Company I work for want to brand my car.

mandy30 · 23-10-2010 10:58am #1

Hi,

I would like to know where I stand on this issue. I work for an english company and they want to brand my personal vehicle. They have offered to pay 150 euro per month for this and its not really an option that I say no.

I already get taxed on my car allowance, would I get taxed on this 150 euro also? Or can this the tax free?

Thanks for any advice.

qwertz · 23-10-2010 3:02pm

What would happen if you said no?

If you don't have an issue with the branding of your car then tell them that you would consider it if it was €150 (or whatever sum you feel happy with) after taxes, levies and whatever else would be deducted.

Also, is it going to be a permanent thing or only some stickers that can be removed without needing to repaint the aeas affected?

_Kaiser_ · 23-10-2010 4:59pm

My instinct would be to tell them if they want you to drive around in a car promoting their company, that they supply you with a car for it.

Your own car is your own property and they have no say. Unless they were going to pay me a lot more for this free advertising (though I suppose it depends how extensive - small stickers/all over wrap etc) I wouldn't be keen on the idea.

Could you then technically get prosecuted in the future for using a "company vehicle for personal use"? (if the Greens have their way!)

tenchi-fan · 23-10-2010 6:20pm

It's income. You will be taxed. You will also end up paying higher insurance given the commercial nature of advertising. And you'll look like an idiot... how much satisfaction would you have using your personal vehicle (which cost you a lot of money and no doubt also costs a lot to insure, tax and put petrol in) and driving it around like an advertisement. Imagine turning up to a wedding with advertising stickers all over your car.

Oh, and in event of an accident they could say you brought the company into disrepute and fire you!

Have some pride and say no. You can take them to court if they fire you.

Mrs OBumble · 23-10-2010 9:11pm

As well as the points other folks have raised, there are some more things I'd be asking them to clarify before agreeing. Such as ...

Are there standards for what sort of vehicle you drive? Obviously it needs to be legal (NCT'd, insured). But does it need to be a sedate 4-door sedan, or is an aging Transit ok?

Do they control what colour it is, when it gets washed, what bumper stickers you have on it, if there are fluffy-dice handing from the mirror, what you can/can't use it for - do they really want it in the pub car park, or outside the adult-shop or porn-cinema (or church, if it's Yes to the former ones)?

What happens if it's off the road in an accident, do you have to pay them back?

Are your partner and/or kids (assuming they're adult) allowed to drive it?

I sympathise that saying "no" outright isn't an option. Sometimes it's best to just say "Yes, and these are the consequences.":D

Oracle · 24-10-2010 1:41am

Sorry to disagree peeps, for €150 per month they can brand my a$$!

It's almost €2000 a year, for doing nothing. Take the money while its going, who cares about the car.

3DataModem · 24-10-2010 8:36pm

Branding may not affect insurance... give them a call to check.

I think 150 is a fair price for this if you are don't particularly care about the appearance of your car. Cabbies get about 3 grand for side-panel branding as far as I know.

Seems a little unusual if it's a personal car...

robbie_998 · 24-10-2010 8:38pm

tell them you dont own a car ?

bbam · 24-10-2010 9:18pm

robbie_998 wrote: »

tell them you dont own a car ?

OP has stated he's collecting a Car allowance so they would have the details on file :rolleyes:

the_syco · 25-10-2010 4:04am

Oracle wrote: »

It's almost €2000 a year, for doing nothing.

How much extra will the insurance be, as the car will be classed as "commercial" as opposed to "private"?

Eoin · 26-10-2010 4:29pm

the_syco wrote: »

How much extra will the insurance be, as the car will be classed as "commercial" as opposed to "private"?

If the OP is already driving around as part of work (as opposed to just commuting to and from work), then s/he should already have upgraded their insurance to cover this - which I'd also expect work to pay for. But yeah, I'd be checking with the insurance company for sure.

