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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think friend is charging too much?

332 replies

sadaboutlife · 07/11/2019 20:36

For of us sharing a car.
3 hour journey there
3 hour back
She says it will cost £120 petrol
So charging £30 each
Do you think that's correct ?

OP posts:
katers85 · 08/11/2019 22:11

If she’s doing all the driving. I would say £30 is a bargain.

Jenala · 08/11/2019 22:17

We did a 500 mile round trip in our 2 litre petrol estate last week. We get 30-35mpg if we're lucky, and used about £70 of fuel. She's taking the piss. I think she's including wear and tear which isn't fair if you all take turns.

Jenala · 08/11/2019 22:19

The point isn't whether the 'price' is good value relative to other forms of transport. She's not a fucking taxi service. It's friends taking regular trips together and supposedly splitting petrol costs, which is how all the rest of them do it, but one has decided she's actually setting a fare. It's bullshit.

tillytrotter1 · 08/11/2019 22:23

Might be cheaper for the three of you to rent a car for the day!

Fuckitletshavevino · 09/11/2019 04:26

I put £30 worth of petrol in my 1.3 car today and it has given me an approximate of 248 miles (£1.26PL where I refuelled) till empty. If you and the other passengers are willing to pay £30 each I’ll be your personal chauffeur and even buy lunch for everyone and have snacks/beverages for the journey. Hope that helps

custardbear · 09/11/2019 06:29

What happened OP?

Hannahmates · 09/11/2019 06:56

Drive there yourself.

Boulshired · 09/11/2019 07:18

If people are not going to read the thread, could they at least read the OPs updates. I do think she maybe trying to exclude herself from the driving by charging more than the other drivers. Knowing she will probably not be asked again to drive for future trips. (If she gets asked to come at all). Everyone charges wear and tear or no one does.

JaneyJimplin · 09/11/2019 09:34

Well I have a stretched 18 wheeler hummer that does 2 miles per gallon, so obvs YA definitely BU 🙄

Seriously, this thread is infuriating. The op should have included all info in her original post, however some of the replies are ludicrous. It doesnt matter how much you spend to fill your completely different vehicle, or factoring wear and tear, or suggesting op should be grateful of the lift regardless of being ripped off. Read all the posts and it's pretty clear the friend is taking the piss.

OP, have you replied to her?

Letseatgrandma · 09/11/2019 09:52

If people are not going to read the thread, could they at least read the OPs updates

What would be useful are updates saying

If the friend has driven them before? In this car? What did she charge then?

Is she tight with money historically?

Is the event something they could go to without her? What repercussions would that have? Would anyone care?

Does she not like driving and is trying to get out if it?

Though it would have been useful to have all that in the OP!

threatmatrix · 09/11/2019 10:24

Cipsmum
Depends on the car.

threatmatrix · 09/11/2019 10:26

Deliabucket
My thought exactly. Some people are so tight. My car does 20 mpg so it would probably cost that.

M2B19 · 09/11/2019 10:31

My 2L Mini Countryman would do 400 miles on about £50-£60 so I’d say you’re being over charged. No one in their right mind would surely charge for ‘wear and tear’ that’s pet and parcel of owning a car and if she would be driving herself there anyway would happen regardless. That is CF behaviour if they are.

threatmatrix · 09/11/2019 10:32

I think you are all missing the point. £15 each way is bloody cheap. Wear and tear not to mention mileage on her car and it’s her that’s driving whilst you sit back and relax. If this was a mans page this wouldn’t even be an issue. I have come to think woman are tight arses. My friends would not only pay the monies but buy her a nice lunch as well. This post beggars belief.

IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod · 09/11/2019 10:33

threatmatrix
RTFT they all take turns driving, it's not a one off event. The others don't over charge so why should she

SoupDragon · 09/11/2019 10:45

My car does 20 mpg so it would probably cost that.

Is it a Citroen C1?

Oakmaiden · 09/11/2019 10:45

Overcharging in such a manner would be evidence of operating for hire and reward.

Legally speaking, she isn't overcharging though. It looks very much like she has said the cost is 30p per mile (which is often used by companies, and well below the HMRC limit) and has used that to work out a fair split.

I'll grant you, it isn't normally how one shares costs with friends though. I do have a friend who does this - and I avoid taking lifts with her driving. Because I find it a bit grasping. Amongst friends it is more common to just split the fuel cost.

Devora13 · 09/11/2019 11:19

I would say 'I'd rather you were straight with me about the fuel costs which I know will be closer to £x. But I get all that driving is s lot to ask. Would it help if we shared the driving?'
I personally think £30 each we ay for a three hour journey is s bargain.

Catmaiden · 09/11/2019 12:35

HMRC milage includes wear and tear, cost of tax, insurance etc as well as fuel. So if its 400 miles that's £180 for the whole trip. And if you are sharing the driving has your friend also had to add you all to the insurance? Or if your friend is doing all the driving, that's a lot of driving.

bpirockin · 09/11/2019 13:55

If you go on to AA Routefinder I'm pretty sure that it has a costs section, probably based on fuel/wear ad tear/tolls etc. It doesn't sound unreasonable to me in terms of what you'd each pay if you went alone, but have a look on there.

bpirockin · 09/11/2019 14:01

Sorry, returned too soon. It may not be everyone's preferred approach when travelling with friends, but it keeps things simple. She's the friend who'd be out of pocket if there was an accident, or the car broke down etc. There's a big difference between being tight and reasonably compensated.

If it was one friend, I dare say I'd say that I was going anyway, and they'd offer to go halves on fuel. With three others however, who get a nice easy journey while the other one takes all the responsibility, I certainly don't think it's unreasonable to go with AA Routeplanner/finder (can't remember which it is) costs.

ChristmasFluff · 09/11/2019 14:06

I can get to Scotland and back on 2 tanks of petrol (1.4 Vauxhall Adam) - 10 hours driving and £80-£90

She's having a laugh.

Dad2one · 09/11/2019 14:14

Catch a taxi, see how much it will cost you, £30 isn't just for the petrol, it's the convenience, the fact your friend will be doing all the driving, the wear and tear of the car, by all means, if you can do it for cheaper, why not offer to do it instead.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 09/11/2019 15:02

@Dad2one (and others) but the whole point is that the friends take turns at who drives. The precedent has been set that they charge a reasonable amount for petrol (OP mentions £10 for their last trip to Edinburgh). The friend is therefore going outside what has been done in the past.

Wear and tear and there being a sole driver is irrelevant given the above.

jwpetal · 09/11/2019 15:43

I take a yearly trip with friends. It is a 4 hour drive in total and charge £20 to cover diesel and some wear & tear. This is a Kia Sedona - a very large car

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