Halfords 'Cycle 2 Work' vouchers
Discussion
Yes, my LBS (Freedom Bikes in Brighton) takes them as, I understand, do Leisure Lakes. Also I believe the Halfords C2W phone line can get virtually any bike you like through the scheme, so if you know what you want that could be a good option. I guess the best thing is to ask a few bike shops locally to you whether they take them.
With the Cycle2work schemes, is there a particular way that they can/will check that you're actually using the bike to cycle to work?
Would it be possible to get a bike using the scheme and not use it very often for cycling to work, or even use it to cycle part the way to work and use public transport the rest of the way?
Would it be possible to get a bike using the scheme and not use it very often for cycling to work, or even use it to cycle part the way to work and use public transport the rest of the way?
neenaw said:
With the Cycle2work schemes, is there a particular way that they can/will check that you're actually using the bike to cycle to work?
Would it be possible to get a bike using the scheme and not use it very often for cycling to work, or even use it to cycle part the way to work and use public transport the rest of the way?
How do you think they are actually going to check up on you?! MWould it be possible to get a bike using the scheme and not use it very often for cycling to work, or even use it to cycle part the way to work and use public transport the rest of the way?
aybe they put a GPS chip in the bike you buy and work out total mileage to and from work, non-work related trips and then tax you proportionately???
Agent L said:
A less sarcastic answer now:
No, they don't check. The part-journey (like to the train station) is expected/encouraged.
I've just got my bike last week and so far have only used it personally, am planning to start the work commute by driving half way though.
Shhh, don't admit that on a public forum, they'll be after you for the tax relief now - doh!No, they don't check. The part-journey (like to the train station) is expected/encouraged.
I've just got my bike last week and so far have only used it personally, am planning to start the work commute by driving half way though.
Agent L said:
A less sarcastic answer now:
No, they don't check. The part-journey (like to the train station) is expected/encouraged.
I've just got my bike last week and so far have only used it personally, am planning to start the work commute by driving half way though.
It wouldn't be PH without a sarcastic answer No, they don't check. The part-journey (like to the train station) is expected/encouraged.
I've just got my bike last week and so far have only used it personally, am planning to start the work commute by driving half way though.
Otherwise, thanks for that, I'll have to keep an eye out for when we start the scheme up.
The only downside is that as I work for the NHS, they don't, as far as I'm aware, reclaim VAT so the costs are slightly higher than with some employers.
One other thing, is the 'nominal fee' to transfer ownership a percentage of bike value or is it a set amount and do they have to do this or can they just take the bike off you at the end of the year?
JRM said:
Agent L said:
A less sarcastic answer now:
No, they don't check. The part-journey (like to the train station) is expected/encouraged.
I've just got my bike last week and so far have only used it personally, am planning to start the work commute by driving half way though.
Shhh, don't admit that on a public forum, they'll be after you for the tax relief now - doh!No, they don't check. The part-journey (like to the train station) is expected/encouraged.
I've just got my bike last week and so far have only used it personally, am planning to start the work commute by driving half way though.
neenaw said:
One other thing, is the 'nominal fee' to transfer ownership a percentage of bike value or is it a set amount and do they have to do this or can they just take the bike off you at the end of the year?
I've not completed a year with a bike yet so don't know 100% what my company does at the end. Everyone I have spoken to though has said the 'market value' nominal fee ranges from £1 to £10 or a maximum of 1 months payment. I asked our scheme administrators when we started the scheme (very recently) and they confirmed that they had no interest whatsoever in your bike at the end of the year.I was talking a chap in my local Giant cycle shop yesterday about the whole Cycle Scheame/ Cycle To Work thing.
Apparently Halfords CAN get you any bike. BUT, unless they are approved retailers for that brand the bike will most likely come with no warrantly whatsoever as a lot of bike manufacturers are quite strict about purchasing through approved suppliers.