Slasher · 26-10-2010 9:41pm

I've never heard of such a thing. Do the employees in the UK allow their cars to be branded? It almost sounds like a wind up: Let's see if we can get Paddy to do this.

mandy30 · 26-10-2010 10:17pm

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all your input.
I have since changed my insurance to commercial at no extra cost thank god.
My colleagues in the UK have to follow the same vehicle guidelines as us here, but they dont have to do the branding. They have access to 3 branded company vehicles free of charge for any events they need them for. They won't buy such vehicles for Ireland, so just want to brand our cars instead.
I know it sucks, but nothing I can do. I am still on probation and cannot refuse them.
Ah well....I will just take the cash and say nothing for now.
And as for the person who says refuse and take them to court if I get the sack....that is not an option! I am not in a position to end up back on the dole again.

SIBHCHEVIE · 28-10-2010 1:37pm

If your still on probation, I would say to them that you will consider branding your car after the probation period ends. Whats the point in branding the car if you don't know whats going to happen after that period. You could end up not being kept on and left with your personal car ruined!!!!

If its not an option to say no and you think it could affect your probabtionary period then at least ensure it says in the contract that they will pay for all removal costs.

godtabh · 28-10-2010 1:48pm

eoin wrote: »

If the OP is already driving around as part of work (as opposed to just commuting to and from work), then s/he should already have upgraded their insurance to cover this - which I'd also expect work to pay for. But yeah, I'd be checking with the insurance company for sure.

why would work pay for the Class 1 insurance? I have class 1 and have always paid for it myself

Eoin · 28-10-2010 1:57pm

godtabh wrote: »

why would work pay for the Class 1 insurance? I have class 1 and have always paid for it myself

If you need to upgrade your personal insurance policy to accommodate your employer, then I think this is something they should pay for, unless the car allowance in question covers it.

BostonB · 29-10-2010 11:01am

If you have stickers on a car, it might effect how the paint fades from the sun and you could be left with lots of odd marks on the car that would effect resale value. Maybe thats not an issue.

mandy30 · 29-10-2010 10:37pm

I did tell them I wanted to wait till the 6 months probation was up, but that was not an option either. I was told I was doing fine and to get it done. There is no room for compromise with them over this. And I have to remove stickers myself when I leave.

_Kaiser_ · 29-10-2010 10:46pm

mandy30 wrote: »

I did tell them I wanted to wait till the 6 months probation was up, but that was not an option either. I was told I was doing fine and to get it done. There is no room for compromise with them over this. And I have to remove stickers myself when I leave.

Well it sounds to me that they're taking the piss to be honest. You're not even through your probationary period and they're insisting you brand your own car with their company logos because they don't want to buy cars as they've done for colleagues in the UK?

This would want to be a fantastic job for me to be doing that! AND you'd have to pay for the removal when you finish up too?

Personally I'd stall them and look for another job!

_Kaiser_ · 29-10-2010 10:58pm

Another question... you've now changed your insurance policy to allow for business usage, but was part of that requirement also to indemnify the company in the event of an accident?

I can see that becoming a big mess if you had to put in a claim/had a claim against you. What if this accident happened at the weekend when you weren't working?

I know jobs are scarce but it sounds to me like this shower are cowboys with how they're insisting on this, and that wouldn't bode well to me for the future with them.

BostonB · 30-10-2010 10:32am

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Well it sounds to me that they're taking the piss to be honest. ....
Personally I'd stall them and look for another job!

+1

If they are starting off like this, it doesn't bode well for the future.

Fey! · 30-10-2010 11:42am

On the insurance issue, you need class 2 on your insurance for work use, which in some cases can be added to your private insurance policy for a fee (I'm basing this on my private policy with FBD).

Changing to a commercial policy may hurt you down the road. On a number of commercial policies you lose things like provision of a replacement car if you have an accident, as well as storage of a crashed car until a claim is settled (I'm basing this on my commercial policy with AXA).

With insurance be VERY careful, and take what you read on the internet with a very big pinch of salt; there are a lot of people who post opinion with nothing to back it up. Speak directly to your insurance company or broker directly about it.

As for requiring commercial insurance for a branded car, this is not necessarily true. If there are stickers on your car but you aren't using it for work (except to get to and from work) you are only using it for private use, thus, IMO, only need private cover.

Hellrazer · 30-10-2010 12:45pm

This happend me in a previous job.

I had a company car that was unbranded and I was paying the relevant BIK on it.

The company decided to brand all the company cars in use and pay us a figure of about 180 per month to drive around in branded vehicles.

The 180 off set most of the BIK so I was happy enough to do it.

