Up Town Girl.  How cheeky your friend is.  Why can't she take public transport to the airport (or station) ... clearly it's down to laziness.  

Definitely let them know the cost for 12 days. Say you have logged in and checked for these dates it would cost £xxx at £x a day. And confirm when they are dropping off and picking up to make sure they are covered. It’s a lot for you to payout and they may be unaware how expensive it is. Think a lot of people assume visitor permits are free. They may also work out that taking the car to airport may be cheaper than paying for parking & taxis. You & your husband should not be covering this cost. You are not connected to their trip away.

If it were the other way round, would you pay?

I have NEVER visited a friend on a street where you need to pay for parking and had them pay; I feel if it's your car, you pay, even if just for a few hours.  

Of course you ask them to pay. Why would you not?

Of course you ask them to pay. Why would you not?

In such scenarios where payment by someone else should be done, I simply say something which subtly puts the onus of them to make the payment directly:

“Let me know what works best for you? I can log into the parking portal website and make the payment, and send you our bank details later - or would you prefer having the logins and you can pay for X directly? I think they only take debit cards…”

That makes it clear there’s a fee and that one way or another they need to pay for it. By making the focus on the logistics of payment it removes the emotion.

Good luck!

I agree with your husband . Having visitors come to the house is very different to someone asking you to safeguard their car. She should definitely pay for the permits . Also you are only given a certain amount per year from recollection her request is using up nearly a third .

My husband, like yours, has raised this issue at various times and, like yours, always expected me to have the awkward conversation! So you could try suggesting he asks them! But if your visitor permits are restricted to a certain number per year could you simply say ‘I’m really sorry, but we are quite low on visitor permits and can’t get any more until next year’ (or whenever). It sounds as if your friends don’t know how CPZ systems work. A lot of people who visit us - particularly those who live out of town - are surprised that we have to pay for parking!

Do your friends realise there is a cost to you for the visitor permit?  They may not and (if they are half decent) on learning so would be mortified that you'd paid for them before. Aren't you limited on how many days of visitor permits you can get anyway? 

Your friend is either naive or very cheeky!
Of course you should say a permit is needed if they want to leave a car on your street.

Not your problem!

Perhaps let them leave the car and let the fines pile up, how is this your problem or favour to offer?
Not as if you have a private drive .

As for permits for friends, make sure you get the online ones as cheaper.
If you don’t feel like paying, just say you have run out of them or reached your limit.

Is it resident only or pay and display? If they can pay via machine - why bother offering is it’s that frequent?

Look in the mirror and practise how to say no to people - trust me , it will be awkward at first but feel so good when you’ve done it .

We have had this conversation may times in our house. We have never asked anyone to pay, mostly because like the OP I would feel too uncomfortable. Usually people have offered, especially if staying a few days and when we have refused bought flowers or wine etc...

Just say "Of course, that's fine, what's a £100 for a permit between friends. Now let me get your dates correct before I apply..." wait for the penny to drop. When she clicks on the cost, still insist on paying but end by agreeing to split the bill between you. She will no doubt bring back something agreeable from her trip for you, hopeful a few bottles of decent wine. Friendship cemented.

Absolutely. If they come to visit you and stay with you as you've invited them, whether for 1 day or a week, I would pay for it as they are your visitors. If they just want to leave their car on the way to the airport - they absolutely have to pay for it. Why should you part finance their holiday?!

Absolutely. If they come to visit you and stay with you as you've invited them, whether for 1 day or a week, I would pay for it as they are your visitors. If they just want to leave their car on the way to the airport - they absolutely have to pay for it. Why should you part finance their holiday?!

One day visitors is completely different to someone dumping their car to go to the airport for two weeks
Your friend needs to pay or they can pay to park at the airport instead!!