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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU but is this a CF

198 replies

MRSMARMITE3 · 27/09/2018 12:59

OH works out of town and has somehow become the company driver! New person started and told the boss that he has a bad back so can't get to work unless someone takes him(let's call new person Bob ).
My OH Lives in the same town so was roped into doing it everyday. He didn't mind at first till Bob admitted lying about bad back cos he didn't want to get the bus or train. He doesn't offer any money and just sits in the car on his phone or moans that the journey takes ages.
Now two more people have started and OH is having to drive them too. He's getting fed up of it and I get he's going that way anyway but no one has offered any money (even a little) . Surely 3 extra adults in the car would create more wear and tear.
OH spoke to his boss and said he's really not happy driving everyone and his boss told him that Bob said he would quit if he can't get a lift so OH needs to drive him. WTF!!!!?
I know it's not my problem but he's always moaning to me about it. I'm just amazed by Bob's entitlement (and also that the boss is feeding into it)

OP posts:
Alienspaceship · 27/09/2018 14:15

Would your OH mind if they all contributed to fuel and to the additional insurance costs? He needs to be more assertive and make it on his terms or to put a stop to it for all the reasons everyone had said,

NobodysChild · 27/09/2018 14:18

Your husband needs to let everyone know that it's going to be £25 minimum per week, per person, for lifts to and from work. That's far cheaper than having to get a bus and train everyday, plus it quicker. If they don't all agree, then it's sort your own transport out, as I won't be offering lifts anymore. Not hard to say is it?

Juells · 27/09/2018 14:19

As others have said, I'd refuse on the grounds that it makes the situation with my insurance too dodgy. It has somehow become a condition of your DH's employment to ferry all these people, he's not allowed to refuse, so it's making his car a work vehicle. That's how I'd see it, anyway.

seastargirl · 27/09/2018 14:20

If his boss is demanding that your husband take him to and from work then you should be requesting recompense from the business. HMRC suggest 5p per mile per passenger for business trips (the commute wouldn't count sadly), but I think it gives a solid argument that the company should be making a payment of 5p per person per mile for the commute, especially if they are making it a part of his employment.

blog.tripcatcherapp.com/tax/tax-free-mileage-allowance/

Fiffyshadesofgreymatter · 27/09/2018 14:21

Have not read the full thread but he needs to put his foot down. £10 a week each for petrol or no lift. And phone your insurance to check you're covered for this as a regular arrangement.

Juells · 27/09/2018 14:21

Your husband needs to let everyone know that it's going to be £25 minimum per week, per person, for lifts to and from work.

Isn't that turning his car into a hackney cab, with repercussions on the validity of his insurance? You can't just charge people for driving them. Donations for petrol are different.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 27/09/2018 14:27

Contact your insurance and see if this would be covered. It's not normal he is effectively being a taxi!

Normally companies pay a token amount for car sharing if it's a journey required by the company as it's much cheaper for them than paying for public transport or mileage allowance.

His boss cannot dictate what he does outside work hours.

Could he start getting the train if he needed to make a point!?

I'd be having a word with the boss and saying it's fundamentally unfair that 3 other people save on commuting costs (which every person has to factor into their living expenses) while one other employee has to suck it all up and pay for the costs of the car and upkeep.

They either all take it in turns OR he gets paid additional expenses since he is providing something in addition to his role from his own pocket currently. I'd say it's making him stressed and if it doesn't get sorted he will start getting the train as well to avoid the hassle (he can always say this then go and park somewhere else - they don't need to know)

Is it a big company with HR

SoupDragon · 27/09/2018 14:27

If the insurance isn’t valid to give colleagues a lift to work then surely all lift shares are illegal.

CowInTheMeadow · 27/09/2018 14:28

I would imagine his insurance is valid if he's covered for commuting since he's just giving some colleagues a lift to and from work.

Boss is totally out of order though. I'd definitely be looking for a new job.

CowInTheMeadow · 27/09/2018 14:30

Cross post, Soupdragon. Exactly!

