AIBU to think taxi should be split 3 ways?

[MyNewBearTotoro]

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!

If three people share a taxi they must pay one third of the fair each. But people shouldn't have to pay if they are volunteering. The charity is at fault here. Why can't you go on the bus. If it's only one bus stop it's a bit lazy to get a taxi IMHO.

Next time you're due to make the journey I would tell them you're going to get the bus as it works out cheaper for you now the taxi is being split between 2 instead of 3. Worded like that it makes it clear that it's unfair because there are 3 of you not 2 and that they are making it unaffordable for you.

I have never heard of the couple sharing a round, totally not fair! I have never witnessed that or done that. I drink slowly (I'm a light weight) and always join in with round buying despite not being a high earner amongst the groups I socialise with. It's manners really.

The taxi should definitely be split three ways

My friend tried the 'couples pay as one' thing with me once, we were hiring a cottage for a long weekend, that I was organising so I split the cost per head and she questioned why they were paying double they're both working, have a wage each, why should they have paid for only one place?

Best thread in ages.

I say three-way split and then go to the pub and do rounds.

Ah cottages are different though sooperdooper and should be split by bedroom used - unless you had a single and they had a double.

Provisions split by person though.

I agree betty it's quite unfair and utterly galling.
In this case?
I think op is nbu because each person is clearly travelling as an individual and all on the same journey.

Cottages are different.
And a double would not neccessarily be twice the price of a single.
Basically, don't do anything with other people. It's the road to Disharmony

Ah cottages are different though sooperdooper and should be split by bedroom used - unless you had a single and they had a double.

What if it offered catering options/breakfast/evening meal or other perks came with it such as a voucher per person for a local activity or the particular vendor had a discount to a single traveller? or if it was a caravan site you had a park and pool fee in the cost?

See, splitting the cost is never simple. Someone is always left out of pocket somewhere which just isn't fair and its usually the single person in a group :/

A cottage is not just the bedrooms, it's the communal areas too and I've often shared a room as a single person. Easier to agree in advance that price is per head when you share a cottage and you also have to agree that some people, because they got there earlier, are older or whatever, get the better rooms/beds.

"It's hard though gwen when it's with work colleagues or ex work colleagues. I don't want to appear stingy for the sake of an extra fiver."

In that case you could resist telling them their system is completely unfair and just say you're sorry but you can't afford it. I don't see how anyone could be offended at that, unless you're a millionaire.

You split cottage prices per room and food costs per head (with children 12 and under paying less than adults). Very small children don't pay for food.

I did go away for a weekend with friends a couple of years ago (they are couples with 2 kids each, I'm single and have one child and we always share a room/bed) and they offered to subsidise me in advance which I refused. Then they charged me 1/3 of the cost of the house rental but because I'd turn down the 'subsidy' I didn't feel I could then point out the split was not remotely equitable. I haven't been away with them again :o

Great thread! I agree that it should be split 3 ways, very cheeky of them to assume otherwise

What if one room has an en suite and the other doesn't?

Its too complicated to do that so I get my own accommodation. It saves on me being taken advantage of. I'm a single mum of one too and always feel like I am subsidising my siblings choice to marry and have 2 kids each especially if I am the one lumped with the sofa bed and have to get up when their kids get up!

My friend always does all the research which takes her hours so it's an unspoken rule that she and her DH always get the best room.

But tbh if I'm going on holiday outside the UK and it's sunny, as long as the bed is relatively comfy, I don't care that much - it's just somewhere to sleep

I've split cottage holidays basically per room but adjusted the price a bit to reflect the size / quality of the room, e.g. my friend has paid a bit more for the master whilst I've been in a bunk bed!

Hmm ... Are the owners of holiday cottages missing out by not promoting a recommended split by room? It might help fill their bookings quicker and make for happier customers!

It's a minefield.
Actually thinking about it we go away with 2 other families they have 2 dc each and we have 1 but always split 3 ways. This summer one of the bedrooms is a single and has no aircon which DS will be getting but I didn't suggest a different split.

I think if all the families are more or less the same size, then it can all get a bit petty. But 2xadults + 2xkids (so two rooms) vs 1adult/1kid/1room paying the same which is what happened to me the other year feels really lopsided.

I think it's fair enough to suggest a different split by room before you allocate, so then people have the choice of better or cheaper depending on what's most important to them.

That's definitely not a fair split Lynda.

I do find the meals a bit of a pain now. DS is a creature of simple tastes so drinks water and eats from the kids menu whereas their dcs drink cans of juice and eat from the adult menu and of course there's two of them to one DS.The one time I put my foot down and said we should split based on what we had one of the DH was a bit off with me and thought they were paying too much until I pointed out that each can of coke was 4 euros and adult moules et frites was 12 euros.
I try not to mind as they are great friends and not doing it deliberately.

"I think it's fair enough to suggest a different split by room before you allocate, so then people have the choice of better or cheaper depending on what's most important to them."

That would make things really complicated though. The last time I stayed in such a house, there was a room with a couple, a room with two women, but one on an air bed and one in a real bed, and another room with bunks where all the other people were staying. On top of that, everyone had the same use of the communal areas and kitchen. It was just split per person and per night (though strictly speaking those who decided last minute to stay one night rather than two should still have paid for it).

Feeling slightly relieved that after my round as a couple confession earlier, I actually redeem myself in the going away with friends category. We go every couple of years with another couple. We had one child, they had two, then we went up to two and they had three. We have a kitty and we pay everything 50/50. They do offer more in the pot but we decline (even though I'm still drinking soft drinks) because all theirs eat of the children's menu or want something basic like fish and chips, whilst our teenager orders a very nice steak or piece of venison. It all balances out in the end.

Gwenhyfar - I agree on room splits being a nightmare. I'm in the middle of organising a hen do. Big cottage required.
After many hours with a calculator and a sore head. I concluded those in a double bedroom on their own will pay £125. Those sharing a room will pay £75. The one person having a single bed in a box room will pay £100. Argh!! It helped as when I originally contacted everyone I gave wrought idea of budget and asked what people thought. Some were really clear that cost was key so they needed to share. Others wanted their own space and a handful didn't mind. After the hen got allocated the best room I just drew numbers for the remaining ones. It's been really difficult though.

The problem with kids and holidays though is many vendors have different ages where a child effectively pays adult rates. For some its 12, others 14 and the rest 16.

Should I pay for a child rate even if my child was under 1 and doesn't have to pay or do I take a brunt of the cost of someone else's child if they are 14 and paying adult rates?

These are a few of the problems I have within my family and friends over accommodation, rates and splitting the bill.

It's easier all round to just go it alone and let the relatives share a place! peace is worth the extra hassle every time and I can budget a lot better because there will be zero surprises.

Then you could get into attractions. I am a carer for my child so for many attractions I get into for free or with a good discount and pay regular price for DC. This causes issues when it is assumed family tickets would be purchased and children shuffled to make up family tickets when its the 2 adult +3 kid deals etc. (this has been with both friends and family) A fair few times I have saved/collected or hunted out vouchers and told the others where to get the voucher from (like on the cereal packets) but they don't bother.

I prefer to pay for myself. I don't think that will change at all tbh. I just don't like to be taken advantage of or feel as though I am.