Cycle to Work Scheme Suppliers

Jawgap

For anyone in the Public or Civil Service, OPW have posted the list of official suppliers to the C2W scheme.

It's available here:-

http://www.opw.ie/en/media/Bicycle%20Suppliers.pdf

Glad I got mine before they published this list!!

CRC is on it.

copacetic

pretty much every shop in Ireland is on it, good selection.

BeerNut

Penny Farthing is an odd omission from Dublin.

TakeTheVeil

No Halfords?

blorg

BeerNut wrote: »

Penny Farthing is an odd omission from Dublin.

I imagine you had to submit that you wanted to be on the list.

Jawgap

blorg wrote: »

I imagine you had to submit that you wanted to be on the list.

you did indeed.

The list is not closed so more can be added and I was surprised not to see Halfords on it too - bit of strange omission!!

Lumen

I may or may not know of a bike shop which may or may not be on the list, and may or may not be prepared to be a little creative with descriptions on invoices.

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

I may or may not know of a bike shop which may or may not be on the list, and may or may not be prepared to be a little creative with descriptions on invoices.

I definitely know of one (cos I've had the conversation), and am fairly sure of another (but I'm not going to name 'em!)

blorg

Carbon wheels = safety equipment?

After all a bike without wheels would be somewhat unsafe.

Chips Lovell

Lumen wrote: »

I may or may not know of a bike shop which may or may not be on the list, and may or may not be prepared to be a little creative with descriptions on invoices.

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I definitely know of one (cos I've had the conversation), and am fairly sure of another (but I'm not going to name 'em!)

On the off chance you are both referring to a shop in Dublin I'm not going to name, I was told they had to make a big settlement with Revenue a few years back. So just be careful that doing something like that doesn't come back to bite you in the ass.

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

I may or may not know of a bike shop which may or may not be on the list, and may or may not be prepared to be a little creative with descriptions on invoices.

Think I may know same one, but I am pretty sure that lots of them are openminded to business ideas.

Lets just say this, the commuting trek madone with zipp wheels that is often posted may become a common type of occurance in Ireland.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

On the off chance you are both referring to a shop in Dublin I'm not going to name, I was told they had to make a big settlement with Revenue a few years back. So just be careful that doing something like that doesn't come back to bite you in the ass.

I know who you're talking about there, and I wasn't thinking of them.
Either way, I want a Cotic Roadrat build, so will have to get it from the UK, so no worry of ass biting (or licking )

deremol

Has anyone bought a bike yet? I was just wondering if you actually get the savings that they are saying and how much per week/fornight you are actually paying???

ROK ON

deremol wrote: »

Has anyone bought a bike yet? I was just wondering if you actually get the savings that they are saying and how much per week/fornight you are actually paying???

Yes, its very noticable.
Just look at you pay slip.
You will see a deduction for the gross cost of the bike, but the net reduction in your pay will be less.
How much saving depends on (1) cost of the bike up to 1K and (2) what is your higher rate of tax.

Why would you think that you wouldn't get the savings, its not a conspiracy to make folks spend money on bikes you know.

deremol

I'm just checking before I jump head first.. looking at a mtb with some accessories, prob cost around €900, i'm on the higher tax bracket, so it should only cost about €10 or €11 per week... correct me if I'm wrong here..

Any mtb enthusiasts on here and what would you recommend?

looking at a rockhopper comp... any views?

Chips Lovell

deremol wrote: »

I'm just checking before I jump head first.. looking at a mtb with some accessories, prob cost around €900, i'm on the higher tax bracket, so it should only cost about €10 or €11 per week... correct me if I'm wrong here..

The repayment schedule is between you and your employer. The only official stipulation is that you pay for it within 12 months.

ROK ON

deremol wrote: »

I'm just checking before I jump head first.. looking at a mtb with some accessories, prob cost around €900, i'm on the higher tax bracket, so it should only cost about €10 or €11 per week... correct me if I'm wrong here..

Any mtb enthusiasts on here and what would you recommend?

looking at a rockhopper comp... any views?

