Vent: car trouble and MB upset

[Anonymous]

Last week on Thursday my car stopped running so I had it towed to dealer and MB volunteered to pick me up. She also volunteered to take me home and the same the next day. I told her that if it was an issue I could uber or use my PTO until the dealer gave me a loaner car. The dealer calls and says they wont have any back for a week and that they would call me as soon as they diagnose my vehicle. Mb was thinking out loud and suggested using DB's points for me to get a rental. then later she said it would probably be more affordable for me to uber. I agreed. I told her that she and db could have a free date night of sitting to show my appreciation for giving me rides home and taking me to the grocery to stock up for the weekend.

I was so thankful that coincidentally school is out this week and we only had therapy appts., the family will be OOT Wednesday so I was off that day and we can walk to the park for our outings on other days. Granted none of our usual outings but we would grin and bear it. Also Mb doesnt work but is looking, has no interviews scheduled until after spring break with prospects due to the holiday.


Sunday she texted to see if I wanted her to pick me up I told her no thank you Id get there. One of our therapies is on my side of town so she said afterwards she would take me home vs me riding all the way back to their home and ubering back to that side of town because therapy was over 1 hour before my finish time. Again I was grateful. I thought it was also good that she would be with us at therapy since she's never been and the therapists have been pushing for her or DB to participate for the last year with oldest but they haven't wanted to.

Low and behold my uber app was freezing up and kept reloading and rides weren't being requested. I texted her early as a heads up incase I was a few minutes behind once the issue was resolved. She calls me to get update while I am speaking with them and she began saying things like "Im trying to be patient with you" "Willing to be flexible to keep you with us" "I am not able to network if I have to drive you guys to therapy appointments" " You need to call the car dealer and get an update immediately" "You may need to go rent a car" etc. You know rocket science type stuff that never occurred to me the last couple of days I didnt realize calling a dealership would make your car automatically better even if they haven't even gotten to it yet for a diagnosis. Who knew? Not to mention she was standing right there with me at the counter when they were telling me how long it could take.

After I got my uber issue fixed I called her and told her I could meet them at therapy or the house. This happens to be a therapy for the youngest which she also has never been to. Later my oldest has swim therapy a distance away that she's never been to, she was complaining about not knowing where to take him etc. I said I dont mind using her or DBs car (THE MAN IS OUT OF TOWN AND THE CAR IS JUST SITTING IN THE YARD) to take the kids around if she needs to be home. she completely ignored that and told me to just meet them at the house after therapy. I have used other mbs cars or nanny cars in the past so didnt think this was irrational. They dont drive maseratis

So now on top of being super stressed over putting them out( I love them very much and feel so embarrassed for being an inconvenience), my car being out of commission I am super annoyed that she is being this way. I know Im her employee and they hired me to do a job. I completely get that. My car is practically new so mechanical issues was not foreseen at all. Neither was spending $300 on a rental that I would have to pay upfront yet I just paid my car note and rent so I dont have extra $$$ to rent a car for an entire week. Not to mention Im stressed about the repairs not being covered by my warranty and may have to pay for the repairs just to get my car back.

Am I insane for being rubbed the wrong way by her complaints about having to be at her kid's therapies while she has nothing scheduled this week and I am MORE than willing to drive their cars!? I know some are strange about that and I totally understand but its just sitting in the yard and she wants ME to be the one to take them places. So let me use your car then in stead of threatening me. Note Ive NEVER called in in the year and half that Ive worked for them only sent home early once because of a virus I got from them.

[Anonymous]

You are not being unreasonable. This is a frustrating situation all around, though. I also can't think of any dealership that takes a week to diagnose a new car, which is presumably under warranty, and doesn't provide a loaner. Something about this doesn't pass the smell test.

And yes, normal people do drop $300 on a rental to get to work if having reliable transpo is required for their jobs (or they hit up friends for rides, learn to use Uber/taxis effectively, whatever).

I would loan you my car, but I shouldn't have to. Getting to work is on you. It sounds like she facilitated this for a couple of days before getting snippy about it. Frankly, that seems fair -- take care of your own self.

[Anonymous]

It's your job to have reliable transportation to and from work. Period. Not to rely on your employer to provide you with a car. It's on you to push the dealer to find you a loaner car - ask them to call other dealerships, or to reimburse you the cost of a rental if they can't provide the loaner, whatever.

It's not your place to judge what someone does while they hire you to nanny or babysit. EVER.

Whether or not the mother goes to therapy for her children is irrelevant. If it's your job to get them there and back, then that's your job. You're just mentioning this because you're mad at her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's your job to have reliable transportation to and from work. Period. Not to rely on your employer to provide you with a car. It's on you to push the dealer to find you a loaner car - ask them to call other dealerships, or to reimburse you the cost of a rental if they can't provide the loaner, whatever.

It's not your place to judge what someone does while they hire you to nanny or babysit. EVER.

Whether or not the mother goes to therapy for her children is irrelevant. If it's your job to get them there and back, then that's your job. You're just mentioning this because you're mad at her.

I guess you missed the title that clearly states this is a VENT thread. I have the means to get to and from work and was not hired to attend therapies with them it's something that happened not long after I started and she would always say how she hates working so much because she can't participate.
I called other dealers and they aren't affiliated so they don't give loaners for other facilities. They said it would be the end of the week before they had any back.

It most certainly is my place to have an opinion on her not wanting to go the therapy sessions considering that is the only thing that has her miffed because she doesn't want to. Other than that I'm able to get myself to work and back home. I think it would be worse if I decided to use my pto and completely left them high and dry for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not being unreasonable. This is a frustrating situation all around, though. I also can't think of any dealership that takes a week to diagnose a new car, which is presumably under warranty, and doesn't provide a loaner. Something about this doesn't pass the smell test.

