured there needed to be more to this that met the eye.  I appreciate the answer.  A good point is the rental, I pay in US$ funds out of a CDN$ advance to my account.  I'm not over worried about this working out right, I was more curios than anything, our unit clerk is pretty familiar with foreign exchange and is excellent to work with.  Again, I appreciate it.
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George Wallace:  Ahhh....a famous army.ca God moderator.  Thank you for publicly calling into question and highlighting my level of literacy.  Perhaps later you could call into question my character and perhaps my genetic origins. 

You need help, and badly.  Seriously, I'm not kidding.  No one anywhere asked for (a) an exception to any policy whatsoever, or (b) made any mention at all about "personal gain".  Where you got this from I have no idea.

Okay, you were out of the country for 2 - 3 years I take it and suffered much more than I did obviously and for some reason that caused you to take this personally.  I never once whined or complained, just asked an opinion on the policy.  Luckily, dapaterson provided a useful one.  You know what's not useful?  Calling a question trivial, going on a rant, and saying to "suck it up buttercup".  What does that mean anyway, suck what up?  I never said I was getting any short end of any stick that required sucking up.  Not only that, I wasn't complaining at all.  And if it went the other way, I would still expect to be reimbursed for my actual incurred expenses (ie: car rental) at the rate incurred.

Seriously man, chill out.  My guess is you get your rocks off trolling the forums looking for posts to piss on, knowing being a "mod" will keep you from reprisals.  I'm going to call you out here though and say your response was far, far from helpful, was a personal attack, and had all the maturity of an 8 year old on a rant.  Try sliding in the odd grown up response and see if it wins you any respect.

Oh, before I hit POST, I know exactly how this is going to end.  Your going to puff yourself up all big and mean, pull the "I've been on these boards since the internet was a vacuum tube" and "I'm a mod" and "I don't need your respect", etc, and I really don't care.  You do need to take a good strong look at my original question, the answer given my dapaterson (a grown up response), your answer, and do a little compare and contrast.  Might do you a world of good.

 

[aesop081]

  A good point is the rental, I pay in US$ funds out of a CDN$ advance to my account. 

When going to the US, get an advance in US$..........cash !

 

[hauger]

Agreed!  Chalk this one up to "live and learn".