Miffed about how they want me to give back lap top

[baddirk]

I recently left a nightmare company and job. Based in continental Europe. I was the only hire outside of their country.

When I left, they told me that shipping back the lap top is too expensive and that whenever one of them comes to London, they'd meet with me and I could return it.

I was not impressed but said ok let's see if the date and time and location lines up and we'll see if it's possible.

Assuming they'd check if I was available and maybe meet me half way or something ( london is massive of course ).

Anyway it's transpired that one of them will be in town in a couple of weeks and wants to meet to pick up lap top. I thought they'd say, where do you want to meet ? But I'm expected to go somewhere almost 1.5 hours away from my house and it's really pissed me off.

Aibu ? It's brought back a lot of negative feelings and it pisses me off that I have to go on a 1.5 hour mission to give this lap top back. At the same time, I do just want to put this all behind me.

I may ask the colleague to meet me half way, but even that pisses me off. I don't think colleague will be able to meet me anyway, as they're at a conference.

A laptop can be shipped for less than £10, tell them it's not suitable.

Courier it to the conference venue

They said it's too expansive to ship ! Can you imagine ? It's so ridiculous

You say you're not available to do that but are happy to arrange a courier to your colleague at their expense.

Too expensive??! Eh??!

Couriers are very reasonably priced unless it’s same day or you want to specify an exact time.

Yes, this. You don't have to go out of your way to accommodate them - you don't work for them anymore. They should collect it from your house or send a courier.

Don't take any messing from them!

I think the poster meant ask them to courier it to that venue rather than to the company?

Ah ok so I can get a courier in london to take it to my colleague in london. I have never used a service like that before but I'll do some research.

Couriers are not cheap if the insurance value for the item is high. Tell them you are not available and they can organise a courier to pick it up. Don’t pay it yourself!

No, tell them to arrange a courier to collect it from you and take it to your colleague at the venue.

Otherwise you won't get your money back.

'I'm not able/available to make that destination. Please let me know in good time when you propose to arrange for a representative or a courier to attend my home address to collect the laptop and I will check my availability accordingly'.

Assuming, of course, that you've already had your final pay.

When I left, they told me that shipping back the lap top is too expensive

That is 100% the company trying to gaslight you into taking responsibility for something they should have planned for .

If they hired an overseas employee, did they think that person would work for them forever? If so they are naïve

If they hired an overseas employee, and did think that person would leave, did they think it’s somehow one way expenses, upfront costs only? And the person would just “melt off the books” once done?

You absolutely should not travel to them. They must send a courier when you’re in the UK. It’s part of their responsibilities. Not yours. YANBU

Definitely courier to his / hotel in London or conference centre which they should be organising I would say. Presumably they weren’t intending to pay your travel costs to bring it to them.

No, that's the wrong way round. YOU don't organise the courier, the company organises the courier. For a large company, they sound very disorganised and unprofessional.

Tell them they can arrange a courier to collect it or they can collect it from (address). They want it. They sort it.

They should organise the UK courier and thank their lucky stars they are paying UK costs to do it, pathetic company trying to guilt trip women to appeal to their nature .

Nooo. Don’t do this OP. They’re taking the piss. Put your foot down and tell them it doesn’t work for you and that they can send a courier.

Thanks everyone. They also never offered to pay for me to get to my colleague of course.

I'm so pissed off. This says all you need to know about the company and why I left.

Why dont you suggest a closer meeting point, at your convenience. If they refuse then say that they will have to courier the item.

You don’t have to be available. They can send someone to pick it up.

my company always sends a prepaid box when I need to return tech. I do have to drop it off at a shipping counter, but that is local and if I put up a fuss they would arrange for home pickup. It’s just less hassle to drop it off.

In previous roles they always arranged a courier.

I just had to print to a label and find a box.

How did they get the laptop to you in the first place?

If tell them you can’t travel 1.5 hours to take them a laptop because you’ll be working. If they want to arrange a courier to collect it from you and take it to the conference, then they can let you know the details.

Get them to get a courier.

Totally up to them to arrange the return of the laptop. I would not be going anywhere or doing anything other than maybe waiting in for a morning (convenient to me) for someone to pick it up from me.

I was in a similar situation.

I asked them to meet me halfway. They sent a courier to collect it instead.

They're just trying it on