Should petrol money and accommodation be charged?

[PinkStarAtNight]

I am looking for opinions on whether a person should be charged petrol money and accommodation fees or not.

So the situation is, person A and person B agreed to go on holiday with each other and booked a holiday together last year. They paid half for the holiday itself and, because it involves person A driving them there, they of course agreed they would split the petrol money.

Months later, person C, who is a close family member of person A, is going through a tough time and was invited to tag along on the holiday as they live alone and are struggling.

There is now a debate as to whether person C should pay a third of the petrol money and a third of the accommodation costs.

Accommodation has already been paid in full between person A and B, so paying for accommodation would involve person C handing over cash to person A and B to make it so they have essentially all paid a third each. And petrol money would be split three ways on the days of travel.

So...
Should person C pay an equal share of accommodation and petrol?

Or should they not have to pay, because person A and B planned this trip a while ago and would be paying half regardless of whether person C attends or not.

Person C will not be increasing costs in any way as the accommodation has always been big enough for three people, as person A and B booked a large caravan. Person C has agreed that they will not be dictating what happens on the holiday or factored into any decisions or plans for the activities, as they are only going because they don't want to be alone right now.

Also, does it make a difference that person C is close family member of one of the original people?

I would say that yes they should contribute. However if this is beyond their means and you're feeling generous, you could say "you do the food shop then" or similar.

They should still pay a third tbh as they are benefiting from the holiday imo. If the close relative doesn’t want to charge them then they can pay 1/6 to go to non-relative.

Person C should pay a third:

If A&B agree C shouldn't pay (which I guess isn't the case else you wouldn't be posting), then C should pick up eg food & drink expenses up to 1/3 of the overall costs

Charge them or you risk the other person feeling very put out. Just make it clear that costs need to be shared.

Yes they should pay. Unless the 'tough time' has put them in financial difficulties.
As for being a close relative - I often pay for my younger sister as she has less money and a disabled daughter that prevents her from doing some things. We are going on holiday and I've rented a car. I said if she pays for her flights I'd not expect any contribution for the car as I'd need it anyway. However that's just me an her - if there was a third unrelated person I wouldn't expect them to extend the same generosity.
So, person C pays 1/3, or if in dire straits, relative can help with that persons share, but I wouldn't expect other person too, though of course they could.

Person C should definitely share the costs.

If I were A or B I would not be asking for a contribution to the accommodation or travel but would have a conversation in advance to say that costs once there will be split (however way that’s appropriate). If I were C I’d be asking for bank details to just transfer some money to the driver for petrol and then pay for a couple of meals and a shop once there. Not just offering but doing it.

Person C should of course pay a third, doesn’t matter trip has already been paid for, why should person b pay for person a family member??

It makes no difference that C is a close family member of one of them and of course they should pay.

If A and B want to offer the trip for free then they can, but C should be offering and expect to pay.

Depends. If B has already assumed that C will contribute then A needs to refund B for a third of what B is contributing.

If B doesn't have an issue then I wouldn't ask C to pay anything but couch it along the lines of "don't worry about the costs, you just get some drinks/food/whatever".

C should pay.
I might consider letting a close relative of my own come for free but not someone elses
If C cant pay or their relative doesnt want them to pay then they should pay C's share

Yes they should pay 1/3rd. Can't see any reason why anyone should think they wouldn't.

If C's hard time is money and even contributing food/drink is a stretch then A needs to cover that too. Did A consult B before asking C?

It feels very unfair for B, they now have someone else essentially gatecrashing their holiday and they're not even receiving any financial recompense for it.

Yup, I'd say they pay a third or Person A covers C's share if that's something they want to do.

It surely should've been discussed and agreed between A & B before actually inviting C.

But, as it hasn't I'd say 'either chip in towards rental costs or get the food shop to go'.

If you invite someone on holiday because they are struggling financially, you need to make it clear you expect them to pay as early as possible. You should have told them when you issued the invite.

Course they should pay a third, or if they can't, then the person who is magnanimously inviting them should cover their costs ie two-thirds.

You sound like you’re person C?

Yes, it was all paid for and they were happy with the costs split between the two of them when they booked. But their holiday dynamic absolutely will change with you there, whether or not you involve yourself in decisions, so you should be contributing to the costs.

No one said C was struggling financially. OP says C doesn’t want to be alone right now, so I’m guessing that C actually heavily hinted that they wanted to go too.

Person C should pay a third. Especially as you’re staying in a caravan, an extra person in that space makes a big difference.

This,of course . should pay, does B even know them well enough to want to go on holiday with them, never mind fund it!

They should all pay a third. Why should the others subsidise that persons holiday.

Of course person C should pay a third.

They're not tagging along, they're having a holiday.

If anything person B now becomes the tag along person so perhaps they should have the free place??

Just re reading and this makes me laugh incredulously! so paying for accommodation would involve person C handing over cash to person A and B to make it so they have essentially all paid a third each.
You make it sound like this is ridiculous! Actually having to pay for own accommodation?! The horrors! C isn't actually being made to go on holiday!