Rude colleague using me as a taxi service driving me insane

[Drivendementedd]

I started a job in January, a new colleague told me she lived in the building behind me and asked if I could drop her home. I naively agreed thinking that I would gel with new colleagues quickly. However, this turned in to a full month of lifts in and out to work with her asking me personal questions such as my salary and then arguing with the manager for a pay rise. I got fed up when I was late once or twice in the mornings and she would call me demanding where I was and that she has been waiting outside my building. I finally stopped collecting her as I would sometimes wait 10-15 minutes for her and was feeling so annoyed at her attitude bearing in mind she never once offered to pay for petrol and told me she was so happy I joined as it was getting really expensive for her paying taxi fares. I was still stuck bringing her home as she would just follow me out to the car and sit in. She commented twice on my personal belongings being in the car asking wow is this a sweet shop/beauty salon. It was driving me insane! This went on for 4 months until I finally told her last week that I’m not insured to carry passengers and if I have an accident they won’t pay out so I can’t bring her. The journey was awkward she seemed upset but seemed to understand. I went in the following day and she interrupted a conversation I was having with another colleague to ask when I was going home, I said I told you I’m not insured so she insisted I should drop her to the closest taxi station when I declined. I thought she got the hint but the day after she asked again, I replied no. Today, she snapped at me infront of colleagues and deliberately tried to make me feel incompetent. I ignored her and just as everyone was about to leave she asked me for a lift again, I told her I’m not a taxi service and she looked at me in shock. The problem is I’ve heard her complain about me behind my back preciously and she’s told me the other staff don’t like me/think I lied to get the job which I later found out to be untrue. What is it with these people and what can I do? It’s driving me insane!!

Your problem is you're far too polite !
I would have told her to find her own transport within a week.
You see....the thing is with people like her....and I've met her kind before....they KNOW you're big hearted and far too nice to tell her to sling her hook. She is banking on your good nature and taking a huge liberty with you.
Do not ever let people take liberties with you.
So the only way to handle it is to tell her in very plain language she will understand that you will not be giving her a lift to or from work at any time now or in the future.
If she is causing problems for you at work do not hesitate. Report her to her boss and invoke the grievance procedure for bullying and harassment.
What she is doing is ILLEGAL.
Get this nipped in the bud.
Good luck.

You'd have got more replies and advice for this problem if you'd posted in AIBU.

Thank you for the responses, I wasn’t sure if I would sound childish as my husband sees a “funny” side to it as he can’t believe how brazen someone would be to jump into someone’s car without asking. I really thought she would have got the message as I said it so clearly but it’s like she has no shame. Also, thanks for the suggestion I have moved it to aibu section :)