charge for using company van at work

[grimysparks80]

Hi all.just looking for a bit of advice. I have been with my current company for just over a year. They are asking us to sign a piece of paper authorising them to deduct £40 a month from our wages to cover any potential damage to our work vans. apparently if our vans are undamaged at the end of the year we will be paid the whole amount back. about £500 over a full year. I have no intention of signing this and was just wondering if anyone had any advice. I am not with a union and plan to call acas tomorrow. the van is only used for work and I consider myself to be at work as soon as I leave my house because I work all over wales without going to our central office. thanks in advance.

 

[moose]

All I would say is I need more overtime to cover the costs, or maybe a pay rise, as my bills are limiting me signing up, but if the time comes to pay a fee, when i crash the van etc, then ill be happy to pay, maybe £20 a month...till it payed (this is a true comment).

 

[grimysparks80]

Here is the form they want us to sign. thanks for all the replies gents

 

[Poult12]

I only pay £30 for 'Personal Use' but i have a vauxhall estate car.
Seems fishy

 

[mechelec]

Will they still take the money during time off and holidays ? I would sign it and just book an extra half hours overtime to cover it and the interest.

 

[guest119]

The money is stated as nett therefor costs you more than £10.
The form states that they can take more off you at the end of the year if required.
You are to keep the van clean, how much do you get paid for washing a vehicle that is not your own?
I wouldnt sign their form and wait for their response.


Back in 2007 I had a van and was working as a foreman. Right from the interview it was stated that I could use the van personally. Everything was fine from 1999 till 2007 when they put trackers in the vans inc the foreman's. Then we were given a form to sign that stated we would not use the van privately and they would be watching via the tracker and would tell the HMRC if we did, therefor changing our tax code. (benefits form p11d)
I dropped the van off at the office 60 miles away late one evening and launched the keys through the letterbox. Weeks later I Found another job and left with virtually no notice.

This sort of ---- always leaves a bad taste.

Boydy

 

[AndrewMgan1976]

If they want to go down that route.

Do they supply the workforce with mobile phones to get in contact with you? If they use, your own PERSONAL phone then, I would withdraw that facility from them or ask to be reimbursed for the line rental per month.

 

[PEG]

...Reading this thread reminds me why i have worked for myself for most of my life...at least once a week i get to say Duncans famous line..."i'm out...":27:

 

[ian.settle1]

Therefore write a letter of explanation that the reason for no signature is that you have not been given the details or the time to assess the implications of this requirement. The impact this would have on your personal circumstances would need to be assessed. Written guarantees of the December monetary return, the specific conditions under which it would not be returned (not paid) to the employee, specific details of the payment to be made for the loss of interest on this money being held by the company would all need to be in place.
Alternatives could also be considered, such as an agreement that the excess payable by the company (up to £500) for any repairs to your vehicle that have been proved to be caused by your negligence may be taken from your future pay would need to be considered, but further details of the insurance arrangements would be needed as excesses are often high for fleet policies.

And you wish to speak to a solicitor on the legalities of what they are doing.

 

[Englishman]

Talking of this, I worked for a company a couple of years ago as a subby, one man band, had 5 of us working for him, had 2 new vivaros and an old transit connect.

Anyway, the lad driving the connect was sacked and it sat there doing nothing for a week or so until he offered it to me. But wanted me to give him £200 a month to cover fuel, insurance etc!!

This was just before Christmas. He also wanted me to start putting my invoices in monthly and getting paid the following month. So I would have worked January and February before getting paid at the end of February for what I'd worked in January, and so on.

Needless to say, he was told where to go and started working for another firm just after Christmas.

 

[Risteard]

Totally illegal in my opinion. Refuse to sign.