Lost the car in 2009 and honestly if they wanted to pay me to brand my own car now I`d hop at the chance.Its money for nothing.

Op ask then can you get those magnetic signs for branding it--That way you can take them off after hours or at the weekends.Might be a reasonable compromise.

bazzachazza · 31-10-2010 5:58pm

Personally I would ask them "What happens if I say no?" Pin them down on a specific answer. Ask them what size is the advertising and how is it attached to your car and where. It's a lot of money in this day and age. But if you are going to look a TOOL with stupid advertising on YOUR car then the answer is no.

It seems to be a cheap way for them to be getting out of getting you a company car. Paying you an allowance and putting advertising on your car.:eek:

opinion guy · 01-11-2010 8:30pm

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Well it sounds to me that they're taking the piss to be honest. You're not even through your probationary period and they're insisting you brand your own car with their company logos because they don't want to buy cars as they've done for colleagues in the UK?

This would want to be a fantastic job for me to be doing that! AND you'd have to pay for the removal when you finish up too?

Personally I'd stall them and look for another job!

Agreed.

Also if they are putting something on your car you should at least INSIST they pay for removal/repair if needed.

_Kaiser_ · 01-11-2010 8:48pm

bazzachazza wrote: »

It seems to be a cheap way for them to be getting out of getting you a company car. Paying you an allowance and putting advertising on your car.:eek:

Worse than that, they're making it a condition of her continuing employment with them when she hasn't even completed her probationary period anyway.

Hellrazer: It's not quite the same. You were given a company car AND then paid an allowance when they decided to brand them (personally I'd say that was just good luck as surely they could do what they liked with THEIR cars anyway?)

This is the OP's own personal car we're talking about. Are they going to define the type of car too? When she can sell it/change it and for what?..etc

Also €150 isn't that much when you consider the increased mileage, wear and tear/servicing, fuel costs that this will undoubtably entail (I'm assuming this is some sort of field job). Add those in and see if it's still a good deal.

gandalf · 02-11-2010 8:48am

Personally I would never let a company brand my private vehicle. If they want Cars/Vans with their logo on it then they should purchase one. You already get a car allowance so I am assuming it is some sort of field or partial field based role. As others have said putting stickers on your vehicle could devalue it, there may be insurance issues and the amount of money you are getting after tax is quite minimal. Now unless you gave them the impression at the interview that this wouldn't be a problem for you I would be pushing this request back at them.

In reality they should stump up and purchase a branded company vehicle for you but it appears they are trying to get around this on the cheap with you taking all the risks.

jimoc · 09-11-2010 3:15pm

Tell them you will only agree to it if it is done using those magnetic sheets that you see stuck to the side of vans.
There is no way, no how I would allow a company to dictate to me what I put on my personal vehicle if there was no way of turning it back into a personal vehicle for the weekend.

keithclancy · 10-11-2010 3:13pm

Just tell them its not your car and the owner (mother/bf/dad, whatever) has refused to brand it.

Better yet get almighty heap of farmer **** (a dented wrecked toyota corolla or something0) and let them brand that.

jimmycrackcorm · 10-11-2010 3:19pm

for the €2000 you get for the year you could buy an old banger and insure and tax it seperately - let them brand that.

BostonB · 10-11-2010 3:32pm

keithclancy wrote: »

Just tell them its not your car and the owner (mother/bf/dad, whatever) has refused to brand it.

Better yet get almighty heap of farmer **** (a dented wrecked toyota corolla or something0) and let them brand that.

Tell them it already has branding, from the local sex shop. But theres room for another add along side it.

mood · 17-11-2010 12:00pm

Oracle wrote: »

Sorry to disagree peeps, for €150 per month they can brand my a$$!

It's almost €2000 a year, for doing nothing. Take the money while its going, who cares about the car.

But how much would it cost to get resprayed if the OP changed jobs or something?

mood · 17-11-2010 12:10pm

opinion guy wrote: »

Agreed.

Also if they are putting something on your car you should at least INSIST they pay for removal/repair if needed.

Agree. You need this in writing. You need to be 100% sure this won't cost you a cent. Looking or feeling stupid is one think. It ruining your car and it's resale value and costing you money etc to put right is another thing. It not right at all.