€10/week - depends on the timeframe over which your employer claws back their loan to you.
My employer claws in back over 3 months.

deremol

it's over the full 12 months, so my calculations should be correct..

SetOverSet

Our office (public service) has decided to have the salary sacrifice payed in full by December each year. As it's only being implemented from July first, this years salary sacrifice will be spread over 6 rather than 12 months...

fletch

In my office, you have to pay it all back in your next wage.

Caroline_ie

my works only has 1 option, 53 degrees north, so my new bike ( MTB for thw winter ) will be another Specialized I will order mine in October and repay over 12 months.

D!armu!d

No CycleSurgery on the list either. Are UK owned stores excluded from it? (see a few from up north, but none of the chain stores)

Traumadoc

http://www.opw.ie/en/OurBusinessUnits/GovernmentSuppliesAgency/Cycle-to-WorkScheme/

theres a link for suppliers to apply

jam_on_toast

Am looking to get an audax bike, anybody know a shop on that list who sell them. Alternatively, one that could order one from a maker in the uk?

Would it be worthwhile contacting a uk company and getting them to register for the scheme or are uk companies not allowed?

deremol

It's open to all shops, even online as far as I know, once they are willing to register..

Gavin

deremol wrote: »

It's open to all shops, even online as far as I know, once they are willing to register..

The shop doesn't have to do anything...

deremol

They have to register!! otherwise they cant sell you a bike under the scheme..

TinyExplosions

deremol wrote: »

They have to register!! otherwise they cant sell you a bike under the scheme..

Not in Ireland (unless the civil service have brought in some registration scheme for them). For private business, they just need an invoice, from anyone! The UK need to have places registered alright though

deremol

deremol wrote: »

They have to register!! otherwise they cant sell you a bike under the scheme..

Sorry gents, when I said register what I meant was, they have to accept payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). if the shop is not registered/set up for this they cant deal with my department... maybe its different in other work places :rolleyes:

Jawgap

Obviously the idea that you could go to a any shop pick your bike and have your employer pay for it was (a) far too easy; (b) too straightforward and (c) ran the risk of common sense creeping into the Civil and Public Service. It was also a nice way to introduce some "make-work" for some staff from Finance and OPW!!:)

If the a shop wants to supply bikes under the scheme to the Civil and Public Service they must register via the OPW. Registration is open to any shop in the EU and costs nothing. So if there is a bike you want in a shop not on the list and you work in the Civil or Public Service you can ask them to register and then you can get the bike - bonkers, I know, but probably the best way around it.

If your employer is private then you can buy from whoever the hell you want as long as your employer agrees to it.

I got my bike before the list was issued because basically because we haven't had the common sense driven out of us here.........yet!

Jawgap

deremol wrote: »

Sorry gents, when I said register what I meant was, they have to accept payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). if the shop is not registered/set up for this they cant deal with my department... maybe its different in other work places :rolleyes:

Are there any corporate credit cards in your place? Or they could get bankers draft made out to the shop

ROK ON

Jawgap wrote: »

Obviously the idea that you could go to a any shop pick your bike and have your employer pay for it was (a) far too easy; (b) too straightforward and (c) ran the risk of common sense creeping into the Civil and Public Service. It was also a nice way to introduce some "make-work" for some staff from Finance and OPW!!:)

A very very big +1.
If anyone ever needed a practical example of why the civil and public service in this country is inefficient and ineffective, one would only have to read as to how the BTW scheme is being implemented.
Not only does it seem complicated to buy, but were they not initially held up because the Dept of Finance (AFAIR) had legal worries regarding potential liabillity from accidents??

deremol

No such luck, everything has to go through EFT, I don't mind as the shop where i've picked my bike accepts it, so happy days.:)

What did you purchase Jawgap?

Jawgap

deremol wrote: »

No such luck, everything has to go through EFT, I don't mind as the shop where i've picked my bike accepts it, so happy days.:)

What did you purchase Jawgap?

this

We had to go around the houses a bit to pay for it, but it was sorted in the end.

