Page 2 | Carer charging electric bike? How much adding to bill?

helpmakingahome · 2025-12-26T15:45:34+00:00

My aunt lives quite rurally and had a carer come in 3 times a day to help her get up etc. When the carer arrives, she immediately plugs in her electric bike into an extension lead in the outside lean to and leaves her bike charging there for an hour. The carer keeps failing her driving test so can't get a car and relies on the electric bike to get her about. I understand that my aunt is quite remote and maybe the carer is worried about running out of battery in the middle of nowhere but it seems a bit off. I don't know how much this is adding to my aunt's electricity bill, she's on disability so quite a small fixed income. Any ideas how much it will be costing to charge? If it's a couple if quid then it's fine but I don't know. Is this normal now?

cantbearsed247 · 26/12/2025 19:33

Not sure why everyone is being so nasty to the OP, she was just worried about her aunt getting ripped off!

All she needed was someone to say it would only cost a matter of pence. She's not being petty, she literally just wanted to check it wasn't costing her aunt money that she couldn't afford.

LoudSnoringDog · 26/12/2025 19:11

In answer you to your post AIBU? Yes. And petty.
grow up.

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 26/12/2025 19:08

OP you are being unbelievably petty. It's a few pence per charge.

Families like you are why it's so hard to get decent care workers.

Serencwtch · 26/12/2025 19:03

MumChp · 26/12/2025 17:36

The OP said outside.

Good luck finding another career rural if saying no.
Is it really a hill to die on?

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Exactly the same scenario as my neighbour. They used an extension lead to reach a lean-to by her back door. It exploded & caused a fire which gutted the kitchen & smoke damaged the entire house
Charging e-bikes via extension lead meant her insurance didn't pay out.
After seeing that happen - yes it would be a hill I'd be prepared to die on.

If OP checks with her insurance & it's charged using the correct charger then there's no issue but I would definitely check.

Booboobagins · 26/12/2025 19:01

Lithium ion battery fires are thankfully rare. Batteries can overheat if overcharged/damaged - hoping the carer knows this.

Charging it outside is safer, I'd probably pop a smoke alarm nearby if its under cover though just in case...

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 18:38

Frequency · 26/12/2025 18:22

I never said they were paid for travel time; you've completely misconstrued my post.

I was replying to a poster who asked if the relative would be expected to pay for fuel if the carer drove; the answer is yes, they would.

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I apologise for misconstruing your post x

Sasgatchewyn · 26/12/2025 18:30

OP, this is unbelievably cheap (and nasty) of you.

Wipe your aunt's arse yourself, if you're worried about someone costing a few measly pence!

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 18:30

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 26/12/2025 18:29

But she isn't charging it to fiendishly grab free electricity at a client's expense; she's charging it because it needs charging - and if it isn't charged then, she will have no way of getting back to her for a later care visit that day.

Petrol is very different, as you can fill a tank in 5 minutes and it will last you maybe a week or two, depending on the range that you have to cover for all your calls.

It's the facility and opportunity she needs; not a free few pence of electricity.

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This ⬆️. All for just a few pence.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 26/12/2025 18:29

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:58

Not at the expense of a person who’s living on a small income.

Once the carer starts driving are you suggesting the aunt chis in for the carers petrol?

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But she isn't charging it to fiendishly grab free electricity at a client's expense; she's charging it because it needs charging - and if it isn't charged then, she will have no way of getting back to her for a later care visit that day.

Petrol is very different, as you can fill a tank in 5 minutes and it will last you maybe a week or two, depending on the range that you have to cover for all your calls.

It's the facility and opportunity she needs; not a free few pence of electricity.

whistlesandbells · 26/12/2025 18:23

It’s your aunt’s house and electric bill being used by her carer? Why does this concern you?

Frequency · 26/12/2025 18:22

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 18:19

Anything that is "costed" into the price of care absolutely does not get paid to carers! There is a nominal per mile fuel refund at a fraction of the cost, but absolutely nothing close to the real cost, and then on top of that, if it takes 40 minutes to drive to the ne t client, that 40 minutes in completely unpaid. But I guess the 16p per mile fuel reimbursement should cover that eh?

