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ThompBra
Apr 17, 2011, 10:04 AM
When my previous employer offered my the job, he promised me a company vehicle as I would have to be doing a lot of traveling. I accepted the job but no company vehicle. I bought a new vehicle, did do a lot of driving and was getting paid kms.

I approached my ex-employer and informed him that it would be a smarter idea if he just bought me a company vehicle or bought mine from me since the kms cost was totally the cost of the vehicle. He would consider it. I approached him again once my vehicle reached 85,000kms, and he said that we would work something out.

After some discussion, he decided that he would give me the money to pay out my loan on my truck but said that if I quit, get married or get pregnant I would have to pay the money back. I thought he was joking. There was no written agreement and no agreement on the amount of funds that would be "paid back".

After being at the company for two years, I began to recognize that I wanted my career to go in a different direction and I was not suitable for the position with the growing company. I found a new job and a suitable candidate to replace me. I informed my ex-employer that I would still work weekends and be available to help evening during the week. He said this was fine.

My last full time day there, he came into the office and told me that there was no need for me to be there, no point of me coming in on the weekends and to delete my company email AND he wanted vehicle money back.

I feel I shouldn't have to pay him back! What do you think?

cdad
Apr 17, 2011, 10:38 AM
Here is the problem that has been created. If you were receiving a stipend for travel then the car is yours. And the company has no say over it. But if in paying off the loan you in effect sold the car to the company then the company has a legal right to collect the worth of the car after your employment has been terminated.

The company buying you a car to do your job is a company asset its not a gift.

ThompBra
Apr 17, 2011, 11:00 AM
The company never bought the vehicle from me, my ex-employer "lent" me the money to pay out my personal loan so instead of my vehicle loan being from a financial institution, it was now from the company.

The company wrote me a cheque, I put the money into my account, then paid off my vehicle loan.

ScottGem
Apr 17, 2011, 11:13 AM
And you think that now that you have left the company, you can keep the car without paying back what the company loaned you?

Did you stop claiming or getting the stipend after your boss gave you the money? If so, you can calculate that and deduct it from what they paid. But I think they can make a case that you need to return the balance.

ThompBra
Apr 17, 2011, 11:17 AM
I guess I have been listening to too many other people's comments. I have had a few people comment that since there was no written agreement and that I didn't "quit, get pregnant or get married" that the money is technically not owed.

Fr_Chuck
Apr 17, 2011, 01:40 PM
First yes a verbal agreement is binding. And you did quit your normal full time job, offering to work part time is not still working there. They merely refused your offer to work a new part time position.

Yes you owe them the money according to your verbal agreement,

You would have been better off taking milage from them for using your vechile. You most likely would have gotten more money

ScottGem
Apr 17, 2011, 02:11 PM
As Chuck noted, you DID quit. You voluntarily left the position you were working at. Offering to work part time, did not mitigate that fact.

Verbal agreements can be binding as long as it can be demonstrated there was an agreement.

JudyKayTee
Apr 17, 2011, 02:39 PM
I guess I have been listening to too many other people's comments. I have had a few people comment that since there was no written agreement and that I didn't "quit, get pregnant or get married" that the money is technically not owed.


You left. You quit.

What am I missing?