Jimmy Bottlehead · 25-11-2010 1:11pm

Why the hell would you consider wrecking your PERSONAL car with stickers?! FFS, yes jobs are scarce but they won't fire you for this. Grow a backbone and refuse.

mandy30 · 29-11-2010 8:29pm

Grow a backbone you say? Clearly you have just not got out of the dole queue and into a job after a year of nothing. If you have no valuable advice then I recommend staying silent.

Thank you to everyone else for all your valuable input.

KAISER - You are correct in saying I have to have a specific vehicle for my job. It has to be under 6 years old, 5 doors and diesel. I cannot have anything else. These are the company requirements and on my budget at the moment, it doesnt buy me much!

Also €150 they are offering is on top of my car allowance. I get over 400 euro for that seperately p/m also.

I am in discussions with the signwriter now. If I could get magnetic ones I would, but if I lose or damage them I have to pay for them!

I think perhaps I might pay a visit to a solicitor. My probation is up next month so if I could just stall them until then.

Thanks again everyone

:D

doolox · 01-12-2010 1:51pm

The magnetic signs sound like a good idea.

Being able to take them off at weekends also sounds like a good idea and also at night when on social runs.

Why should this company get any more free advertising than the bare minimum???

DeepSleeper · 01-12-2010 2:12pm

mandy30 wrote: »

KAISER - You are correct in saying I have to have a specific vehicle for my job. It has to be under 6 years old, 5 doors and diesel. I cannot have anything else. These are the company requirements and on my budget at the moment, it doesnt buy me much!

Just wondering (for general comment rather than a question for the OP) - Is it common for a company who won't provide a company vehicle to a field-based employee to dictate the specific type/age of private vehicle the employee must drive?

I haven't heard of it (but then there are lots of things I haven't heard of...) - It just seems a bit much to me...

mandy30 · 01-12-2010 8:08pm

Yeah I thought the same. They told me there are regulations I must meet in line with their company.
So I had to sell my car, hunt for one that fitted in with their rules on a very tight budget. And to top it all off, I have to sell it again at the end of next year as it will be 'out of date' according to their guidelines! Very stressful! If I got a car that did not follow any of these regulations, they would make me sell it again.
I though as long as it was NCT'd, taxed and insured it would be okay....but seems not.
I had to put my foot down when they told me they wanted to 'okay' my new car choice first before I bought it! I went mad! It's my cash and I bought what I damn well pleased!

mood · 01-12-2010 8:27pm

So you could be hundreds or even thousands out of pocket! That's crazy. You all need to stand together in the company and say NO.

mandy30 · 01-12-2010 8:56pm

Yeah I know, but sure its only for another year and hopefully there will be more jobs out there by then!

Cicero · 01-12-2010 9:12pm

OK- Here's another perspective....

1. They give you a car allowance- (I would interperet this as a perk of the job?)
2. they are offering you 150 per month for branding on your car- this is another perk...(in the sense that they are effectively paying for your car even though I fully understand it is your personal car but see point 1 above also).

I'd have 4 questions to ask myself if in this position...

1. Am I happy to accept that the car allowance "perk" isn't what maybe it could be (i.e. no branding on my car) ....but still beneficial to me from a money perspective?
2. Am I covered from a legal perspective in terms of something happening from an insurance/tax perspective etc? If not, can company make it so without additional expense to me (including BIK) ?
3. When I crunch the numbers, is it a good deal- i.e. future prospects in company Vs alternative jobs to go to, BIK, other benefits etc etc
4. Will the company pay a certain amount towards my new car to offset depreciation etc?

... if the numbers & legal aspect (insurance etc) stack up, considering you are getting a "car allowance", if you adjust your thinking and see this as a "perk", but, be it now, a "qualified perk", in that you have to advertise the company, then in current climate, I would move on with it...

Don't know enough of the other variables to help you make that decision but hope the above helps either way...

dillo2k10 · 01-12-2010 9:30pm

Maby you could tell them that you are searching for a new car, so it would not be a good idea to re-brand it right now. Keep telling them that your searching for the next month. When your months probation is up you should challenge them about it.

Thats just what I would try.

I personally would feel stupid driving around in a branded car.

mandy30 · 01-12-2010 9:53pm

1. Am I happy to accept that the car allowance "perk" isn't what maybe it could be (i.e. no branding on my car) ....but still beneficial to me from a money perspective? Not really, but as I have said before....my boss is basically telling me I have no choice. I was even made to sign a new contract on it.

