payments to friend for fuel to go to hospital etc

[Ladylinnet]

Does anyone have someone drive them to hospital appointments etc & you then pay toward the fuel they use? Just wondering as I have a friend who takes me & my child & I give her £20.00 but she expects this each time. My little one needs numerous hospital visits during week. Is this reasonable? If I were to pay 50p per mile it would work out £10.00 each journey.

A 40mile round trip in my car would cost £9.58 on fuel alone based on topping up at 199.99 last week.
Then there’s the ongoing wear and tear on the vehicle, tyres etc. Parking costs. Her time.

Im afraid it all adds up quickly.

So you're going to hospital with DD 2-3+ times a week every week nad handing over £20 for each visit? I assume she's factoring in some sort of cost for her time - is she waiting for you or coming back for the return journey?

I'd def be pricing up bus fare or taxis.

Also I seem to remember you could get help with travel costs if you had a (child with a) chronic health condition so that might help with petrol or bus fare

you should be grateful she’s taking you. If you don’t want to pay it, get a taxi

Are you going to answer any questions @Ladylinnet?

How many hours out of her day does each appointment take her? You are treating her like a service-if this happens multiple times a week, you should pay her for her time, not just petrol/wear+tear of the car!

So let's be clear. You think your "friend" is profiteering by providing a personal taxi service for you multiple times a week. It's OK for her to be your friend and give up her time etc to be at your beck and call, provided you don't have to be inconvenienced by paying a fair price for it? Not much of a friend are you?

Around here, £5 each way doesn't get me to the supermarket anymore. The nearest hospital is 7 times the distance to the supermarket.

How much would a taxi cost? If it’s more than £20, be grateful, if a taxi would be cheaper then get a taxi instead.

Friend will either driving home and returning - this costs

Paying for hospital parking - very costly

Buyibg something from a supermarket to use the “free parking”

Pay and display on the street

Why on earth should she be out of pocket to do you a favour?

I have a friend who I pay for these journeys. I pay her £20 sometimes that is a round trip sometimes it’s just picking me up after. It’s about a 30/40 minute journey. This is what she asks for and she is happy with that or she would say. I only need this particular service once maybe twice in a year though.

The hospital will have access to the volunteer car scheme. The one local to me costs £25 to register for the year then 45-50p per mile (minimum £2.50) they need at least 2 days notice. Check your area and then you can work out which is cheaper then hopefully your friend can revert back to being your friend rather than your taxi driver.

Alternatively if you know you have x amount of trips per week/month you could negotiate a rate with a taxi company or agree a monthly rate with your friend rather than £20 a trip.

What about parking and her time? I think £20 is fair as it must be cheaper than using a taxi, and she takes you home afterwards. I would get a quote from a taxi company, then you'll know if its fair, or not. If a taxi both ways is cheaper than £20, offer her £10. However, she may not want to take you anymore.

So get a taxi?

You’re getting a bit of a hard time on here.
if friend has said just ‘pay for fuel’ and is charging £20 yes she’s being U. But otherwise depending on the distance etc it’s a fair cost. Otherwise you’d have found a taxi.

As someone who’s always been asked for lifts out of my way and with no petrol money offered, I’m with the driver I’m afraid. It costs a fortune to run a car at the best of times and petrol, parking and wear and tear mount up.

My workplace only pays 40p per mile to our amazing carers; most of them now take taxis with the clients because wtf should they drive long distances in their own vehicles? Not worth it.

Also, I really think no-drivers don’t get it. It’s funny when they are happy to receive free lifts when needed, but when they become drivers they suddenly realise that petrol isn’t free, that there are running costs and they are responsible for everything.

Exactly!
Even if driver was giving their labour for free there's still service, insurance, cleaning. 'Just fuel' indeed!

How did you work out the mileage for the £10 cost OP?

If that is the distance to the hospital and back it only works if your friend is also a neighbour. If she has expenses to reach you in the first place you also need to factor those into the equation.

I don’t think it is unreasonable for your friend to expect some sort of payment each time. She will incur expense and give up time from her day on every occasion.

50p per mile isn’t very much. If you were paying just that and for example she ran over a nail and had a puncture would you be willing to pay the repair cost?

The local taxi prices where I live are set at £4.33 for the first mile and then £2.05 for each subsequent mile. That would make each of your 10 mile journeys cost at least £12.53. You would also have to call the return taxi and spend time waiting for it to arrive.

If you resent paying your friend 80% of what a taxi would cost, including the added convenience of her presumably taking and collecting just when you need, then it is your prerogative to find another way.

Your friend might even be relieved to be released from her commitment.

Depending on where you are a cab could be way cheaper OP.

1. How much would a taxi be?
2. How long are you taking out of her day?
3. Why do you think it's just about money for her and not about the inconvenience? I would hate to be taxi-ing someone to hospital 'numerous' times in a week.

That is a lot but if it's several time a week it's more than "a favour"

What would a taxi cost?

Could you use hospital transport sometimes?

I'm sorry your child needs to visit hospital so often; must be stressful and expensive for you.

However, what your friend is doing is neither a lift share, travel for work nor a ride to somewhere she's going anyway : she's giving up enormous amounts of her time multiple times per week, as well as having fuel, wear and tear, and possibly parking costs. Even with the £20 payment, it's still a big favour to you.

Get a taxi if it would be cheaper.

Correction to my post. I have realised that you have a 20 mile return journey, so 10 miles each way.
A taxi in this area would cost at least £22.78 for each leg, so £45.56 return.
Your friend is asking less than half of that.
Even if taxi fares are cheaper where you live I can’t see them being less than you are paying her.

How long is the journey from the driver’s house, to yours, to the venue and back again to yours, her house? In miles and time. Where does she go when you’re in the appointment?

How much would a taxi be, there and back? Or a bus?
Maybe you can work out a fair cost per trip. I personally would not expect a friend to consistently do multiple trips whenever I needed it. It's a big ask and a huge commitment. Otherwise, she may feel taken for granted as much as she may want to help when she can.

More I think about it, I think you are underestimating the burden you maybe causing your friend. Taking someone multiple times to hospital is hard work. She need to pick you up, drop you off, pick you up again, and take you home. That's a lot of commitment and time used.
It can even be a burden even the person doing is a family member, let alone a friend.
If you use some public transport or taxi, you will have a lot of time waiting etc, the inconvenience you don't think about now.
I think someone doing it for £20 is a god send. I wouldn't suggest to her that she's asking too much money. Either pay what she asks, or get a taxi. Even if the taxi comes cheaper, if you include calling, waiting etc. all the factors, I think you will regret that choice.

10 years ago I used to get 47p a mile vehicle allowance with my job, its not just the fuel us it its their time too, giving you lifts multiple times a week is very tying for them.