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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU that employer is charging 23 euros for replacement clock card

24 replies

Kerrylass · 31/08/2022 16:20

I work in an office for a company of 60 employees throughout Ireland. About 3 years ago they introduced a clock in and out system. It is not connected to payroll. I missplaced my card following annual leave and they have told me it will cost 23 euros to replace. I said i wasnt paying it. I have never misplaced my card previously, I dont mind paying a charge but 23 euros seems excessive. Also this is my 1st time losing it. It makes no difference to me if i clock in or not. My boss tells me i have to get it. AIBU

OP posts:
Darkstar4855 · 31/08/2022 16:21

You lost company property so yes, they are allowed to charge you. It does seem high though.

Soontobe60 · 31/08/2022 16:24

You lost it, why do you not think you should replace it? Sounds like a reasonable cost, which will include the cost of someone’s time to raise the order etc.

DenholmElliot1 · 31/08/2022 16:24

If you don't pay it they'll probably just take it out of your wages

Original poster
Kerrylass · 31/08/2022 16:27

Soontobe60 · 31/08/2022 16:24

You lost it, why do you not think you should replace it? Sounds like a reasonable cost, which will include the cost of someone’s time to raise the order etc.

I do work for the company and make them alot of money. Its a piece of plastic.

OP posts:
WhenISnappedAndFarted · 31/08/2022 16:29

You lost it - you should replace it

mynameiscalypso · 31/08/2022 16:29

I assume the cost is to discourage people from being careless with their cards as it causes a security issue when they're lost.

TTCRand · 31/08/2022 16:32

I had this at my old workplace. People kept losing theirs (I did once too) so they put in a £20 charge to replace. Yes, you’re liable to pay it. I do think employers should give you benefit of the doubt if it’s just once but there you go

Woopzies · 31/08/2022 16:33

This looks like another 'AIBU? I'm not being U but if you tell me that I'm being U I'm going to beat a dead horse by telling you all once again that I don't think I'm being U'

If the above wasn't clear enough for you, OP, YABU.

Sunflowergin · 31/08/2022 16:35

what happens if you don’t pay….

Original poster
Kerrylass · 31/08/2022 16:37

mynameiscalypso · 31/08/2022 16:29

I assume the cost is to discourage people from being careless with their cards as it causes a security issue when they're lost.

This is my gripe - i lost 1 card in 3 years and im being fined. I think thats excessive, sure if i lost 2 or 3 but this is the 1st time i lost a card or indeed any company property. I make that money for my employer 20 times over a day.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 31/08/2022 16:37

I have to pay £5 if I loose my work ID card. That's fine. But £20 is ridiculous!

Original poster
Kerrylass · 31/08/2022 16:38

Woopzies · 31/08/2022 16:33

This looks like another 'AIBU? I'm not being U but if you tell me that I'm being U I'm going to beat a dead horse by telling you all once again that I don't think I'm being U'

If the above wasn't clear enough for you, OP, YABU.

Fair point, i'll accept the responce - thanks everyone!

OP posts:
AnImaginaryCat · 31/08/2022 16:40

It's €50 where I work.

I feel more panicked when I can't find it than I do my purse 😄.

ProfessorSlocombe · 31/08/2022 16:41

What does your contract say ?

Depending on what the car does, it could easily cost in excess of £20 to replace it, if systems have to be updated. And while it's not your fault your employer uses such a system, it's also not their fault that you lost your card.

donquixotedelamancha · 31/08/2022 16:42

You lost it, why do you not think you should replace it? Sounds like a reasonable cost, which will include the cost of someone’s time to raise the order etc.

Why are the first responses on questions like this so often confidently ill informed?
Why would anyone think that pissing employees off with such pettiness is smart?

  1. The cost of a new RFID card is nowhere close to Eu23 (less than Eu1) and it takes about 20 seconds to reprogram one.

The following is UK law but I suspect Ireland will be similar.

  1. They certainly can't make you pay for the old one unless they can demonstrate negligence and take you to small claims.
  1. They can make you pay for a new one if it is specified on your contract as a requirement that you pay for certain equipment (although I suspect charging £23 might still be unlawful). In which case they will deduct it from your pay. I very much doubt this is in your contract.