2. Am I covered from a legal perspective in terms of something happening from an insurance/tax perspective etc? If not, can company make it so without additional expense to me (including BIK) ? Car is fully insured. For business/social and domestic. Some am covered from all angles. I must pay for any damage to the graphics though apparently and if I want to remove them its at my own expense.

3. When I crunch the numbers, is it a good deal- i.e. future prospects in company Vs alternative jobs to go to, BIK, other benefits etc etc At moment I am just happy to have a job. If I leave I think they will sting me for the cost of the graphics. The contract does not specify how long I must have them on for. Just says I am liable for the cost of them if I change my vehicle.

4. Will the company pay a certain amount towards my new car to offset depreciation etc? No chance! They would laugh in my face!

ldeayton · 01-12-2010 10:09pm

Just my two cents.

I work in the UK and have had different car options...allowance, company car, pool car, leased car.

Keep in mind that the company are paying you an allowance for the car and you're paid a mileage allowance too! So while they have no right of ownership of the car they do pay for its keep. It is normal here for a company to ask you to buy a car that is suitable for the job.
If the maths works out, the allowances should be paying for the car.

It's easy to say “just tell them to get lost” but it's your job, so I understand your dilemma. From my experience only company cars are branded and even this is not a popular option considering how many company cars are on the road.

Its a bit unfair that the company ask you to do this, without it having been mentioned before you took the job. Best solution I would recommend, as stated by others, is putting on magnetic signs which you can remove at the weekend.

Any other type of extensive branding really requires the company to buy the car. Remember they are putting the hassle of buying and looking after a car onto you, and therefore you should be able to enjoy the car as a private vehicle.

Cicero · 01-12-2010 10:13pm

mandy30 wrote: »

1. Am I happy to accept that the car allowance "perk" isn't what maybe it could be (i.e. no branding on my car) ....but still beneficial to me from a money perspective? Not really, but as I have said before....my boss is basically telling me I have no choice. I was even made to sign a new contract on it.

2. Am I covered from a legal perspective in terms of something happening from an insurance/tax perspective etc? If not, can company make it so without additional expense to me (including BIK) ? Car is fully insured. For business/social and domestic. Some am covered from all angles. I must pay for any damage to the graphics though apparently and if I want to remove them its at my own expense.

3. When I crunch the numbers, is it a good deal- i.e. future prospects in company Vs alternative jobs to go to, BIK, other benefits etc etc At moment I am just happy to have a job. If I leave I think they will sting me for the cost of the graphics. The contract does not specify how long I must have them on for. Just says I am liable for the cost of them if I change my vehicle.

4. Will the company pay a certain amount towards my new car to offset depreciation etc? No chance! They would laugh in my face!

In that case, I would be inclined to say no, on the basis that you don't know what liabilities you might be open to paying....I'm saying this of course, without seeing your contract so don't really have all the info at my disposal to make that call...

Daniel S · 01-12-2010 10:37pm

dillo2k10 wrote: »

Maby you could tell them that you are searching for a new car, so it would not be a good idea to re-brand it right now. Keep telling them that your searching for the next month. When your months probation is up you should challenge them about it.

Thats just what I would try.

I personally would feel stupid driving around in a branded car.

But that is incredibly predictable. :rolleyes:

filthymcnasty · 02-12-2010 3:27pm

Am amazed with all the various restrictions and demands about type of car, branding etc your employer has imposed that they didn't just provide one in the first place.

mood · 02-12-2010 5:31pm

What happens if you can't afford to buy a new car (or claim you can't!)? I could even be difficult to get car finance in the current climate!

Jimmy Bottlehead · 08-12-2010 1:46pm

mandy30 wrote: »

Grow a backbone you say? Clearly you have just not got out of the dole queue and into a job after a year of nothing. If you have no valuable advice then I recommend staying silent.

You're right I wasn't on the dole for a year - I was on it for 18 months. And even though you have to take some crap in every job, you're just a walkover if you allow this against your wishes. I just know I will draw a line with some things in work - otherwise, if you act like a door mat you'll be treated like one, and that should never be the case.

Company I work for want to brand my car.

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