Delivery driver question

sweep1

I started working as a pizza delivery driver and have a few questions.
£30 a month is taken from my pay cheque each month for car insurance. (I have my own car insurance also). I am aware that other companies pay for their drivers insurance, is this normal? Also, after a 5 week month, £45 was removed from my wages before I got them. If 4 weeks is £30.00, how is a 5 week month £45? I was also told I must have a mobile phone as each shift you may need to phone a customer for a number of reasons. I assumed that whatever calls I made would be refunded to me but this is not the case, I must pay the cost of calls. Just last night I delivered to a remote spot and needed to call the customer. After 4 attempts the call was answered, costing me £1.60 ( 40p a missed call) I use at least 80p a shift, and the maximum used was £6.00 in one shift. Again, is this normal? Finally, I have never had a break and am told that I am in one of the few professions that are not entitled. Yesterday, I started my shift at 5pm. At 11pm as well as being hungary, I felt that I desperately needed to stop driving ( just for 15mins) the darkness and street lighting at night can make things blurry after a good shift. Again not allowed. And finally, the petrol allowance is paid at 80p per delivery. I can have many deliveries 5, 6, 7 miles away and come away many nights having actually contributed to the companies petrol.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

dam_fools

sweep1 wrote: »

I started working as a pizza delivery driver and have a few questions.
£30 a month is taken from my pay cheque each month for car insurance. (I have my own car insurance also). I am aware that other companies pay for their drivers insurance, is this normal? Also, after a 5 week month, £45 was removed from my wages before I got them. If 4 weeks is £30.00, how is a 5 week month £45? I was also told I must have a mobile phone as each shift you may need to phone a customer for a number of reasons. I assumed that whatever calls I made would be refunded to me but this is not the case, I must pay the cost of calls. Just last night I delivered to a remote spot and needed to call the customer. After 4 attempts the call was answered, costing me £1.60 ( 40p a missed call) I use at least 80p a shift, and the maximum used was £6.00 in one shift. Again, is this normal? Finally, I have never had a break and am told that I am in one of the few professions that are not entitled. Yesterday, I started my shift at 5pm. At 11pm as well as being hungary, I felt that I desperately needed to stop driving ( just for 15mins) the darkness and street lighting at night can make things blurry after a good shift. Again not allowed. And finally, the petrol allowance is paid at 80p per delivery. I can have many deliveries 5, 6, 7 miles away and come away many nights having actually contributed to the companies petrol.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

There taking the pi!! my friend and your letting them get away with it !!. Are you using your own car ?....if so you need buisness insurance for that, goto work and ask to see the poilcy of insurance , say your insurance company wants a copy for their records !! . Its your mobile phone and your paying to call there customers !! are you mad !!.

I see you have a good work ethic but dont let people take the pi!! out of you. If you let them do it once , it will keep happening and this employer is taking it big time.

paddedjohn

Re the mobile, you are on the wrong tariff if its costing you to make a call, you can get unlimited call/text tariffs for around £15-£20 per month.

306chris

I hate to say it but you have a crap job, I've been a delivery driver and in all fairness if you have a driving license then you are qualified.

Yes they are taking the pee, but if you complain what is likly to happen, my guess is that they will easily find somebody else they can dump all over.

Turn it around, if it still pays the bills then be grateful and get busy looking for something else. Not an easy time to be looking I know but its better to find a job now while you have one rather than be like me and find out one day you dont have a job to go to.

tight_scotsman

I do this type of work for a local kebab ,pizza, indian curry take away on a casual basis.
Here are my terms :£20 petrol money (up front each night)

minimum £1:50 per delivery up to £3 depending on the distance.

There are usually 3 drivers working from 5pm until 1am

We take it in turns to take a break around 30 mins.

The shop also give the driver food to the value of £7:50

thats just the way its done around here and most busy shops have a very low turnover of drivers.

To some its there full time job and very well paying it is for competent drivers

sweep1

paddedjohn wrote: »

Re the mobile, you are on the wrong tariff if its costing you to make a call, you can get unlimited call/text tariffs for around £15-£20 per month.

Thanks for reply. I have a PAYG phone though.

sweep1

306chris wrote: »

I hate to say it but you have a crap job, I've been a delivery driver and in all fairness if you have a driving license then you are qualified.

Yes they are taking the pee, but if you complain what is likly to happen, my guess is that they will easily find somebody else they can dump all over.

Turn it around, if it still pays the bills then be grateful and get busy looking for something else. Not an easy time to be looking I know but its better to find a job now while you have one rather than be like me and find out one day you dont have a job to go to.

You are absolutely right. The big problem is that I am one of only a few english speaking staff members and we dont understand each other half the time. But I was clearly told that these are the rules and that was the end of it. I just wondered if someone could tell me if any of these rules are illegal.

sweep1

tight_scotsman wrote: »

I do this type of work for a local kebab ,pizza, indian curry take away on a casual basis.
Here are my terms :£20 petrol money (up front each night)

minimum £1:50 per delivery up to £3 depending on the distance.

There are usually 3 drivers working from 5pm until 1am

We take it in turns to take a break around 30 mins.

The shop also give the driver food to the value of £7:50

thats just the way its done around here and most busy shops have a very low turnover of drivers.

To some its there full time job and very well paying it is for competent drivers

Wow! I'd be happy with half of your deal. I forgot to mention that re any food, everyone Ive asked who works in any food related work gets at least a plate of chips as a perk. After an 8 hour driving shift, a colleague asked for a onion ring, he was told under no circumstances is any food to be GIVEN to staff. Staff dont even get a discount on the pizzas.

sweep1

As Ive been told to like it or lump it re using my phone, can anyone tell me if this is legal?

tommytynan123

Don't think its illegal but its the T and C for the role so really up to you.
If you are making something then I would keep and job hunt. Fast!

sweep1

dam_fools wrote: »

There taking the pi!! my friend and your letting them get away with it !!. Are you using your own car ?....if so you need buisness insurance for that, goto work and ask to see the poilcy of insurance , say your insurance company wants a copy for their records !! . Its your mobile phone and your paying to call there customers !! are you mad !!.

I see you have a good work ethic but dont let people take the pi!! out of you. If you let them do it once , it will keep happening and this employer is taking it big time.

Yes, my own car. I did this job for a different company where I had to get my own business insurance alongside my own car insurance. The extra cost - £14 for the whole year.
I have a quote from my own insurance company for 12months business insurance for £28 for for 12 months. I went to the manager and asked 'If I can get business insurance for 12months at £28, why are you taking £360 a year? I was told that 'no changes will be made re insurance. Surely if I can get it for this price then THEY could get a better deal. Our hours have been cut this week, yet the shop has taken on 4 more drivers which is another £1440 in insurance payments. All the full-time staff have 10 hours less this week. Why do that and then take 4 new drivers on and give our hours away to them? Again when anyone says anything, the language barrier is a problem. Clearly the best thing is to stop moaning and leave as soon as something better comes along but I wonder are any of these practices at least unacceptable. All I hear is ' This is common practice in 'Their (the owners and managers) home country' or 'If you lived in their home country you would be so happy to have a job that you'd be embarrassed to ask for something like a lunch break. And also the phone - I should be so happy to have a phone that making a few calls for the job shouldn't be a problem, and these remarks are coming from other staff members (non british) also who just feel so blessed to be here and working. Appreciate your thoughts.