Works van and parking

[Greenbot35]

I'm a field service engineer using a van (now a pool van) my company want us to return the vans then commute home from then on. If we are away we're expected to drive to work collect the van and leave our car at the office for the duration of our work away. Does this sound unusual?

Secondly I'm not comfortable with leaving my car in a city centre overnight unattended for up to a week.

Edited by Greenbot35 on Friday 27th November 17:33

[NMNeil]

Greenbot35 said:

I'm a field service engineer using a van (now a pool van) my company want us to return the vans then commute home from then on. If we are away we're expected to drive to work collect the van and leave our car at the office for the duration of our work away. Does this sound unusual?

Secondly I'm not comfortable with leaving my car in a city centre overnight unattended for up to a week.

Edited by Greenbot35 on Friday 27th November 17:33

Not sure if it's unusual, but their insurance may have something to do with it.

[Ussrcossack]

So ask them what you partner would need to do is they wanted your car when you are away

Can understand van to base but not your car, this could have implications on your own car insurance

[98elise]

Ussrcossack said:

So ask them what you partner would need to do is they wanted your car when you are away

Can understand van to base but not your car, this could have implications on your own car insurance

I doubt it's mandatory to leave a car there. It sounds optional, ie if you drive to work, you can (rather then must) leave your car there while you use the van.

Leaving it there could have implications though. Most insurance companies want to know where the car is normally parked.

Edited by 98elise on Saturday 28th November 12:04

[Sheepshanks]

I hate company vans being parked in residential streets, but leaving your own vehicle overnight at work is a point I hadn't considered before. Would make life tricky for single car households.

[Greenbot35]

It's not mandatory, I've been getting a lift but it's adding over 2 hours a day collecting and returning the van ect and it's frustrating to almost drive past home and have to make a long trip ect.

[shouldbworking]

If the van survives safely parked at work why would your own car not?

Probably been drivers taking the p with using the vans for personal mileage hence desire for more control

[Heartworm]

Been the practice for the service engineers in 2 of the places I've worked, a combination of insurance and tax on the engineers was the reasoning.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Greenbot35 said:

I'm a field service engineer using a van (now a pool van)

I think you'll find that HMRC say that if you commute in a pool vehicle, it's not a pool vehicle, and you'll be liable for BIK. To avoid BIK, you have to leave the pool vehicle at work and commute to and from.

I guess that's what's behind it.

[Countdown]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I think you'll find that HMRC say that if you commute in a pool vehicle, it's not a pool vehicle, and you'll be liable for BIK. To avoid BIK, you have to leave the pool vehicle at work and commute to and from.

I guess that's what's behind it.

What Twig said

https://www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-company-v...

[Ussrcossack]

Now just a thought and not a key board 2944834

Is this a change in your terms and conditions

Union or acas could advise

[Sheepshanks]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I think you'll find that HMRC say that if you commute in a pool vehicle, it's not a pool vehicle, and you'll be liable for BIK. To avoid BIK, you have to leave the pool vehicle at work and commute to and from.

I guess that's what's behind it.

OP is a FSE - such users aren't normally commuting.

[Johnnytheboy]

Does your employment contract say anything on the subject, especially about where your base location is?

[speedyman]

If your pool van is parked overnight away from the office when working away, I don't see why the company are concerned about it being at your home overnight. Your a mobile worker not office based. Why are they changing things?

[A500leroy]

Perfectly normally, how many UPS vans do you see on peoples drives overnight?

[Countdown]

Sheepshanks said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I think you'll find that HMRC say that if you commute in a pool vehicle, it's not a pool vehicle, and you'll be liable for BIK. To avoid BIK, you have to leave the pool vehicle at work and commute to and from.

I guess that's what's behind it.

OP is a FSE - such users aren't normally commuting.

Aren't FSEs assigned their own personal van? In which case they can take it home and, as long as there is no personal use, there's no BIK

[Greenbot35]

Countdown said:

Sheepshanks said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I think you'll find that HMRC say that if you commute in a pool vehicle, it's not a pool vehicle, and you'll be liable for BIK. To avoid BIK, you have to leave the pool vehicle at work and commute to and from.

I guess that's what's behind it.

OP is a FSE - such users aren't normally commuting.

Aren't FSEs assigned their own personal van? In which case they can take it home and, as long as there is no personal use, there's no BIK

That's what I was expecting and have found in the past, I have no intention of doing any personal mileage. I thought tax would be applied only if I did personal mileage.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

We have similar issues at my workplace, although we haven't banned people from taking work vans home. It seems that no matter what rules you apply, employees will push them well beyond the limit even though they are fully aware the vans are trackered etc.

[Greenbot35]

Matt_E_Mulsion said:

We have similar issues at my workplace, although we haven't banned people from taking work vans home. It seems that no matter what rules you apply, employees will push them well beyond the limit even though they are fully aware the vans are trackered etc.

What issues are you having? Our vans are tracked too.

[Evoluzione]

Not really seeing the issue here. Either work around it and accept that's the way it is or leave, simple.