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?

C should pay their share or not go.

I wouldn’t charge C towards accommodation but split all other costs three ways. Unless C had severe money issues as part of their problem. Hopefully C would offer anyway and make the problem irrelevant. I guess the dynamics of the three makes a difference to whatever gets decided.

It depends what was agreed at the time of the invitation, but person C should at least have the decency to offer a contribution.

Person C needs to start behaving like a grown-up and either deal with being alone in the house or invite a friend to stay.

They don't have to hand over cash they could just do a transfer if that makes you feel better?

But I don't think person C should be paying identical costs to A&B but then gets no say whatsoever in what happens on the holiday.

To me this sounds like a conversation best had at the time of inviting person C. What were they led to believe the arrangement would be?
If they're really hard up I'd maybe ask them for a smaller contribution, particularly if them paying nothing is going to cause friction / resentment. Be clear with them though.

C should offer to pay.

At the beginning you made it sound like C was a independent person, you even said they lived alone, but they don't live alone - they live with you and can't manage alone because of this 'tough time'.

It all just sounds like you have manipulated B into having to say yes to your presumably adult child coming along on this holiday but for free. B thought they were going away with a friend. But now this has changed everything.

The best thing would be for C not to come after all. Can't they do something with a friend? Or just manage.

I just imagine you constantly shoe horning this family member into things.

Did the bear attack the villagers? Because that makes me less likely to leave the 27 year old alone at home with them.

I take it that is an absolutely 'hilarious' and oh so clever comment on SPAG by someone who had to edit their own post.

Very much expecting a rap on the knuckles but if you are a and c is the same Andrew tate loving dp, I can't imagine why on earth b would want to go! Basically is now a 3rd wheel on a couples hol!

Surely nobody thinks that they can bring their partner of a holiday with their friend for free! Surely!

For some reason, this is one of the best ‘who should pay?’ Threads ever .

Oh god. That's so awful. Poor B.

I've just looked at the OP's posting history on the back of this and it could very much well be the situation. 

@PinkStarAtNight if this is your boyfriend who you have made threads about before and who has now told you he can't be alone for a week, and you said previously that he had told you that he has anxiety and that lots of men take their own lives because they have nobody to talk to. If this is what is happening then you are in an abusive relationship.

was invited to tag along

Who invited them and why did they do so before agreeing the impact on the costs.

If they are literally invited as a second class citizen with no voice in what happens, because they are struggling and can't afford then own holiday, it seems a bit off to then ask them for any equal contribution or, really, any contribution at all.

I like to discuss and agree arrangements in advance, always, not just on holiday.

This does not bode well for me, for the whole holiday.

if this is your boyfriend who you have made threads about before and who has now told you he can't be alone for a week, and you said previously that he had told you that he has anxiety and that lots of men take their own lives because they have nobody to talk to. If this is what is happening then you are in an abusive relationship.

This puts such a worrying slant on things.

@PinkStarAtNight

If anyone ever threatens suicide, the only thing to do is phone for an ambulance and let the professionals deal with this very serious situation.

Please do not waste your life with such a manipulative partner. They care nothing for you and are just selfish.

I believe @MetalFences was being sarcastic.

Clearly OP is A or C. FFS just accept that everybody needs to pay their share and split everything 1/3.

B- run for the hills, give up on the £65 you've spent on the caravan and leave A&C to it. They can pay the transport and bedding costs as they will be the only ones there.

Pay not one penny more and I would cool the friendship too.

As was l.

Oh....sorry 😞

I’m beginning to think a holiday in the village
with the bears would be preferable!

@Riverlee Maybe that's how it will end up if C 'needs more space' and B is thrown out of the caravan to fend for themselves into the woods (with the bears)

She might get a pillow if she's remembered to bring on for herself.

B - you might want to pack a tent.

All the drip feeding and subsequent revelations about OP! Why can't OPs put the full story in the original post? Drives me absolutely mad!
And having read the updates... No booze, no fun? Sounds like a dream time away!
I'd also pay double not to go! 🤣

Surely it’s A who likes to save money by using C to fund a relative’s holiday?