Giant recently tooks a cycle shops Giant franchise away for supplying bikes to Halfords to sell on the C2W sheame. So if you ask them to source a brand they do not normally sell, get the warranty in writing.
Apparently Halfords CAN get you any bike. BUT, unless they are approved retailers for that brand the bike will most likely come with no warrantly whatsoever as a lot of bike manufacturers are quite strict about purchasing through approved suppliers.
Giant recently tooks a cycle shops Giant franchise away for supplying bikes to Halfords to sell on the C2W sheame. So if you ask them to source a brand they do not normally sell, get the warranty in writing.
Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Friday 25th June 12:41
Just a word of warning.
Picked up the Brompton today. Very happy with it. However when I arrived at the shop, I was told, by the slightly miserable owner, that as I had purchased it on the Halfords cycle to work scheme, that I had to pay a further 5% of the total purchase cost, as apparently Halfords took a 15% cut of his profit of something.
I was pot committed to the purchase at that point and he had a 100£ deposit off me, so there was no backing out, but it pissed me off - he could have told me this before I ordered the voucher and I would have got an extra £40 quid on top of what I ordered so I would have got the tax relief on it. As it was, that £40 quid was out of my pocket.
Anyway it's not the end of the world - but check before you order the voucher!
Picked up the Brompton today. Very happy with it. However when I arrived at the shop, I was told, by the slightly miserable owner, that as I had purchased it on the Halfords cycle to work scheme, that I had to pay a further 5% of the total purchase cost, as apparently Halfords took a 15% cut of his profit of something.
I was pot committed to the purchase at that point and he had a 100£ deposit off me, so there was no backing out, but it pissed me off - he could have told me this before I ordered the voucher and I would have got an extra £40 quid on top of what I ordered so I would have got the tax relief on it. As it was, that £40 quid was out of my pocket.
Anyway it's not the end of the world - but check before you order the voucher!
princeperch said:
Just a word of warning.
Picked up the Brompton today. Very happy with it. However when I arrived at the shop, I was told, by the slightly miserable owner, that as I had purchased it on the Halfords cycle to work scheme, that I had to pay a further 5% of the total purchase cost, as apparently Halfords took a 15% cut of his profit of something.
I was pot committed to the purchase at that point and he had a 100£ deposit off me, so there was no backing out, but it pissed me off - he could have told me this before I ordered the voucher and I would have got an extra £40 quid on top of what I ordered so I would have got the tax relief on it. As it was, that £40 quid was out of my pocket.
Anyway it's not the end of the world - but check before you order the voucher!
Thats well out of order. If the shop isnt willing to sell you at the agreed price and accept Halford larger cut then they should agree to join the Halfords scheme. I'd have told him to stick it and got my deposit back (I appreciate it may not be as easy as that).Picked up the Brompton today. Very happy with it. However when I arrived at the shop, I was told, by the slightly miserable owner, that as I had purchased it on the Halfords cycle to work scheme, that I had to pay a further 5% of the total purchase cost, as apparently Halfords took a 15% cut of his profit of something.
I was pot committed to the purchase at that point and he had a 100£ deposit off me, so there was no backing out, but it pissed me off - he could have told me this before I ordered the voucher and I would have got an extra £40 quid on top of what I ordered so I would have got the tax relief on it. As it was, that £40 quid was out of my pocket.
Anyway it's not the end of the world - but check before you order the voucher!
If it was a run of the mill bike I would have, without a doubt, done that.
However if I told him to stuff it, it would be another 6 week wait for another bike to be built.
That said, my organisation has 2000 people working for it. I'll be emailing HR about this this week, and will also let Halfords know.
As a result his 40 quid ransom will hopefully cost him dear - and I told him as much when I collected it.
However if I told him to stuff it, it would be another 6 week wait for another bike to be built.
That said, my organisation has 2000 people working for it. I'll be emailing HR about this this week, and will also let Halfords know.
As a result his 40 quid ransom will hopefully cost him dear - and I told him as much when I collected it.
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