Problem with a work colleague!

DirectDebacle

kittiej wrote: »

Actually, is this point true? Do some insurance policies actually say you can't give someone else a lift to or from work?

That's interesting if it is.

Of course you can have passengers in your vehicle but you have to be aware that it could invalidate your insurance if you were carrying passengers for hire or reward. In the event of an accident if your insurer discovered that you were carrying a passenger for hire or reward then they may try to use this as a reason for not paying out. Theoretically you are now an unlicensed hackney carriage. Unlikely scenario but perfectly possible.

So following on from my previous post if she offers you money for petrol you must refuse it or it may invalidate your insurance.:D

On the other hand you could be diplomatic. Explain to her that her extra weight is dramatically increasing your fuel consumption. Tell her that if she made a contribution towards fuel costs then your costs would increase even more as you would have to adjust your insurance cover. Ask her to go on a diet or find an alternative means of transport to and from work. Enquire if her husband could get a job as a JCB driver.;)

liz_uk

I sympathise with what your saying, is there anyway you an offer to reduce the lifts you give her.

I have a friend, who I `can` only take home on a thursday and sunday!

I know its abit mean but be a tough cookie x

Good luck

Brecon_Beacons

You are being played for a fool. The woman might not exactly see you for a mug - but she is short of cash and your feelings are the last thing she is considering. All the hints in the world won't work with this sort - they develop ear muffs, blinkers, and a sharp determination to get what they want.

Which is free transport off you!!

Where I work there is pressure on available car parking and we are urged to car-share; it nearly always ends in tears. I have heard such horror stories! Despite there being an official policy that car sharers should split the cost 50:50 - some don't pay, won't pay, are surly and disagreeable company, and expect to be chauffered out of the owner-driver's way. I have also heard of considerable pressure - no, let's call it what it is, bullying - ocurring, to make the owner-driver change their hours of starting and finishing work - purely to suit the parasite.

You will have to take your courage in your hands and just say "No". No further explanation needed. Do not be drawn into an explanation, or an argument. You will only need to do it once.

Example: "I won't be giving you a lift tonight".
"Why not?"
"Because I won't."
"Why can't you take me?"
"Because I won't".
"What about tomorrow night?"
"I won't be giving you a lift".


And yes, the refusal will offend! Tough turkey! For two minutes of embarassment and a bit of sulking, it will be worth it to be shot of her. The world is full of !!!!!!!!!!s - she will get over it!!

ElaineE_2

This happened to my husband when he once offered a female colleague a lift to her bus stop as it was raining. She then hung around every evening by the car to cadge a lift. He was too soft to say no even though it was 1/2 a mile out of his way in heavy traffic.
I had to step in to stop it. I met her at a company function and pretended I didn't know it was her getting the lift. I said he was making me late for work in the evenings as someone was taking liberties with his good nature and I needed the car. A total fabreication but it worked.
Sometimes a little white lie needs to be told but keep it simple then you wont get caught out.
There again if you are caught out she will know you dont want to keep giving her lifts and needed to lie rather than hurt her feelings.

Good luck!

kittiej

DD you are absolutely wicked :rotfl:

I had thought of the extra weight thing, but I knew if I said anything it would come out all wrong and make her sound like a dumper truck or something.

I'm going to look at my insurance policy for clarification. I would be mortified if I've been invalidating my insurance. If there was an issue would she be bothered? No I don't think she would, just as long as she can get home.

PasturesNew

Oh, I'd hate this. The minute I get into my car it's my refuge ... my freedom ... freedom from the constraints of the office. It's my HURRAH moment. I SURVIVED ANOTHER DAY. I unwind on my journey home.

She'd make me angry and frustrated and annoyed and twitchy and nervous and hateful and ... and ... and ..... I'd probably even drive erratically and be snappy with her.

InkyCats20

I think in this situation you have to be harsh

I had two colleagues, one of which used to give the other a lift to the bus stop every night, then she went off on maternity leave (the one giving the lift) so the other said to me "oh you can take me instead" & I just turned round & said "no"

She always left on time, whereas I often stayed late or had to go offsite for meetings.

There was a bit of an atmosphere for a couple of weeks, then she came over one day & said "I'm glad you never said you'd give me a lift, the amount of times I would of missed my bus, would of been loads"

Everything between us was fine after that.

I also think as the OP said, you get used that "me time" in the car on the way home, you don't want to have to make conversation or spend the whole journey talking about work, you just want to drive home & clear your head, so to speak.

Thats my two penneth, for what its worth

DirectDebacle

kittiej wrote: »

I'm going to look at my insurance policy for clarification. I would be mortified if I've been invalidating my insurance. If there was an issue would she be bothered? No I don't think she would, just as long as she can get home.

Here is a link to some info on car sharing:

http://www.nationalcarshare.co.uk/downloads/pdfs/insurance.pdf

The AA recommend no more than 40p per mile as the maximum contribution that will not constitute 'making a profit'. Not sure how up to date this is.

floss2

kittiej wrote: »

.... If there was an issue would she be bothered? No I don't think she would, just as long as she can get home.

She'd be bothered if (God forbid) you had an accident & she was injured but because the policy had been invalidated she could not claim a penny towards her whiplash / broken arm etc...

Money_maker

I would also forget the excuses if you can or just go for the 'other things to do/other places to go'. Brecon breacons has the best idea but you need some balls to carry that out!

Really you don't need excuses as to why you cant ferry her around and her financial position is her problem, not yours.