Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I should pay 1/3?

744 replies

stickeritup · 01/10/2019 19:37

Travelling with my cousin and his wife to another cousin’s wedding in a different part of the country. They have one child, who’s also coming. I don’t have any.

We’re hiring a car because neither of us has a big enough one. The cost is £120. I assumed we’d pay £40 each for the three adults. Cousin has text saying ‘so that’s £60 each’, meaning £60 for me and £60 between him and his wife.

I don’t think this is right. AIBU? I know it’s only £20 but it happens all the time when some couples assume that they count as ‘one’.

OP posts:
Fowles94 · 02/10/2019 20:24

My god they're cheeky plus why are they making that journey with a young baby? Mines 15 months and I wouldn't be that selfish for a bloody wedding.
Drive in your car, you can do it easily in one day that way. Have a well rested night or two and drive back.
Anybody who thinks a couple is one person is clearly stupid. In fact if myself and my partner invite anybody out for food and drinks we tend to for their part more times than less.

milveycrohn · 02/10/2019 20:28

Personally, I found this very difficult. If cousin's wife is a SAHP, ie they only have one income, then I would probably agree on a 50/50 split.
But you say they are both earning, so 3 incomes, means a 3-way split.
But then you get into the realms, of, 'But he earns twice what I do' scenario, so that makes it complicated.
I have driven from Kent to Scotland, and it is one awful journey, and I personally would avoid a long journey with a young child.

Pixie2015 · 02/10/2019 20:36

Make your own way there

Thelistwizard · 02/10/2019 20:40

I was too stunned to say anything.
This is no 1 in the cf handbook

Potnoodledoo · 02/10/2019 20:43

Pay the 50/50 on provision you sit in the front the whole way.Let them entertain their little darling.

barnetparent · 02/10/2019 20:43

Tbh.
It depends how close you are to them. If it's going to build barriers between you, then it woukd probably be a very uncomfotable journey.
Also, as others have mentioned, you could hire a small car for £25/day, and drive alone.

It does bug me, when people don't appear to be considerate of others, and personally I'm less tolerant with those types.
Truth is they are saving at least twice as much on fairs as you are.

Moonmaker · 02/10/2019 20:46

There's three of them and one of you so really you should pay 1/4. Very generous of you to consider the baby as small and not taking up space but actually the car seat, luggage and extra hassle ( they can add hours to your journey times alone )that comes with a baby probably takes up more space than anything else ! Plus the extra stopping as they will need to stop and feed and change the baby regularly . We travel abroad with extended family often and we split the cost of accommodation and fuel per head rather than 'per family ' as then it's fair.

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 02/10/2019 20:48

my top tip for South coast to Scotland is to go round onto the Toll road, it completely cuts of the shitefest of the M5/M6 spaghetti junction

Glad you seem to have it sorted now OP. Enjoy your drive!

Guavaf1sh · 02/10/2019 20:50

That’s a great response OP

Oldbird69 · 02/10/2019 20:50

Dying to hear his reply! (My vote was for 1/3 btw)

tabbiemoo · 02/10/2019 20:51

never mind splitting costs two ways or three ways you’d have to pay me to travel more than 9 hours with a small child Confused

IAmTheMumWhoKnocks · 02/10/2019 21:01

1/3 definitely - and Loch Lomond is shit 🤣🤣

chaosmaker · 02/10/2019 21:20

MEGABUS

MrsJakeLovell · 02/10/2019 21:32

RainyG · 02/10/2019 21:36

It should be 50/50, if it wasn’t for you they’d be going in their own car

*Could they, as a three, fit in their car? I assume yes.

If so, you should pay half, as you are causing the extra cost. otherwise they drive theirs and you drive on your own which might cost you more.*

Bloody hilarious!! Couple entitlement yet again!!
How about... OP as one person can fit in HER car. They are causing the extra cost because the family is too large to fit in HER car.
Works both ways...

RainyG · 02/10/2019 21:38

If cousin's wife is a SAHP, ie they only have one income, then I would probably agree on a 50/50 split.

Why??? It's not up to the OP to sub the couple's financial circumstances.

Jesus Christ, the couple's entitlement on this thread is astounding.

StCharlotte · 02/10/2019 21:40

And seriously even a tiny hatchback can fit from experience, 4 suitcases in the boot, AND with the door shutting

I've got a Picanto and you wouldn't get more than one suitcase in the boot.

buckeejit · 02/10/2019 21:42

Fly ffs! That's an awful journey & I go from
NI to England-4hours each way once I get off the boat. My dc are 6&9-they wouldn't be fun to be with on more than a 5 hour journey. The child is likely to get fed up. Avoid your current plan but if you must -a third each!

pumkinspicetime · 02/10/2019 21:49

Jesus Christ, the couple's entitlement on this thread is astounding.
@RainyG you are going to be very disappointed in the car rental line when you discover that there is no difference in car hire costs regardless of whether you are putting a family of four in it or just yourself. It isn't a thing that gets a single discount.

StCharlotte · 02/10/2019 21:49

Woah woah woah! Back up there!

I'll go up to [place we're staying in the Lakes] then at least I'll be there to get the keys

What's the split for the accommodation??

Moaningmeadowlark · 02/10/2019 21:52

When is it OP? And whereabouts in the Highlands? I would honestly consider flying and then train too as there can be a lot of land slides or weather related road closures in the highlands and your 9 hours could end up being a hell of a lot longer and more costly with diversions!

RainyG · 02/10/2019 21:56

you are going to be very disappointed in the car rental line when you discover that there is no difference in car hire costs regardless of whether you are putting a family of four in it or just yourself. It isn't a thing that gets a single discount.

Yes of course there is no discount for a single person, the price is the price. But if three single people hired the car they would split the cost three ways. But people are suggesting if it's a single person and a couple it's split 50/50 and the single person pays more. Why? There are 3 adults sharing the car.

pumkinspicetime · 02/10/2019 22:10

Because it is a situation where you would go from two cars to one car, not three cars to one car.

rockvshardplace · 02/10/2019 22:12

If google maps is showing a 9hour journey setting off at 9pm... bloody that will take a LONG time with ‘toddler stops’. I have a young toddler and I have family that live what USED to be a 5-6 hour drive... with a baby/toddler the same journey now takes 7-8 hours NOT accounting for traffic delays! Jesus, 9 hours could easily become 13/14 hours with stops and traffic (assuming you travel in the day). Even if your planned “two stops” are overnight stops - which they must be, right?!” - that’s a 4.5 hour car journey for three days in a row. Yuk.

Fly.

SaraNade · 02/10/2019 22:19

But pumkinspicetime it's the couple that need the hire car. The OP can easily drive herself in her own car. The couple are the ones who are causing expense with 2 people, 2 suitcases, a baby, babyseat etc etc. As opposed to the OP who only has herself and one suitcase.

The OP is not the one that needs the hire car.

Swipe left for the next trending thread