Being made to use my car at work?

lufcgirl

Hi,

I'm a Recruitment Consultant and work for a national firm. When I started as a consultant, it was desirable, however not a prerequisite to have a car.

As part of my job, I need to go to client's sites. Also it has been introduced in the past year 'drops'. Basically driving to 20 companies in the region and dropping off some branded goods. For all of these things I'm expected to use my own car. As far as I'm aware I'm not insured when driving for business purposes - I got a quote to add it to my policy and it was an extra £200 per year.

The branch has a car which our manager has, but because she taxes it it's classed as hers so it's her decision to let us consultants use it, which she won't. The other consultant in branch doesn't have a car so is relying on everyone else.

I'm stand in manager last week and this, and the Regional Director has instructed all consultants of a certain type (not me) to spend half a day 'dropping' next week. Because the consultant in our branch has no car, I'm expected to take her in mine.

Now, I do get expenses, most of the time massively delayed by the company. But I need to find out if they can actually make me do this? I don't want to be seen as a troublemaker but this isn't fair. The amount of wear and tear doing an extra 200 miles a week is killing my car

Also, my best friend works there, has just passed her test a month ago and they've already got her going out in her own car too. Which is again ridiculous.

Any help would be massively appreciated.

ohreally

lufcgirl wrote: »

I'm not insured when driving for business purposes.

Stop, due to this alone.

lufcgirl

ohreally wrote: »

Stop, due to this alone.

I pulled this line to my Manager prior to her holiday to be told she'd heard this a million times before. If I didn't do it, she would have to do it and basically I was guilt tripped.

The worst part was I actually had a 50/50 accident earlier in the year at a company car park. Luckily we just agreed to sort it out ourselves or we'd have been in huge trouble.

sangie595

My insurance company don't charge a penny extra for using the car for business. Many don't.

You can refuse. But I wouldn't expect that to go down well. Stop going to work in your car and say it is off the road? They can't make you drive what you don't have.

elsien

You need business insurance. That's not negotiable. Guilt tripping doesn't come into it. Do you want to be personally liable for any personal injury claims to your colleague or any third parties in the event of a crash? Because your ordinary car insurance won't cover you.

lufcgirl

sangie595 wrote: »

My insurance company don't charge a penny extra for using the car for business. Many don't.

You can refuse. But I wouldn't expect that to go down well. Stop going to work in your car and say it is off the road? They can't make you drive what you don't have.

I unfortunately can't do that, firstly I'm a god awful liar, and secondly I play a lot of sports after work so need to leave to get there afterwards.

Mine is because I've had historical points which haven't quite dropped off yet unfortunately. Anyway, I need to refuse, I'm doing an extra 800 miles a month but wanted to know if I'm within my rights to do that really?

agrinnall

Are you a very new driver? Because that's the only reason I can think of why there should be such a large additional premium for Class 1 business use. As sangie says, it normally costs either nothing or a very small amount - I once had it added to an existing policy and the insurer calculated the extra premium as less than £1 so decided not to collect it.

OK, I now see it's because of points, although I'm still surprised it makes that much difference. However, if you refuse to do the driving I would expect you to lose your job, so you might want to reconsider whether not paying the extra is a good idea.

lufcgirl

elsien wrote: »

You need business insurance. That's not negotiable. Guilt tripping doesn't come into it. Do you want to be personally liable for any personal injury claims to your colleague or any third parties in the event of a crash. Because your ordinary car insurance won't cover you.

I completely agree! But I don't see why I should have to pay for it from my own pocket. This is a national company and it has most of it's consultants doing this - most of which don't even have a clue they aren't insured properly.

I'm basically trying to work out how to approach it with them and also that I'd be backed up by employment law that I cannot be forced.

lufcgirl

agrinnall wrote: »

Are you a very new driver? Because that's the only reason I can think of why there should be such a large additional premium for Class 1 business use. As sangie says, it normally costs either nothing or a very small amount - I once had it added to an existing policy and the insurer calculated the extra premium as less than £1 so decided not to collect it.

It's historical points, back about four years ago I'd accumulated 16 points, I haven't had any since but because I have to declare them on all insurance policies for five years. They never look favourable!

ohreally

lufcgirl wrote: »

If I didn't do it, she would have to do it and basically I was guilt tripped.

She is going to become positively conditioned if you react by caving in and in all likelihood this will end poorly for you. Try and become more assertive (I can appreciate you may feel this to be a challenge) or this may end up damaging your work relationship.

ohreally

lufcgirl wrote: »

This is a national company and it has most of it's consultants doing this - most of which don't even have a clue they aren't insured properly.

Doesn't the company insist on viewing insurance documentation prior to settling expense payments?

Edit: Request they provide you with their driving at work policy and review whats contained within.