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I never said they were paid for travel time; you've completely misconstrued my post.

I was replying to a poster who asked if the relative would be expected to pay for fuel if the carer drove; the answer is yes, they would.

MumChp · 26/12/2025 18:20

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 18:15

Yes. People like me who believe that someone living on a small, fixed income due to poor health, and who requires a high level of care, should be able to spend their income on what benefits them. That they should not be expected to subsidise their carers’ travel expenses just because the individual is a carer and seen as beyond reproach.

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Oh darling...

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 18:19

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 18:15

Yes. People like me who believe that someone living on a small, fixed income due to poor health, and who requires a high level of care, should be able to spend their income on what benefits them. That they should not be expected to subsidise their carers’ travel expenses just because the individual is a carer and seen as beyond reproach.

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Tiny violins being played here....

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 18:19

Frequency · 26/12/2025 18:08

This is actually costed into the price of care. Carers do receive payment for mileage/fuel costs. They don't get paid for travelling between service users, but they can claim back the cost of fuel.

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Anything that is "costed" into the price of care absolutely does not get paid to carers! There is a nominal per mile fuel refund at a fraction of the cost, but absolutely nothing close to the real cost, and then on top of that, if it takes 40 minutes to drive to the ne t client, that 40 minutes in completely unpaid. But I guess the 16p per mile fuel reimbursement should cover that eh?

XenoBitch · 26/12/2025 18:17

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 18:15

Yes. People like me who believe that someone living on a small, fixed income due to poor health, and who requires a high level of care, should be able to spend their income on what benefits them. That they should not be expected to subsidise their carers’ travel expenses just because the individual is a carer and seen as beyond reproach.

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The alternative is she does not have a carer. Like a few PP have said, getting a decent carer in a rural location is difficult.

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 18:15

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 17:49

People like you......

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Yes. People like me who believe that someone living on a small, fixed income due to poor health, and who requires a high level of care, should be able to spend their income on what benefits them. That they should not be expected to subsidise their carers’ travel expenses just because the individual is a carer and seen as beyond reproach.

Flintgranet · 26/12/2025 18:13

I wouldn't worry about the cost - it's nothing and a good carer is worth a little extra anyway.

I would evaluate the fire risk. Is the lean-to attached to the house?

MumChp · 26/12/2025 18:11

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:48

I’ve no idea. I wasn’t aware that people were paid for travelling to work. But they do get a salary just as the carer does - she’s not working out of the goodness of her heart.

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True. And if clients are too rural the career says no thank you and take on calls with less non paid travel time.

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 18:11

Munchyseeds2 · 26/12/2025 18:09

I've heard of a client complaining that a carer was charging their mob8le phone when on a waking night
Honestly, it's pennies

No! That's really terrible. I'm sometimes amazed at how mean people are, but also how little they value care workers.

Munchyseeds2 · 26/12/2025 18:09

I've heard of a client complaining that a carer was charging their mob8le phone when on a waking night
Honestly, it's pennies

Frequency · 26/12/2025 18:08

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:58

Not at the expense of a person who’s living on a small income.

Once the carer starts driving are you suggesting the aunt chis in for the carers petrol?

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This is actually costed into the price of care. Carers do receive payment for mileage/fuel costs. They don't get paid for travelling between service users, but they can claim back the cost of fuel.

ZingyLemonMoose · 26/12/2025 18:07

Do you want to take on the caring yourself? If not, let it go.

MumChp · 26/12/2025 18:07

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:55

They’re remunerated for the work they do. They’re not volunteers.

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Yet to see careers being paid for travel time which means it's hard to get one if living rural. Of course they don't want to spend a lot of time at work not paid.

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 18:04

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 17:55

They’re remunerated for the work they do. They’re not volunteers.

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You are being obtuse to the highest degree, and are the exact type of person who counts teabags and reports them stolen

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 18:04

sanityisamyth · 26/12/2025 17:57

I’d be more concerned about it catching fire than the cost of the electricity.

It's in the lean to and she's using the battery which came with the bike, it should be ok.