[mxg]

Folks

Had a call today from one of my staff - they had just come out of a clients premises and the drivers door window had been smashed and a handbag taken.

The initial call (not the owneer of the bag) said that the bag was on the seat but by the time they returned with the vehicle, the bag was under the seat! Unfortunately for her she had  a large sum of (rent) cash in her bag and 4 new passports for an imminent family holiday.

So I am left with a load of hassle to sort this out and a £75 excess charge.

Call me cynical but I can't see anybody smashing a window to get at a handbag thats hidden under a seat ? . So I feel I am being charge for somebody elses carelessness. I'm a fairly reasonable person but I feel that I'm always the one that ends up out of pocket through no fault of my own.

What would you do in this type of circumstance ?

Does anybody have anything in their policies, procedures to cover this sort of eventuality ie we state that we are happy to pay reasonable parking charges but we will NOT cover parking fines etc as otherwise they can just park where & when they like and .... etc

Mick

[Mr H]

I'd say your NOT resposable for her bag or contents of her bag. If its not covered by your insurance then your not responsable...

Regards
Mr H

 

[steve doyle]

not alot you can do but pay the £75 and make it clear to all staff that if this happens again through leaving things on show they will be liable for the next £75.

I would think it comes somewhere in the "taking care of company property" section you wouldent expect them to leave doors unlocked etc because its not their equipment and this is the same, bags/ items on show are a target and any costs of damage to vehicles as a result of carelessness will be charged accordingly to those responsible.

not really sure what to suggest other than chalk it up to experience and learn from it.

[Kevin White]

If it is a company vehicle then it is your policy and your excess, if it is your staffs car then"c'est la vie"

[dandandan]

Her personal belongings have nothing to do with your company and should be covered by her house insurance.dan

[rob fryer]

Who in there right mind leaves money and passports in a motor .The thing with common sense is that its not very common!!!.
YOU ARE NOT AT FAULT pay for your losses  not other peoples.

[steve doyle]

I dont think mxg is saying the handbag owner is trying to recover the handbag and contents costs from the company, just that the £75 excess he now has to pay is down to careless behaviour and is questioning whether or not the employee should be in some way be held liable for this £75.

i think?

[mxg]

Yes Steve is right - I have no intention of stumping up for her lost cash/passports! Even the £75 bugs me because I don't believe people smash a window to see if anybody has stashed a bag under the seat.

 I strongly suspect but obviously cannot prove that the bag was clearly on display and was too much of a temptation for llittle scroat who got lucky - I doubt she normally carrys more than £5-10

Do they really need to carry a handbag ? No idea and obviously dont want them bringing personal property on to client premises with all that entails

Probably just need to add some more words to our Contract of Employment/Handbook

Thanks for your contributions guys. Its always good to get other peoples thoughts on these kind of matters

Mick

[dandandan]

Tell her your insurance company need proof of cash withdrawel from bank etc and copy of passport loss application before they will pay out along with your crime reference number,make things difficult and they will take more care next time,dan

[mark dew]

Tell her your insurance company need proof of cash withdrawel from bank etc and copy of passport loss application before they will pay out along with your crime reference number,make things difficult and they will take more care next time,dan

good idea this.