MadameJosephine · 27/09/2018 14:31

This isn’t a lift share arrangement between mates though, is it? If this is something an employee has been told he is required to go as part of his duties then technically his insurance is invalid (and we all know how keen an insurance company would be to exploit a loophole and not pay out)

ChasedByBees · 27/09/2018 14:34

You haven’t replied to the insurance point OP but it could be crucial.

Thebluedog · 27/09/2018 14:35

If work are insisting he has to drive these people into work then he needs to think about business insurance for his car and also fuel allowance from work. I’m fairly sure than an employer can’t insist he brings them in and they are taking the piss

Namechanger55555 · 27/09/2018 14:38

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but your DH needs to inform his insurance company. As he might not be insured to be driving his colleagues (as a regular occurrence)

CowInTheMeadow · 27/09/2018 14:42

Seriously, no insurance company wants their customers ringing them to let them know they regularly give some colleagues a lift to work.

Original poster
MRSMARMITE3 · 27/09/2018 14:42

As for his insurance he doesn't have business insurance. But from googling I can only see that would be a problem if he gets them to pay him money? Can someone find me a link and I'll show him when he's home. Bob is such a CF that I can imagine he'd definitely sue for injuries

OP posts:
JollyAndBright · 27/09/2018 14:44

Do you hear that noise, I think it might be the head gasket/exhaust/something important and expensive going on the car.

In fact I have a sixth sense that on Sunday afternoon the car is going to break down while you are on a trip to visit your great aunt Judith 150 miles away.
You’ll probably have to leave the car there and your dh will have to get the train to work.

I’d then start driving again after getting the train for a week and just park close the the station and let the boss pick me up with the others as if I had gotten the train and not say anything.

Allthewaves · 27/09/2018 14:47

Tell them it's going to be £10 a week each

Juells · 27/09/2018 14:49

I’d then start driving again after getting the train for a week and just park close the the station and let the boss pick me up with the others as if I had gotten the train and not say anything.

This ^ and see how accommodating the boss is when he has to pick up four^ CFs every day Grin

CowInTheMeadow · 27/09/2018 14:49

MrsMarmite if you want to be sure, I'd dig out your policy wording and read it carefully. If a claim were to be refused, they would need to explain which part of the policy conditions you were in breach of. So do check what it says about business use, but as it's the commute (rather than travel between work sites during the business day) and he's not getting paid, his cover is likely to be ok.

fruitbrewhaha · 27/09/2018 14:54

www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/business-car-insurance

Business car insurance can cover a wide range of uses, such as travelling between different work locations, visiting customers or driving around other employees. Anything, in fact, that's on behalf of the company.

Juells · 27/09/2018 15:00

The amount of petrol he's using must have increased a lot with all that extra weight in the car, plus wear and tear, tyres etc.. It's a completely unfair situation, I'd hate to have people squatting in my car every single day when I might want to listen to the radio or have my own thoughts.

PuppyMonkey · 27/09/2018 15:00

If he hasn't got the backbone to say it in person, can he send them all a text/email (including boss?)saying: "Due to general wear and tear and recent essential repairs on my car, from next week, I'll need a contribution of £10 per week from each passenger for the lifts to and from work. It still works out cheaper than the train, but I'll understand if you'd prefer to opt out and make your own arrangements. Have a nice weekend."

AlaskanSnow · 27/09/2018 15:01

I occasionally have to use my car to drive to different sites during a working day. My employers very VERY hot on telling me I needed to be covered for Social, Domestic and Pleasure PLUS Business.

As your DH's boss has said he HAS to do this, it is now classed as business use.
If you are unsure, call the insurers - or do an online chat so you have record of the conversation. Do make sure you tell them it is mandatory though - if you just say your husband is "giving a lift to a colleague" that would probably be fine. It's the fact he has been forced into it that makes it business use.

fruitbrewhaha · 27/09/2018 15:04

There are a load of passive aggressive ways of putting them off.

ie stopping at the shops on the way home, deciding not to head straight home and go for a run, or join a gym local to work and leave an hour earlier every day, or decide last minute to meet a from for a quick drink in another town. All of which might be quite fun.

But ultimately your husband is being treated badly at work. I'd be thinking of moving on, could he, would he want to find another job? I'd also call ACAS as they are making work unbearable for him. It's constructive dismissal.