How do you professionally turn down the office mooch who comes asking for a favor?

Someone who I work with shares a car with her partner. They can afford two cars and we live in an area with public transportation. Instead of taking the bus or working it out with her partner, she asks everyone in the office for a ride. But she is so sneaky about it, that she will start in a casual conversation, feel you out for your evening plans, and then after she finds out you have nothing specific she goes for the favor. I feel like an *** saying no after I just realized I admitted I didn't have plans after work. But she is asking everyone for a ride, and it is annoying. How do you get out of this situation?

You could always try the "things to do" excuse and try to remain vague even if she questions you. Then say that it won't really work out with your (nondescript) plans. She's going to get home somehow and she'll start making real transportation arrangements once she gets stuck at work a few times.

Or have a bus ticket ready for next time she comes around.

You could even have a quarter or a dollar ready and tell her, as sincerely as possible, that you can't give her a ride but feel really bad about everyone else being tired of her mooching and really want to make sure she gets home. Fight tacky with tacky!

Since you know how manipulative she is ,you must be ready for the next time, when she ask what your plans are for the evening or at any other time, just tell her that you are not going that way because you have other things to do!

I read somewhere about this woman that always went up to her neighbour when she saw her pull out of the driveway with her car and asked her for a ride, this woman got so fed up that she stuffed her seats with boxes and told her neighbour that she was sorry but she had no room.

It might take a few times to refuse her demands but at the end they do get the message.

Is there a ride share program in your area? Next time she asks for a ride just tell her you aren't going that way - but here's the number for a great service.

Or maybe someone in the office could quietly tell her that she needs to arrange for her own transportation and not ask everyone in the office for rides everyday. It's really quite un-professional.

Or you could all chip in for a bus pass for her, complete with instructions on how to renew it...

Good luck!

Perhaps she doesn't intend to "sneak" and thinks she is being tactful by first finding out if you are busy. And whether "they can afford two cars" is something you don't really know. People who seem to be prosperous are sometimes up to their ears in debt.

When she asks, say no. No apology, no explanation, just "No, that would be very inconvenient for me. I'll let you know if things change." If she asks why, just smile mysteriously and offer to lend her bus fare. You have nothing to be annoyed about exept to be annoyed at yourself your own failure to say no. Why are you concerning yourself so much with this person's behavior anyhow? Ignore it.

I think honesty is the best policy. Be truthful with her. She may not know she is the office mooch. Don't make excuses, you will eventualy run out of them. If she is aware of her reputation, the maybe someone should make a complaint.

First off, I wouldn't jump to conclusions and assume you know the financial situation of your co-worker and her partner and know they can afford two cars. But that aside, I cannot imagine the stress of going to work everyday without knowing how I am getting home. The next time she asks you I suggest you agree but say "I'm happy to take you home this evening but I have noticed you are in regular need of transportation. Have you gotten the bus schedule?". If she asks in the future, simply say "I'm sorry. I cannot take you home.". You do not need to give her any reason(s).

Based on how she has conducted herself so far, I would not get involved in a ride-share situation with her. She might offer to pay you a certain amount of money per week to have you drive her home but then never seem to have the money!

Use her name. Say, "______, we live with public transporation and you can afford two cars. Don't approach me again asking my plans when you intend to ask for transportation."