Is this a normal response by employers following a nanny car crash?

we covered this in our nanny contract - any accidents whilst on duty were covered by us; if she had an accident whilst off duty she was liable for the excess unless it could be reclaimed from the third party. it was then her choice if she wanted to drive for her own purposes as she could always use public transport. We also made clear that she was responsible for parking tickets whether on or off duty as we would pay for car parking costs.

we never had any accidents and only one parking ticket - which is why we made the rule explicit.

If I was driving a company vehicle on work business (as this nanny was), and within the terms of my job description (i.e legally, responsibly, not drunk, etc) then I would expect the company (i.e the employers) to cover the cost of any accident.

The employers are being very unreasonable. If a bus driver scrapes the side of a bus on a tree, they don't have to pay fo the damage, the bus co pays. It should be the same for a nanny. And the employers hsould pay or get it covered by insurance.

not read everyone elses replys but no... the family should cover the costs of the car repairs as well as 40p per mile for the use of the nannies car.

If she was in her own car she probably wouldnt have reversed into something (as she'd be used to driving her car) and even then they should have special Bisuness insurance on their car for the Nanny - they may not be claiming because they havent paid for Business use... they want her to use their car, therefore it is their problem not hers.

I sure as hell wouldn't be using my car unless i was being paid 40p per mile because It isn't fair to to business miles and the risk of damage on a car

The people I nannied for, I damaged my own car when I wasn't even working for them and they still paid towards its repairs!

I don't think these employers had insured the car properly for nanny to drive. That's why they aren't going through insurance - there is none!

eogh of course means enough

Well obviously

If the accident was during work time dong work stuff then no I dont see she should have to pay unless it was something they agreed ahead of time

If for eg they said 'yes you can use our car to go away for weekend, but the excess is £500 if you prang it' then fair eogh for them to charge.

Seems to me they are trying it on a bit

My AP doesnt need car for work. If I were to put her on insurance then I would discuss excesses etc with her as she would be using it purely for social use

I would not expect that th nanny should pay a penny if the accident was at work, regardless of who was at fault If the accdent was on her own time then paying the insuranc excess would be the most I would expect, and this only if part of a written agreement.

i have it in my contract that if while driving employers car, regardless of fault, if involved in an accident i will not be expected to pay anything

If I were to have a company car, I would expect to have been given paperwork to go with that which stated what costs if any I would be responsible for in the event of an accident.
If nanny was at fault, then I would expect the nanny to make an offer to help pay, though would expect employer to cover all costs if necessary (as they decided that their employee needed a car to drive and provided that car).

Blimey - if the accident occurred on work time I would certainly expect the employer to pay all costs including her petrol costs while the car is at the garage.

If I were the nanny I would find another job asap

In the January snow this year DH was driving my car when he got rear ended, he was stationary and other car doing low speed, the damaged looked minor but garage inspection later show creases in door & sill and behind the bumper, the bumper and wheel cover were also damaged, all in the repair was over £1500!!

think we have one

called erm ...... nuts ( I think)

nannies united together ....

plus voice

we can call acas if we have a problem

I think if you want your employee to drive your vehicle as part of their job then if they have an accident, they have to pay for it. I have a company car and I have to pay the first £50 of any accident and after that the insurance picks it up. It's hardly the nanny's fault that they don't want to claim on their insurance

Nannies need a trade union really don't they?

Maybe the damage was caused under the car rather than behind? Lots of vital things could loosen, I suppose?

£500 seems a lot of damage for reversing into something - thats what bumpers are for

assume wasnt going fast

wonder if nanny is on employers insurance

Did the nanny cause the crash due to her own negligence, with the employers children on board?

I think it is wrong of the employers and failure to disclose an accident is cause for insurance to be refused in the future meaning a huge hike in premiums.

As Blondes said, when i nannied i crunched the car a couple if times, once 50/50 and once 100 his fault my employers dealt with it and sorted hire car etc.

Good point Polly as some insurance companies add a bigger premium if an added driver is also a employee.

I haven't read all the replies, but I think the employers have to 'suck up' the reality that every day use of a car will sometimes result in scratches and scrapes. If it had been one of the parents who'd reversed into something (and can they really swear that this is not a possibility) then they'd have to pay for the damage.

I think it's quite crappy of them to expect the Nanny to incurr the cost of the accident..

any chance they haven't added her to the insurance and that's why they don't want to claim?

This is precisely why my nanny gets a bus pass.

I think it is unreasonable to deduct money they chose not to claim from insurance from her paycheque. But, I do think it would be fair to tell the nanny that if the premiums go up because she has an accident that she would be expected to pay the increase in premiums -- but only if discussed and agreed before the job begins. I'm assuming it wasn't, and so the employer is being unreasonable here.

Hi,

Never employed a nanny but I was head of procurement in a previous (pre baby) life and responsible for all car insurance (600+). The employer has a legal responsibility to notify their insurance company of this accident/incident. Also, as far as I am aware it is not legal to deduct costs associated with this accident/incident unless it is in the nanny's contract.

I think the employers are being very unreasonable.

Also where all other expenses are being met by the employer the rate (which HMRC will allow as tax free) for petrol only reimbursement is 10p - 12p /mile (depending on engine size).

It is the terms of most insurance that any accident fault or not should be notified - this from the RAC insurance website "You must ensure that:... we are supplied with true and complete information about the car and the insured drivers and any incident of loss or damage which may involve us as your insurers." [my bolding]