Being made to use my car at work?

getmore4less

Standard "business" use may not be sufficient,

As you are carrying goods for delivery AIUI typically would not be covered under class 1.

If carrying a passenger check the policy for claiming extra, HMRC allow 5ppm tax free

getmore4less

For this round trip delivery it would probably be cheaper for the company to use hire cars and have just one employer driving/not working than paying the mileage.

check that option yourself the mileage may cover a hire car.

eg a car would be about £25 a day(deals can be done for regular hires to get this down).
say 50mpg==10p mile for fuel leaving 30p for the car.

Any trip over 85miles hire a car.

xapprenticex

lufcgirl wrote: »

Alas no, they wouldn't fire me. I'm their highest billing consultant in the North-East and Scotland so there is no chance of that happening. And I'm pretty sure they're just chancing their luck to see how far they can push me before I say no.

I'll have a chat with her when she's back from holiday next week. The problem I had was I deal with it when it's my work, but the fact they want me to escort a colleague out as she doesn't have a car for a whole day is what's annoying me and prompted this today. It's a case of them taking the mick! I asked them at my last pay rise if I could have a company car instead and was told point blank no.

Sorry but they are taking you for a mug. You are NOT a taxi.

If you are as good as you say you are (And I have no doubt you are) then it wont be hard to find a job somewhere else, unless you WANT to stay there, then just to resolve the taxi issue.

Dont make it all about the insurance though, they will get the impression that you dont mind doing it if you have the insurance, or have i got this wrong?

motorguy

lufcgirl wrote: »

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.

You're not paying for it out of your own pocket.

The mileage rate of any expenses you claim should include enough to cover the insurance cost, additional wear and tear, depreciation and the fuel cost.

I think the HMRC guidance on expenses is 45p per mile?

45p * 800 = £360 per month?

EDIT: Just read your 40p per mile comment.

40p * 800 = £320 per month.

If your car does 40mpg then you're using around £100 a month for fuel. THats leaving you £220 * 12 = £2640 per year to cover the £200 insurance, extra wear and tear and depreciation.

keith969

Ask them for a car allowance. The typical rate in my business is £600/month, that is in addition to fuel costs for business mileage (not travelling to/from your place of work).

LKRDN_Morgan

At 40p a mile you are making money that would more than cover your business insurance, wear and tear as well as fuel. I really don't see your argument other than you don't want to add miles to your car, which isn't a valid point as you've said your role includes visiting clients.

Your mileage isn't your employers concern

theoretica

As stated above, the mileage is supposed to also cover the extra insurance costs.

Using you as a taxi service is just financially stupid - how much are they paying you a day? With employers NI on top and everything else. Does this other consultant drive, but just not own a car?

The discussion on this thread has been mostly about company cars or own cars - what would a hire car cost? Get some quotes, they may turn out as cheap for the business as paying 40p a mile.

shortcrust

Everybody at my place (NHS) has to use their own car for work purposes and we have to cover insurance costs. Community health services would grind to half overnight if we refused to use our own transport. That said, we know we're going to have provide our own transport when we apply for the job.

It's incredibly irresponsible to drive without insurance. That's entirely your responsibly and could totally trash your life.

lufcgirl

So in our branch there are two consultants;

Me, and you know my situation

The other one. Who did have a car who she shared with her Mum. The car broke down and she can't afford to have it replaced which the company seem fine with, as long as I taxi her about.

So I can't see how it would even be possible to release me when the other girl has zero intention of getting a car for personal or work purposes. To me they are just taking advantage of the fact I do have a car.

LKRDN_Morgan

If you're having to taxi her about can you claim extra travel expenses? At my work if I have to take anyone else in the car I get an extra 15p a mile on top of my usual amount