Personally I would not pay this without proof that this is what the cards cost and that this policy was communicated to me in writing before hand.

ProfessorSlocombe · 31/08/2022 16:52

Why are the first responses on questions like this so often confidently ill informed?

Says the person who then confidently trots out an ill advised response.

I know at least one company that subcontracts their entry system management. Flat rate they pay for a replacement card is well over £20, and that is contractually passed onto the employee. I'd ask them what they do when an employee loses a card, but I know for a fact it's not happened so far. (I only know because they were very careful to make sure they got my visitors pass back and explained why ...)

This would be pretty standard in serviced offices where the main entrance is managed by the building, rather than the occupying company.

Back in the day, with metal keys and locks, you might have to fork out a few hundred pounds to change the locks if a key was lost.

Original poster
Kerrylass · 31/08/2022 16:55

donquixotedelamancha · 31/08/2022 16:42

You lost it, why do you not think you should replace it? Sounds like a reasonable cost, which will include the cost of someone’s time to raise the order etc.

Why are the first responses on questions like this so often confidently ill informed?
Why would anyone think that pissing employees off with such pettiness is smart?

  1. The cost of a new RFID card is nowhere close to Eu23 (less than Eu1) and it takes about 20 seconds to reprogram one.

The following is UK law but I suspect Ireland will be similar.

  1. They certainly can't make you pay for the old one unless they can demonstrate negligence and take you to small claims.
  1. They can make you pay for a new one if it is specified on your contract as a requirement that you pay for certain equipment (although I suspect charging £23 might still be unlawful). In which case they will deduct it from your pay. I very much doubt this is in your contract.

Personally I would not pay this without proof that this is what the cards cost and that this policy was communicated to me in writing before hand.

Thank you for your help. Meeting HR tomorrow. Lets see what they say. My contract pre dates the clocking system so no mention of it there. Emails are the only notification we have got that the will cost to replace them but i cant find an email saying it is 23euros. Its not the money its the principle. Why do employers expect us to break our backs and not give a simple break to employees every now and then.

OP posts:
IHearIt · 31/08/2022 17:00

I think I agree with OP. If someone broke their chair or desk at the office, should they be expected to replace it? Or any other piece of office equipment? Do people who have company phones have to pay if they are accidentally damaged? I think any company should plan for a some amount of loss or damage of items they expect staff to look after.

aliloandabanana · 31/08/2022 17:09

I don't think you're being at all unreasonable. We don't clock in at work, but we do have door cards to get through to the staff-only areas. In over 5 years there, only one person has lost theirs, but it wouldn't occur to anyone to try and charge them for it! We can just de-activate lost cards and set up another - takes about 15 minutes to do all that.

So, if you leave do they expect you to hand in this precious, ridiculously expensive piece of plastic? Because if I'd paid 23 euros for it, I'd want to keep it...

I would expect to have had to sign that I agreed to T&Cs stating that I would pay if I lost the card.

CapMarvel · 31/08/2022 17:12

I've occasionally lost office keys/ cards etc and would never expect to pay to replace them. Things get lost occasionally, a decent company doesn't charge employees for stuff like this.

luckylavender · 31/08/2022 17:13

Depends on the contract / Staff Handbook I'd say. But you did lose company property.

giveovernate · 31/08/2022 17:15

A don't think it's an unusual policy. Not got one in current role but previous one was £20 replacement.

donquixotedelamancha · 31/08/2022 17:35

Says the person who then confidently trots out an ill advised response.

Why was my post ill advised? I simply stated when an employer can and can't charge in law and gave the cost of a new card.

All you did was give an anecdote to indicate why the company might be charged an inflated cost (hardly OP's fault if her company pay a 4000% mark up for a service). Your anecdote is predicated on this policy being communicated clearly and in employees contracts, something which I already said in my post but is not the case for OP.

LemonMuffins · 31/08/2022 17:39

I work abroad and if I lose my company ID card they charge me two days pay for a first offence 😱

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