The neighbour and the EV charger

[Alittlebit9]

DH has an electric car, and had a charger installed at home on Friday. It cost him £1200.

Today, neighbour (who we are fairly friendly with, in a neighbourly way) has messaged me to ask if we would mind if they used it from time to time. I think she’s being a CF and this will be a slippery slope. Plus it’s on our driveway so we would have to move our cars. Also, I know it isn’t expensive but it’s going onto our bill.

YABU - let them use the charger
YANBU - they need to get their own

I wouldn't even reply, just ignore.

If she brings it up again just give her a hard stare and tell her you assumed her previous message on the subject was a joke as you'd never have thought someone would seriously ask such a thing.

Absolutely this. Keep.it simple and straightforward. Don't open up a dialogue.

I would let a neighbour (or anyone) in desperate need use my charger, on a "just this once and just enough to get to a proper charge point" basis.

But @Alittlebit9 I wouldn't agree to what your CF neighbour is asking for. Actually by asking and then getting a blanket "NO" she cant even approach you when desperate, that's what being grabby gets you.

I’d nip this in the bud now. Just say, ‘No, but there are the details of the people with used to install’. Or, ‘Sure, as long as I can come round and shower in your house every morning’.

I think I would say something like, oh you're the 10th person that's asked that, so unfortunately we're having to say no to everyone to avoid any issues. Here's the contact details of the guy that fitted it though, thoroughly recommend if you're interested....

She wasn't joking...

Just ignore that request and reply with a 'DH got ours from X, get one-they're great!'

If they've got an electric car with no charging point, then that's their decision!

Another vote for Co-Charger (we use it to charge our car at a neighbouring house as we live in a terrace without a drive).

You could sign up or send her a link to the website where she could find other hosts.

https://co-charger.com

It’s a ridiculous request- it’s not like borrowing a garden hose or a cup of sugar.

You're doing the right thing by cutting her (and any other CF neighbours) off now.

Click on what you wanted. You can change your vote as much as you want.

"Oh, we would obviously have to charge you the going rate, and that might be a bit awkward, so perhaps better not." Then add in your bit about how to get their own.

Of course it is.

When did people get to be such pushovers? Someone else saying it might make the neighbourly relations awkward in the future if the OP said no. So what? The neighbour has already made it awkward as @Alittlebit9 doesn't seem to realise she owes the neighbour nothing and can say no, and without stupid justifications or blaming her DH.

Contrarily to everyone else, if you can work out a sensible cost per charge — which won't just be the unit rate, but also include a contribution towards installation and maintenance costs, your time in making the facility available and overseeing it, plus a convenience fee — then it would help you recoup the initial £1200 outlay.

Work out a fair price, offer those terms, and ensure payment is transferred to you before each charge. If they're genuine, it's a mutually beneficial arrangement; if they're CF angling for free charging, they'll run a mile.

(I come from a world of car sharing and informal car rental/car use rates.)

This.

Wouldn't be asking for someone to pay for fuel at the petrol station would they? Or would they? 🤨🤔Cheeky fuckery needs nipping in the bud here.

A simple, "I don't think that is going to work for us, actually Suzanne" should suffice.

At 1200 blatts I would hope the thing has a lock on it, no?

“As a one off of course! But unfortunately we would have to charge if you needed to use it more than once, I’m sure you understand”

Love that there's an app for everything these days! No more dog-eared notebooks and negotiations over the garden fence.

It will always be a one-off.

Why are you even questioning whether to say no? Stop being such a pushover and give her a hard no. Don’t bother sending details of who fitted your charger either. If she wants one she can figure it out. Jeez, you’ll be offering her an extension lead so she can plug in her dishwasher next!

I would send her the link to get her own and explain the process you went through - she just needs to make some effort herself!

Do you have an ev tarriff? Ours only costs £5 to charge between midnight and 5 at 8p a kw but if I charged during the day it’s 24p. Worth considering

Erm no.... setting yourself up for unending hassle especially with moving of cars.
Just say sorry its not something we want to get involved with. Can send your details of our installer....
The cheek...

No. You can have an app so only you can use yours.
I’d just ‘misunderstand’ reply with details and cost of person who installed yours.

Nope, no and never. Give some people an inch and they’ll take a mile. If you agreed then it wouldn’t take long until her car would be on your drive every day and you’ll be tearing your hair out.

As my Dad often said, don’t start something that you can’t finish.

Where does your neighbour currently charge their EV???