To think that my boss should pay for my phone contract if I have to use my personal phone for work?

[Liliannna1]

This isn't a scenario where I have work emails coming through that I must respond to, but I do however have to make maybe a few phone calls throughout the day plus sometimes use the map feature to get to destinations.

I wouldn't really care, however I have used all my data up 2 months in a row now as I understand using the map feature uses lots of data.

What do you think?

You can plan your routes on the work pc and print or send to phone. Or use a map app that will download route on wifi before leaving.

YABU to expect your boss to pay your phone bill because you are too lazy to use a map like everyone did 15 years ago- shock we still managed to find people's houses!

If you must make call get a PAYG sim that work tops up.

I must use my map on my phone, using a map wouldn't suffice due to the fact I have to find exact houses in locations I don't know
You don't have to use the map feature on your phone, buy an A-Z of your town for less than £5 and use that instead.

Yes you should get some expenses for the calls, as for the map download 'navmii' - free satnav that uses your gps but not your data allowance.

Look up locations on Google maps in the office before you leave?

Yes they absolutely should be providing you with a phone.

NOT for the maps features, but definitely for calls, if you're expected to make calls, or even be reachable out of the office, you should have a phone.

Every company I have worked at has done this. At current company not only is a phone provided (a top range one too) but a laptop/tablet too, to ANYONE who works off site.

"Due to the nature of my job I visit people's houses, therefore I must use my map on my phone, using a map wouldn't suffice due to the fact I have to find exact houses in locations I don't know. "

BAHAHAHAHAHA Honey... how do you think we used to find "addressed we don't know" before GoogleMaps and SatNavs?

It was called "a map". And if more help was needed, "asking for directions". It still works you know!

I use a sat Nav app with downloaded maps so it requires no data.
I use it abroad with no data connection. No worry about loosing signal
I paid a one off fee at least 5 years ago for worldwide navigation and can transfer license to new phone.
Think it cost £30 for worldwide, would be much less for UK only.

I have had reps from several companies over the last year for Windows and blinds,some companies seem to provide phones and some not.These people are driving all over the place and fittings into timed appointments and use the phone for payments.
My house is findable on Google maps but not on satnav.

YANBU if it is regular calls and is required as part of the job, (not along the lines of I've forgotten to log out of the computer, can you do it for me? Or, I'm going back via Greggs, anyone want anything?'

If you are given a work phone, don't expect an all singing all dancing smart phone that you can use for sat nav. Anywhere I've ever worked where we've had phones, they've been cheap 'dumb' phones, to prevent staff misusing them or accessing dodgy stuff on the internet. Once place were even issuing phones without a camera when existing models were coming up for replacement after one colleague sent another an unsolicited dick pic.

YABU about needing the phone for navigation, If you can't use an A-Z, download a map onto your phone or any other options available, it isn't your employers' problem.

Due to the nature of my job I visit people's houses, therefore I must use my map on my phone, using a map wouldn't suffice due to the fact I have to find exact houses in locations I don't know.
Thank god they invented maps on phones - for years we were unable to find specific houses and had to cope with never seeing people.... Oh no, hang on, we looked at a paper map, found the road, drove there and then drove up and down looking out the window. I think it worked quite well
Seriously OP?!
They should pay for your business calls and nothing more. Some people love to try it on.

Jesus Christ, just because people used to do it the laborious way back before the tech existed, means the op should be wasting her time doing things the hard way today? Really?

Printing out google maps (seriously, who does this in the modern world?)

OP, they should be paying for a cheap smartphone, but in the absence of that, they should make a contribution to your data. Or buy you a sat nav. I'd tell them I'm not spending personal money on it anymore and they have to come up with a solution.

You should have a work handset for calls.
I am a social worker and we have 10 year old nokias
I use my maps function all the time for home visits but that's my choice. I have a good data plan and never run out. Expecting them to pay for data is not reasonable. You can get unlimited data for around £8 a month - can you look at your plan?

Typically there are some very grouchy Luddites here offended at the thought of someone using their phone for directlions when that is clearly a very sensible and useful function. It seems entirely sensible to me that they should pay expenses towards your phone or provide you with a work mobile.

LaurieMarlow - completely agree!! This isnt about the OP 'trying it on' as another poster said but about the company benefiting from modern technology and expecting their employees to subsidise them.

OP - they should definitely provide a phone for work purposes.
Can I ask why you don't get any travel expenses?

I would talk to them, perhaps they will pay for you to upgrade your contract to include more data. It's not an unreasonable request.

I use my phone for work so they pay a contribution (approx £20 a month)

Yup buy a book of maps for the area you work in. Less than a fiver at your local garage. Used them for years as a takeaway delivery driver. Drive down the street find a couple of numbers on doors then work out which house is the one you are after, but, calling office to process card payments? You're not a double glazing salesperson or one of those dodgy ones from watchdog that sit in someones house for hours until they buy are you?!

For those saying get an A-Z,we don't know what area the OP covers as A-Zs are mostly for big cities .

Just get a different map app. I use navigator which downloads the UK map when you set it up and relies on GPS so no data used.

I have a work phone and I work three days a week in a school (I do home visits).

I bought the handset myself secondhand on eBay though.

My last job I had £12 pm towards my mobile bill as I was literally out in the field and very remote. Of course, being in quite remote places often meant no signal so I always had paper maps with me or printouts of the area I needed to check .

I was the last person I knew to get a mobile phone. Seriously. And I refuse to use it for work. If work need me to be contactable when I am out of the office or for anything work connected, then they provide me with a phone. End of. That's been the same in 4 jobs and it's never been an issue.

I've used my phone for work calls and my company never paid the bill. I think it's fair to say that most people have unlimited phone minutes so unless your making calls to premium numbers I wouldn't expect them to pay the bill.

For the map situation, either download directions of the internet and print it out or buy a map book of the local town, which will include residential areas or buy a sat nav. You can pick them up for about £30.

I wouldn't expect my employer to foot the bill because I'm incapable or reading a map.

Seven I don't live in a big city and have lots of surrounding villages, every single village was in the book of maps I had

I wouldn't expect my employer to foot the bill because I'm incapable or reading a map

Good little worker bee.