And yes, normal people do drop $300 on a rental to get to work if having reliable transpo is required for their jobs (or they hit up friends for rides, learn to use Uber/taxis effectively, whatever).

I would loan you my car, but I shouldn't have to. Getting to work is on you. It sounds like she facilitated this for a couple of days before getting snippy about it. Frankly, that seems fair -- take care of your own self.

"Take care of your own self"... how old are you?

The dealer isn't taking a week. They received the car Thursday and are closed on the weekend and today is Tuesday. She has been insisting on giving me rides and I'd been telling her that I can use uber and walk for anything else

[Anonymous]

loaner car.
rental car.

Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are not being unreasonable. This is a frustrating situation all around, though. I also can't think of any dealership that takes a week to diagnose a new car, which is presumably under warranty, and doesn't provide a loaner. Something about this doesn't pass the smell test.

And yes, normal people do drop $300 on a rental to get to work if having reliable transpo is required for their jobs (or they hit up friends for rides, learn to use Uber/taxis effectively, whatever).

I would loan you my car, but I shouldn't have to. Getting to work is on you. It sounds like she facilitated this for a couple of days before getting snippy about it. Frankly, that seems fair -- take care of your own self.

"Take care of your own self"... how old are you?

The dealer isn't taking a week. They received the car Thursday and are closed on the weekend and today is Tuesday. She has been insisting on giving me rides and I'd been telling her that I can use uber and walk for anything else

But that's not working -- uber app froze, can't get to therapies ...
Anyway, sounds like you should have taken the PTO.

[Anonymous]

Your post is way too long. Learn brevity

[Anonymous]

Well the dealer just called apparently they were giving the run around about loaner cars because they weren't sure of the issue. It's a head gasket and $5000 to repair. They have to have an inspector approve the repair tomorrow and then they will give me a loaner to use while they make repairs.

[Anonymous]

But that's not working -- uber app froze, can't get to therapies ...
Anyway, sounds like you should have taken the PTO.


No you're right the app was freezing this morning but I was able to get uber to fix the issue and got myself to work. But it's stupid to complain about your nanny not taking your kids to places but not let her use your unused vehicle to do so if it's so important for them. Me getting myself to and fro alone was never a problem.

I should've just taken off for a week. Life happens and not only that not everyone has an extra $300 sitting around for a rental when they are a nanny and just paid all major bills. I wouldn't have had a problem with a rental of f they didn't tell me I would have to pay up front and can't wait until I return the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But that's not working -- uber app froze, can't get to therapies ...
Anyway, sounds like you should have taken the PTO.


No you're right the app was freezing this morning but I was able to get uber to fix the issue and got myself to work. But it's stupid to complain about your nanny not taking your kids to places but not let her use your unused vehicle to do so if it's so important for them. Me getting myself to and fro alone was never a problem.

I should've just taken off for a week. Life happens and not only that not everyone has an extra $300 sitting around for a rental when they are a nanny and just paid all major bills. I wouldn't have had a problem with a rental of f they didn't tell me I would have to pay up front and can't wait until I return the car.

You're right. Life happens. But it's on you to deal with life happening, not your boss. She did help you out for several days. You now know what most people know, which is that the dealer often pushes back on the loaner car and you have to insist BECAUSE YOUR JOB DEPENDS ON IT. Every time they have to provide a new loaner car because the others are out, they lose out on a new car, or have to fix up a used one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You're right. Life happens. But it's on you to deal with life happening, not your boss. She did help you out for several days. You now know what most people know, which is that the dealer often pushes back on the loaner car and you have to insist BECAUSE YOUR JOB DEPENDS ON IT. Every time they have to provide a new loaner car because the others are out, they lose out on a new car, or have to fix up a used one.

Yes I've never had to request a loaner car before so wasn't sure of the process being so tedious though I can't say that I blame them for being selective.
Whenever I've had issues before I was living in a town with family and simply borrowed a car. I just live in this city alone so that wasn't an option but uber was.

Anyways like I said this was a vent so that also explains why so long. Thanks for reading and what not

[Anonymous]

Some jobs actually ask if you have reliable transportation as part of their hiring practice.

It can be a condition for you being hired.

I am a Nanny & drive an old car that has broken down on me umpteen times.

While my NF has been forgiving to a degree, if I left them high + dry w/out childcare, I wouldn't expect them to keep me on much longer.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here- I would never put my Boss in this position, you are wayyyyyy out of line!!! I just got rear ended and in was an uninsured motorist so my insurance didn't authorise a rental right away. So I put on my thinking cap and rented a car immediately. You are in the wrong here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some jobs actually ask if you have reliable transportation as part of their hiring practice.

It can be a condition for you being hired.

I am a Nanny & drive an old car that has broken down on me umpteen times.

While my NF has been forgiving to a degree, if I left them high + dry w/out childcare, I wouldn't expect them to keep me on much longer.

I'm not sure what this has to do with my issue. I have not left them high and dry with no childcare, I have a way to work and home. My car is 2 years old and the issue that the dealer found was not common for its age. The issue is mb being miffed that I can't drive the kids around once I get to work. When I started the only driving I did was for school which is on spring break. Eventually my charges were assigned to occupational therapy, behavioral therapy and the youngest speech therapy. These are the appointments that I am willing to use one of their cars to get the kids to and from but she won't even acknowledge that I'm suggesting this. I even said it in a text in case she didn't understand what I said and she just didn't respond to that text. She doesn't have a job and no appointments this week because it's a holiday.