Would you charge a friend for travel to work daily?

MarieMc

I personally would say no but I have been through a lot of bad experineces

globetraveller

during a time when I couldn't drive a friend/colleague living closeby gave me lifts. I did feel uncomfortable as she insisted on giving me a lift but would not take any money. I got round it by buying thank you presents eg a case of wine at christmas.
So- if I were you, I would accept the money. She wants to pay half- so just check the distance you go one day and you can work out the costs from that. Obviously there may be times when it wont be convenient so just deduct the daily amount( we all have dentist/doctor/hairdresser appts etc when you go straight from work)
Don't feel awkward- it is an arrangement which benefits both.

hngrymummy

Hi Elissa

I've not read the other replies, just wanted to give you my experience.

I live in the same town as a work colleague. They pick me up and drop me off every day, even though it adds another mile to their journey each way. I could drive in or catch the bus in, but that would cost me a fortune (and add to already bad traffic congestion on our route). I give my colleague half their petrol costs for the days I'm in the office. They used to say "No don't worry" but I know that was just out of politeness, and they money helps out. It now costs us both 50% of what it used to to get in to work, so we're both happy.

I would feel terrible getting all these lifts for free, and very uncomfortable.

If the money is offered, accept it graciously. She will be saving on bus money and you will be saving on petrol.

Mojisola

ellissa wrote: »

My dilemma is about whether to take money from her for petrol. She has asked that I tell her how much the petrol cost is and she will pay half. I hadn't even thought of taking money from her when I agreed to take her. I should add that that's exactly what I'd offer to do if the situation was reversed - pay for her petrol. However, is it right that I take money from my friend? I spoke to my parents about it and they say it would be out of order for me to take the money as I would have made the journey myself whether or not she was there. They say if she is adamant she wants to pay that I should just consider a token amount of £10 per month.

Out of interest, what would your parents say if you were the one having a lift from your friend? Would they tell you not to give her any money because she's going to work anyway or would they insist you had to pay your way?

sexki11en

I would say yes - take the money. A colleague used to give me a lift from the end of the road to work and back every day. I'd walk the mile there and back to the end of the road and give her a tenner a week for taking me 2 miles a day. A tenner a week was half the cost of what would have been my bus fare so we both won.

Sadly she's on maternity leave now so it's back to £20 a week for travelling 8 miles a day :mad:

Edited to add: My colleague didn't go out of her way, I walked to a point she would pass normally anyway and she picked me up/dropped me off there.

SK x

maisiescamp

I used to work with my next door neighbour who I had been friends with before I moved in next door. She gave e a lift to and from work and I gave her money towards her petrol costs - I am pretty sure I gave her £5 a week.

Although you are making the journey yourself, you are going out of your way for her so yes I think you should accept the money. She would probably feel better as well, and is certainly saving her a lot on having to use public transport instead.

aliasojo

Aren't there 'official' guidelines that cover this under some Government car share thing? I'm sure I read an advisory sheet that encouraged workers to car share as it cut down on emissions, busy roads etc. They listed one of the benefits as cheaper outlay for the car owner due to shared costs.

OP maybe you could run that by your parents if they're not pleased with your decision.

It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned, share the journey, share the costs.

bylromarha

Back in 1995 I drove a 20 minutes extra to collect a girl who worked at the same place as me a 30 minute drive away as she asked, and there was no convenient way for her to get there otherwise.

She said at the start she would pay her share of petrol. When I asked directly for her to fulfill what she said she'd do, I was always getting the money the next day or the next week. I filled the car up whilst she was in it to see how much money it cost, and she still never stumped up cash. All the time in the car she would moan at me how expensive her wedding in a few months was going to be. I was taking a gap year in order to work to save for 4 years at uni, but that seemed to pass her by.

It made me really resentful that I was paying to take her to work, but the innocent 18 year old I was didn't have the guts to not collect her from home.

So OP make sure both of you are clear as to how much money you'd like her to pay and when you'd like her to pay it.

balletshoes

I haven't read the replies to your first post yet OP, but its pefectly fine for you to take petrol money from your friend, and half the petrol sounds just about right to me. Look at this from your friends point of view, if she didn't have you to rely on to get her to work, it would cost her a whole heap more in expenses to get to work. So half the petrol money is actually saving her money, and she'll feel its worth it to be in the comfort of your car with a friend to chat to.

mountainofdebt

Whilst I can see everyone's point of view I would check to see if by giving you money for petrol isn't classed in some way as accepting a fee and would it invaliate your insurance if you were involved in an accident.

Have you considered what would happen on days that you weren't in work (holiday, sickness etc) or if you wanted to go somewhere else straight from home?

To my mind, by taking a set amount each week these problems could become more sticky to solve than if she gave you money on an ad hoc basis.