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AIBU?

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Original poster

Carer charging electric bike? How much adding to bill?

111 replies

helpmakingahome · 26/12/2025 15:45

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?

OP posts:
SpinningaCompass · 26/12/2025 17:24

ChaChaChaChanges · 26/12/2025 15:52

Honestly, I’m incredulous that this even crossed your mind.

A lot of pensioners are on high tariffs and struggle through the winter paying bills. It's not unreasonable to ask how much it costs.

I'd also be wondering about the fire hazard if she's not using a proper charger.

Original poster
helpmakingahome · 26/12/2025 17:23

Thanks everyone for letting me know how much it costs to change a bike, I honestly had no idea if it was pennies or £40 a time! I'm obviously not going to worry if it's a few pounds a day, I was just concerned if it was adding hundreds to her bill every month. There's no problems with carers using anything in the house, same as when we're in work. As long as they're good to my aunt, everything is fine. I just hadn't come across an electric bike before so had no idea.

OP posts:
Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 26/12/2025 17:12

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 16:09

Im not. Not at all. Ive heard it all over the years. Familys complaining that a carer sat and had a cup of tea, and stole teabags and milk that left mummy short, fakilys complaining that carers had a wee and used loo roll. And those are only a few short examples.
Its wild what Familys complain about

Show quote history

Carers do an amazing, thankless job for far too little money. It's disgusting how many people seem to forget that they are actually human as well.

What a horrible nasty attitude when they happily rely on a stranger to care for their loved one day in day out, yet begrudge them a few pence of electricity, toilet roll, coffee and milk or whatever.

Clearinguptheclutter · 26/12/2025 17:10

It’s nothing like an electric car!

Pennies at the most

ScarlettOYara · 26/12/2025 17:10

Is this for real, are you really that penny pinching and small minded?
Good carers are worth their weight in gold!

Noras · 26/12/2025 17:08

Carers are low paid. I do everything to make my sons carers feel at home including nice biscuits and coffee as I don’t want to lose them etc. looking after my DS is tough so I have to make the job more attractive.

WiddlinDiddlin · 26/12/2025 17:06

Love to know what the 15% 'YANBU' people would use to justify that vote - its a few pence, its change you'd find down the back of the sofa, what a ridiculous thing to get pissy about!

VanillaIceIceBaby · 26/12/2025 17:02

I once stayed overnight with a friend and he insisted that I plug my electric car into socket in his garage (not an Ev charger) and I looked at his smart meter in the evening and again in the morning and it had gone up by pennies. And that included everything else that was on over night.

MumChp · 26/12/2025 17:00

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 16:09

Im not. Not at all. Ive heard it all over the years. Familys complaining that a carer sat and had a cup of tea, and stole teabags and milk that left mummy short, fakilys complaining that carers had a wee and used loo roll. And those are only a few short examples.
Its wild what Familys complain about

Show quote history

I did care jobs as a student to support myself. A family complained I drank their mum's tea. I carried my own flask. Never had anything in a client's home as I carried an epipen. Loved the job but relatives not so much a lot of them were unhinged.

blankcanvas3 · 26/12/2025 16:54

God there are some people on here who don’t even view ‘the help’ as human do they?

GoneWoman · 26/12/2025 16:42

I'll pay 60p a week for her if its bothering you that much

Christ on a bike

Scuse the pun

MumChp · 26/12/2025 16:38

Try get another one living rural...

5-10p.

Squirrelchops1 · 26/12/2025 16:37

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 16:09

Im not. Not at all. Ive heard it all over the years. Familys complaining that a carer sat and had a cup of tea, and stole teabags and milk that left mummy short, fakilys complaining that carers had a wee and used loo roll. And those are only a few short examples.
Its wild what Familys complain about

Show quote history

Some people are unreal
I say to my mums carers, please have a cup of tea and slice of toast etc whilst she is having hers.

TokyoSushi · 26/12/2025 16:37

Good grief.

XenoBitch · 26/12/2025 16:36

No wonder there is a shortage of carers when there is family about like you.

The carer is cycling there, in all weathers too.

CurlewKate · 26/12/2025 16:35

Probably costs more to make a couple of cups of tea while she’s there!

pictoosh · 26/12/2025 16:34

It's not off, it's fine.

Ohcrap082024 · 26/12/2025 16:33

A regular, consistent carer is worth their weight in gold. Add in the rural location… I’d be doing whatever it takes to keep her.

Mydogisagentleman · 26/12/2025 16:32

I'm a carer. I live rurally and drive a big, old, diesel car.
If I were your aunt's carer and someone challenged me about the cost of charging my bike, you'd never see me again.
Get a grip

Delphiniumandlupins · 26/12/2025 16:30

Even if it was £s (and it isn't) don't you think that is cheap for a regular carer, known to your aunt. In a rural area. Is she genuinely there for an hour, 3 times a day, because that is great as well. If your aunt is finding her fuel bills difficult then her supplier may be able to assist. Or you could maybe help by giving her cash or a bag of everyday staples for Christmas and her birthday.

mondaytosunday · 26/12/2025 16:21

you’re kidding. It’s a few pence.

couldthisbe2501 · 26/12/2025 16:16

is she a good carer? If so, and you’re still worried about her ‘stealing’ a few pence then you could always look after your aunt yourself?

ChaChaChaChanges · 26/12/2025 16:13

My parents have carers coming in during the week while I’m at work. I think they’re angels, honestly. In the summer they take my parents out on trips. Sometimes the carers get free entry and sometimes they don’t; if they don’t I’m more than happy to pay for their tickets. They care for my parents when can’t, and I’ll never be anything but in their debt for that.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 26/12/2025 16:11

A lot of carers only do towns because of the travel time, lack of access to toilets, dark and icy roads, isolated properties so if you have one that is willing to cycle to a property at 15mph then keep them.

Twinkletoes127 · 26/12/2025 16:09

ChaChaChaChanges · 26/12/2025 15:52

Honestly, I’m incredulous that this even crossed your mind.

Im not. Not at all. Ive heard it all over the years. Familys complaining that a carer sat and had a cup of tea, and stole teabags and milk that left mummy short, fakilys complaining that carers had a wee and used loo roll. And those are only a few short examples.
Its wild what Familys complain about