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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Miffed about how they want me to give back lap top

89 replies

baddirk · 17/05/2024 17:30

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
baddirk · 17/05/2024 17:52

Shinyandnew1 · 17/05/2024 17:47

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.

I went to HQ in person to meet everyone, that's when they gave it to me.

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 17/05/2024 17:53

I was recently made redundant and my former employer wanted me to finish on a Monday, but attend the premises on Tuesday to return all my IT equipment etc. I pointed out that once I ceased to work for them, they no longer got to dictate my movements. My lawyer made them change my last day to one that worked for me and the equipment was returned that day

Aquamarine1029 · 17/05/2024 17:56

Don't be a doormat. If they want the computer they will have to pay to get it.

Caroparo52 · 17/05/2024 17:56

"Sorry not possible to make pick up . I am able to courier laptop at your expense. "
End of. Their choice

MonkeyHair · 17/05/2024 17:58

Definitely don't go to the venue. Either suggest meeting somewhere suitable to you, get them to collect from you or courier (in an Uber!!) to the venue.

ToxicChristmas · 17/05/2024 18:05

Agree with responding telling them that you can't travel to this location due to distance and that you can send the laptop via courier to the venue or to the home office at their expense and to please let you know either way. Leave the ball in their court. It's not your problem. You are not refusing to return it. As long as there was nothing in your contract about you being responsible for the cost of returning equipment (which I'm sure there is not) you are fine.

coxesorangepippin · 17/05/2024 18:12

This is where blocking comes in

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 17/05/2024 20:19

How many years have you been using the laptop.

Just makes me wonder how desperate they are if they can't pay a courier fee to pick up a second hand several years old laptop

MushMonster · 17/05/2024 20:24

Can you post it somewhere in London convenient to them? And they can pick ut up?
Like a parcel delivery centre?

Ginkypig · 17/05/2024 20:29

If they want it back they either have to arrange a courier ant their expense either to the office or to the colleague or arrange for colleague to collect the 1.5 hours to you to pick it up.

send this in writing that you save a copy of so they can’t say you’re trying to steal anything.

Cofaki · 17/05/2024 20:29

Tell them that they need to either send a courier to your address (and give some days they can do that) or provide you with a prepaid shipping label and you will take it to the post office.
If they ask for anything else just copy and paste that message again. They are taking the Mickey.

HermioneWeasley · 17/05/2024 20:39

Tell them what your hourly rate is for the three hour journey.

HcbSS · 17/05/2024 22:59

I will be at X place at X time (suitable for you). If you want it, come and get it.

TeenLifeMum · 17/05/2024 23:09

This thread is fascinating. I’m nhs so probably different but we’re responsible for returning our equipment. On Monday my colleague had to drive the hour commute to hand his stuff in. No way would we pay mileage etc.

TwixOwl · 17/05/2024 23:10

No no no no no no... You don't work for them anymore, you owe them nothing. You don't go fiddle farting to their tune across London.

Stuff the laptop in a cupboard and tell them if they want it back they organise something. Then just forget all about it.

When I left my old job they asked for some bits back but I refused to do it, they soon forgot.

Codlingmoths · 17/05/2024 23:11

I’d say it’s too far but if you arrange a courier I am home at these times for the courier to collect.
end of dialogue- if they want the laptop back they’ll do something about it

category12 · 17/05/2024 23:11

Couriers can be cheap - but this is a work laptop, presumably with company and customer data on it and access to work systems.

I used to book courier services for work laptops and it cost an alarming amount of money, because we didn't want them sat around in depots and they needed a higher level of security than your average parcel.

It is OP's responsibility to return work equipment.

Divebar2021 · 18/05/2024 00:36

@TeenLifeMum

just out of interest what do you think the NHS would do about an employee who refuses to drive to a location after the completion of their employment to return equipment?

Applecake99 · 18/05/2024 02:58

Omg, I had the same with my previous company, they asked me to bring back x2 laptops all the way to the office (different city) to be honest I should have told them that they have to arrange a pick up, at the end it's their property/responsibility, but I was also so done that I agreed to bring them.
I regret it, they did not even allowed me inside the office, my manager told me to message her when downstairs, she came, took the laptops and said bye.

Tell them to fix their own pick up, it's their property.

peanutbuttertoasty · 18/05/2024 03:20

Give them an expensive quote for your time and ask which method they’d rather pay for

RawBloomers · 18/05/2024 06:36

Don’t do this, OP. And don’t research couriers for them or pay for one. Tell them the location does not work for you but they are welcome to collect it from your address between [whatever hours suit you] on the date in question, otherwise they will need to arrange another way to return it which does not unreasonably inconvenience you.

Fraaahnces · 18/05/2024 06:39

Tell them they can pay for the bloody courier as well. Make sure it’s COD.

OpusGiemuJavlo · 18/05/2024 06:58

Your time isn't free. You aren't their employee any more. You do not have to give them your time for free.

Transport across to the conference venue isn't free either.

To be quite honest a second-hand laptop isn't really worth this hassle - they probably don't really want it back very much nut just don't want to write it off.

I would send an email saying "I think there has been a misunderstanding. I expected that when you said someone would collect it when next in London you meant someone would collect it from me. I am no longer an Xxx employee and my time and travel expenses are not free. (Employee name) is welcome to come to my home at a prearranged time to collect the item. If you want me to act as a courier to travel 3 hours, plus travel expenses, it will not cost ypu any less than paying a professional courier to do the same work"

Don't offer to meet half way. You do not owe them a single minute.

category12 · 18/05/2024 07:02

To be quite honest a second-hand laptop isn't really worth this hassle

It's not the value of the hardware that's the issue, it's the commercial data and company systems access it has on it.

Original poster
baddirk · 18/05/2024 07:12

category12 · 18/05/2024 07:02

To be quite honest a second-hand laptop isn't really worth this hassle

It's not the value of the hardware that's the issue, it's the commercial data and company systems access it has on it.

Actually, everything is online anyway. The laptop contains nothing.

All systems are in the cloud. It may as well be any laptop.

OP posts: