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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think taxi should be split 3 ways?

168 replies

MyNewBearTotoro · 04/01/2016 14:45

I volunteer for a charity. Once a week myself and two other volunteers need to get a taxi together as part of our work for the charity. None of us receive any expenses from the charity so the taxis are paid from our household finances.

The other two volunteers are married and share all of their funds. The first time we got a taxi they paid the driver and I then gave them a third of the fare to cover my share. The last two times I have paid and they have given me 50% of the fare to cover their share.

AIBU to think if 3 people get a taxi then each person pays a third (and so they should be giving me two thirds of the fare when I pay) or are they right in thinking as a married unit with shared finances they count as one?

We will be getting a taxi together next week so it would be good to know what others think is fair before then. Thanks!

OP posts:
evilcherub · 04/01/2016 14:46

They should give you two thirds.

DoreenLethal · 04/01/2016 14:47

Yes of course it should be thirds! Did you ask for the extra when they paid less than their share?

Floggingmolly · 04/01/2016 14:48

I agree, it should be split between number of people. How they manage their respective finances is completely irrelevant.
Not quite the same thing but I've known a pair of miserable bastards couple who tried to argue the shared finance thing when it came to getting rounds in a pub!

AlpacaStockingFullOfChocolate · 04/01/2016 14:51

Shared finances when in a pub buying rounds so they buy one drink between them - to me that would equal me buying them one drink to be shared between them!

eatingworms · 04/01/2016 14:52

Yes I've known this too when out drinking with a couple. They had a shared purse of cash so bought a round as 'one' person meaning I was spending way more than them as I was buying 3 drinks every other round, on my own.
The fare should be split 3 ways.

LyndaNotLinda · 04/01/2016 14:52

I've had this before with couples when getting cabs. It's completely wrong - you pay per head like with any other journey - plane, train, bus. Two people don't count as one because they're in a relationship

RNBrie · 04/01/2016 14:53

I went out for drinks with two couples recently and we bought drinks in rounds, it occurred to me half way through the evening that I was buying my round and then each couple were buying a round rather than each person. I made a comment about it but trying to get them to see that there were 5 people, so there should be 4 rounds before it was my turn again rather than 2 was impossible. I just lived with it that night, but I won't do it again.

Yes, they should definitely be giving you 2/3rds. And if they won't then get them to pay for it and just give them a third.

redstrawberry10 · 04/01/2016 14:54

Not quite the same thing but I've known a pair of miserable bastards couple who tried to argue the shared finance thing when it came to getting rounds in a pub!

it's very similar. But indeed, I agree with everyone else. There finances are irrelevant to you. I am surprised that in either the pub or taxi scenario anyone would think otherwise.

ZenNudist · 04/01/2016 14:55

I dunno. If you're only making 2 stops then split cost?

I agree if it's a regular arrangement then if should be shared more equally. Why don't you get an über hop thingy then payment is fairer? 😬

Oldraver · 04/01/2016 14:55

Yes it should be shared thirds.....I knew a married couple that thought of themselves as a unit (wife used to brag she didnt carry money) and we would buy in rounds. She never bought a round at all

Eventually when we were going on holiday and they wanted to split the taxi fare to the airport 4 ways, some other person reminded them they were two people (who were both in fulltime employment) and not one person. It did sort of click with them for a while

Original poster
MyNewBearTotoro · 04/01/2016 14:56

No, I haven't asked for the share. The first time I let it lie as I thought it was perhaps just that they didn't have the right cash or hadn't worked it out properly.

When it happened again I began to question my logic of paying per person. I will raise it with them next week. We are getting a taxi as for three people it is cheaper than the bus but actually if I am paying 50% of the fare then it works out more expensive for me!

OP posts:
fuzzywuzzy · 04/01/2016 14:57

if they don't want to pay their two thirds can you get your own taxi to yours instead of sharing?

Make it clear before doing a taxi share as well.

Oldraver · 04/01/2016 14:58

Just read all the other posts. Oh it seems the buying a round as a couple is a common thing, they must be laughing when they get in with a single person

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 04/01/2016 14:59

I couldn't imagine them turning up to Heathrow airport saying they are a couple so only needed one plane ticket, so why is it different to a taxi fare.

DoreenLethal · 04/01/2016 15:00

I'd get the bus and let them pay full fare a couple of times until they work it out.

Justbatteringon · 04/01/2016 15:01

How's your taxis run is there a meter or is it set fares? I honestly thing they're right 2 stops so split in half.

whois · 04/01/2016 15:03

Yup 100% split 3 ways. How cheeky are they being!

Justbatteringon · 04/01/2016 15:03

But they should each buy their own round.

FishWithABicycle · 04/01/2016 15:04

actually if I am paying 50% of the fare then it works out more expensive for me! - get the bus next time then, or at least say you will.

"Actually if I'd be expected to pay half a taxi fare I'll get the bus thanks and meet you there. I can only afford a taxi if it's split 3 ways"

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 04/01/2016 15:05

Definitely per person. Three bums on three seats = three people sharing.

MangoBiscuit · 04/01/2016 15:06

When at Uni, I worked p/t in a nightclub, as did a friend in the same halls. Her BF would go out, end up at this club, then go back to hers. They asked if I wanted to share a taxi, I said yeah ok, it'll be much cheaper between 3. Then they did the same and only gave me half the fair back. They wouldn't / couldn't see that it wasn't fair, so I stopped sharing taxi's and caught the bus. Cheaper for me.

They're being a bit cheeky. I would point out next week that as you paid half the fair the last two times, this one should be on them. You'll be happy to go back to paying thirds the time after, if they prefer.

BackforGood · 04/01/2016 15:08

Obviously, if 3 people get a taxi, then all 3 are liable for 1/3 of the cost each.

However, if you need to get a taxi as part of your volunteering (as opposed to choosing to, to get home or whatever) then the charity should be paying the bill, not you. If any of you choose to donate that money back to the charity, that's up to you, but the charity should always cover the expense in the first place.

Original poster
MyNewBearTotoro · 04/01/2016 15:09

It's only one stop, we get a taxi from our charity's office to the place we are 'working' at.

After we've finished 'work' we have no need to return to the office so then make our own separate ways home. Although if ever we did have to go both ways it would definitely be cheaper for me to get a return bus ticket than pay one-way in the taxi.

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 04/01/2016 15:13

I can see their logic as taxi charge person journey not per head so they are paying for their journey/drop off. Very different scenario to couples and buying rounds.

Agree with fish, tell them 50% of a taxi is top expensive so you'll take the bus instead as its cheaper (unless its pennies and the convenience is worth the extra to you). Hopefully they'll offer to split 3 ways instead.

WeAllHaveWings · 04/01/2016 15:14

x posted with your update, if its 3 people going from workplace to workplace it should be split 3 ways.