Thoughts on cell phone reimbursement from company?

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Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
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I own a cell phone that *I* pay for. It's part of a family plan for my wife and myself, and we do not have a land-line. Because we do not have a land-line, I do not mind people (including my boss) calling me on it when I'm not at work (within reason).

However, my boss refuses to call me at my extension even during working hours. It's just "easier" for him to call me directly on my cell because he doesn't have to navigate the phone tree (which consists of simply calling my extension). He could just be in another part of the building or he could be on a road trip: he will ALWAYS call my cell phone instead of my extension.

A few weeks ago, I left my cell phone at home to charge because my battery had gone dead. My boss was at a customer site and needed to talk to me. Behold, I got a phone call from him at my actual WORK telephone. Of course, he couldn't help but comment on the fact that I had "neglected" to bring my cell phone to work with me.

Today, he's at another customer site. It's 8:05 and I've received 4 calls from him. On my cell phone.

What would you do in this situation? I'm not looking for advice really... I already know what I'm going to do... I'm just curious for conversation's sake.

CLIFFS:
- I pay for my own, personal cell phone.
- Boss won't call me on my work phone during business hours.
- I'm getting rather irritated.
 
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Cattlegod

Diamond Member
May 22, 2001
8,687
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Originally posted by: slsmnaz
don't answer.
Click to expand...

also, let you boss know that it is money coming out of your pocket and you would appreciate if he respected your request to not use your personal phone.
 
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BobDaMenkey

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2005
3,057
2
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"You going to pay me back for the minutes you use? No? Then use the work phone that's sitting right the fvck next to me."
 
allisolm

allisolm

Elite Member
Administrator
Jan 2, 2001
25,198
4,774
136
Is it causing you to go over your minutes or to even have to be careful because you're getting too close for comfort? If not, then I don't see a problem. If it is, then don't turn it on at work unless you need to make a call or check messages. If you aren't close to the limit but it really bothers you that he calls, then you can always TELL him you turned it off because of the minutes - maybe he'll offer to pay for it.
 
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SirChadwick

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2001
4,595
1
81
Ask for reimbursement. I only get 1-2 calls a month from my boss and it's usually just to find out where I am... lol. I get $35/month for my cell phone bill.
 
sao123

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
Originally posted by: jbourne77
I own a cell phone that *I* pay for. It's part of a family plan for my wife and myself, and we do not have a land-line. Because we do not have a land-line, I do not mind people (including my boss) calling me on it when I'm not at work (within reason).

However, my boss refuses to call me at my extension even during working hours. It's just "easier" for him to call me directly on my cell because he doesn't have to navigate the phone tree (which consists of simply calling my extension). He could just be in another part of the building or he could be on a road trip: he will ALWAYS call my cell phone instead of my extension.

A few weeks ago, I left my cell phone at home to charge because my battery had gone dead. My boss was at a customer site and needed to talk to me. Behold, I got a phone call from him at my actual WORK telephone. Of course, he couldn't help but comment on the fact that I had "neglected" to bring my cell phone to work with me.

Today, he's at another customer site. It's 8:05 and I've received 4 calls from him. On my cell phone.

What would you do in this situation? I'm not looking for advice really... I already know what I'm going to do... I'm just curious for conversation's sake.

CLIFFS:
- I pay for my own, personal cell phone.
- Boss won't call me on my work phone during business hours.
- I'm getting rather irritated.
Click to expand...


claim your entire cell phone bill as tax deductible as a unreimbursed work expense...

or ask him to at least call your cell from his cell so you arent charged minutes.
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Originally posted by: allisolm
Is it causing you to go over your minutes or to even have to be careful because you're getting too close for comfort?
Click to expand...

No, and this is why I'm hesitant to say anything. My wife and I get 1000 minutes each month between us, and we use about 3/4 of them, including the constant nagging by my boss.

This frustrates me, though, because he's generally a very inconsiderate individual, and this is just one more thing that drives people here nuts. The guy is an all around pain in the ass.

 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,389
8,547
126
Originally posted by: Allanv
You pay to receive calls now thats just plain weird
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that's how the whole US operates. except nextel.

used to be everyone got 1st incoming minute free, but they dropped that about 5 years ago.
 
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Allanv

Senior member
May 29, 2001
905
0
0
so the person that rings you do they get charged as well?

in the UK even free minutes are for calls out and texts only the person that rings us pays and thats for all carriers and has been since the beginning

 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Originally posted by: tfinch2
How about don't be such a wiener and tell him?
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It has nothing to do with being a wiener. It has everything to do with making sure I'm not being petty. Like I said, I already know what I'm going to do. I was just curious as to whether it could be considered nitpicking.
 
Saga

Saga

Banned
Feb 18, 2005
2,718
1
0
Yet another reason I've used Cricket for years. $35 monthly bill, all features including text messages and voicemail - zero minutes. I can call anyone in the US for free, no long distance charges.

Think last week alone I used over 2000 minutes for work purposes.
 
kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Since you have a comfortable cushion of unused minutes, it's really not creating any actual financial impact although I do understand how annoying that would be.

You could ask for a company-paid cell phone or reimbursement for your own, but that would just mean you're now obligated to be available whenever he wants to talk to you.

Why not stop bringing your cell phone to work? If your boss complains, just say you don't bring your cell to work any longer. If that's a problem for him, he'll give you one - and then you're going to be stuck.

If you use your cell at work for personal calls during the day, then I would say just suck it up. As irritating as it is, it's not really costing you anything.
 
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dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Err, turn off your phone? When he asks tell him you turn it off at work because you share a plan for your wife and dont want to go over your minutes since you are already near a phone?

Seems rather simple.
 
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dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: kranky
Since you have a comfortable cushion of unused minutes, it's really not creating any actual financial impact although I do understand how annoying that would be.

You could ask for a company-paid cell phone or reimbursement for your own, but that would just mean you're now obligated to be available whenever he wants to talk to you.

Why not stop bringing your cell phone to work? If your boss complains, just say you don't bring your cell to work any longer. If that's a problem for him, he'll give you one - and then you're going to be stuck.

If you use your cell at work for personal calls during the day, then I would say just suck it up. As irritating as it is, it's not really costing you anything.
Click to expand...

Well most people carry cell phones for emergencies too, so at least leave it in the car :)
 
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Danman

Lifer
Nov 9, 1999
13,134
0
0
Bullsh!t. My boss has been doing the same exact thing. I told her to get me a Blackberry (which executive management has put a freeze on giving them out) or start reimbursing me for my cell service.

Although I said it in a nice and respectful manner, she hasn't taken any action yet. I will be asking her again down the road.
 
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Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Fsck it. He's called me 3 or 4 more times since I posted this thread. When it started ringing the last time, I just yanked the battery.

Should be getting a phone call shortly... ON MY WORK PHONE.
 
James Bond

James Bond

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2005
6,023
0
0
If he wants to call you on a cell phone, have him purchase a company phone for you.
 
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