4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Hen Huggers R Us]

Hi I need some advice, I have worked for my current employer for 2 years now and have the benefit of a company van, I can use this in my own time after work, my employer pays the fuel bill, I have just received a letter stating that my personal mileage is to be restricted to 50 miles per week as from June 1st. I already pay a high price in tax for this benefit (tax code is 38 L) I do not abuse this company perk by a long way and now I wont be able to benefit as much as I was and still pay the high tax price. Are they allowed to do this at such short notice or any notice at all, I am not an expert in these matters but feel myself and many other employees are being harshly treated for our efforts.

[theherd123]

Im not too sure about this at all but it doesnt seem fair if you remain in the higher tax bracket too

 

If you are in a union they should be able to give you some good advice. Try contacting the GMB or Unison as they may be able to help.

[Hen Huggers R Us]

Nope no union

[sparkleeeeee]

its probably the huge rises in fuel costs and people abusing the system. We used to let people take the trucks home but now only one employee can, due to severe misusse and rocketing fuel bills. they could easily add £200 pw to our fuel bill and we just cant afford it.

could you offer to pay for the extra fuel over the 50miles?

or could you opt not to have the van and go back to normal tax?

[freddie]

we have vans for our lads, but they use their own vehicles to get to and from work, that way, they dont get lumped with an extortionate tax bracket, and we keep the vehicles as work vehicles, with all the extra insurance costs etc considered

[Hen Huggers R Us]

Thanks for everyones advice, it is not feasable to leave the van at my employers base as I am a field service engineer, it could reduce my working day up to 3 maybe 4 hours because of travelling time and put an extra hour per day an my working day if I had to travel to pick up the van, they will charge me 40p per mile over 50 miles per week, a high price again. I think the only way to get out of this is to change jobs, unless somebody out there can tell me if this is legal what they are doing.

[Dodge]

Playing Devil's advocate,

 

Your employer might want to know why he should pay your petrol bill for any private use that you may have? He is there to run a business and hopefully make a profit. He may suggest that in the current climate where petrol prices are rocketing, that he is in fact being very generous to allow you 50 miles a week for personal use. That equates to 2600 miles a year.

 

Unfortunately if you want the right to keep the van at home, and not use your own car to travel to work and back each day, then you have to pay for that privilege via your tax code.

 

This web site may give you a further insight.

 

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vans/index.htm

 

Good Luck

 

Dodge

[sparkleeeeee]

i am sorry but i think the same as dodge, you would have to use your own car and petrol to get to work and have to spend and extra hour out of your own time, so you have a big advantage having use of the van. i dont know how many miles your van does to the gallon but you need to add vehicle wear and tear and extra insurance for personal use that the employer also has to pay. basically your employer is saying you need to use your own car for personal use as they probably cant afford to pay for you to use theirs. 50 miles a week sounds a fair figure to me. alot of businesses are finding it hard at the moment and are having to cut back to stay afloat.

[Willow]

What does your contract say ? If it is in there as part of the Terms and Conditions I think they have to formally change your contract.

[catherinee99]

This may be your employer imposing a new term upon you- a unilateral variation of your employment contract which gives you 3 options; either accept the change, reject it and raise a grievance or resign.

 

I would suggest that realistically your employment contract is likely to say that you can use your van for reasonable personal use and they are now stating what they consider to be reasonable, ie 50 miles a week. This is not a variation but a clarification of an existing term so you may be stuck with it.

 

Most solicitors do a free chat on the phone or a quick advice clinic or interview for 20-30 mins for free or a fixed fee so take all your documentation along and get some advice. It really depends on what your contract says.

 

You can search for an employment solicitor in your area via the Law Society website.