I'm still very happy with it - I've upped the kilometers on my commute to the point where it's becoming silly because it gives a great ride (oooh-er, missus!!) - but I've mentioned before I really don't have a lot to compare it with so maybe there's a lot better out there.

blorg

Jawgap wrote: »

this

We had to go around the houses a bit to pay for it, but it was sorted in the end.

I'm still very happy with it - I've upped the kilometers on my commute to the point where it's becoming silly because it gives a great ride (oooh-er, missus!!) - but I've mentioned before I really don't have a lot to compare it with so maybe there's a lot better out there.

That bike gets excellent reviews, I think you did very well with it.

deremol

Jawgap..

I don't know a whole lot about road bikes,:o but it looks good, carbon frame and all...

you will probably get to the stage where you head off in the opposite direction to go to work:)

The main thing is to get out and enjoy it really..

Jawgap

blorg wrote: »

That bike gets excellent reviews, I think you did very well with it.

Still loving it - bit like George Hook and his Sky Remote!!

deremol wrote: »

Jawgap..

I don't know a whole lot about road bikes,:o but it looks good, carbon frame and all...

you will probably get to the stage where you head off in the opposite direction to go to work:)

The main thing is to get out and enjoy it really..

eh.....I already do......:o The most direct commute is 16.5 km and I haven't done that either way in about 3 weeks!

It's probably more than I need for commuting but what the hell - there are worse things to spend time and money on!

deremol

It's probably more than I need for commuting but what the hell - there are worse things to spend time and money on![/quote]


This is what I'm looking at http://http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/rockhopper-comp-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016419

where I work, there's about 5 offices spread out across the town and I have to go to each one more or less each day...handier than driving to each one...

the bike will get a better work out at weekends:D

Dodser

Jawgap wrote: »

this

We had to go around the houses a bit to pay for it, but it was sorted in the end.

I'm still very happy with it - I've upped the kilometers on my commute to the point where it's becoming silly because it gives a great ride (oooh-er, missus!!) - but I've mentioned before I really don't have a lot to compare it with so maybe there's a lot better out there.

Saw someone cycling one of these into work on the North Strand. looks deadly!

Jawgap

Dodser wrote: »

Saw someone cycling one of these into work on the North Strand. looks deadly!

Not me, I came down the Quays this morning - what time did you see him / her at?

An oul' race might be in order!!!:)

Dodser

7.35 AM. He rode away from me :-):)

SerialComplaint

Jawgap wrote: »

Obviously the idea that you could go to a any shop pick your bike and have your employer pay for it was (a) far too easy; (b) too straightforward and (c) ran the risk of common sense creeping into the Civil and Public Service. It was also a nice way to introduce some "make-work" for some staff from Finance and OPW!!:)

Unfair (says the public servant) - We've already had nod/wink claims on this thread about dodgy invoices. It is perfectly reasonable for the public service to have a sensible registration system to prevent abuse of the system. Without it, people will be claiming tax relief for any dodgy receipt, and you and me (the taxpayers) will be paying for this.

The OPW have more than enough on their plate to keep them busy, and I'd imagine they were not keen to take on this extra work with no additional resources, but that's generally the nature of life in the public service.

Traumadoc

The rest of the private system can do this in a matter of days, but the public system has to be dragged screaming. This system was introduced in the UK years ago, even now the HSE has not introduced it despite instruction from the OPW and the department of finance.

blorg

Traumadoc wrote: »

The rest of the private system can do this in a matter of days, but the public system has to be dragged screaming. This system was introduced in the UK years ago, even now the HSE has not introduced it despite instruction from the OPW and the department of finance.

In fairness that depends on the employer. Plenty of private sector employers are just plain straight up refusing to do it. At least in the public service you will probably get it eventually as they don't really the liberty of taking this attitude towards their employees, at least on an ideological level they sort of have to accept it as a "good thing."

Jawgap

SerialComplaint wrote: »

Unfair (says the public servant) - We've already had nod/wink claims on this thread about dodgy invoices. It is perfectly reasonable for the public service to have a sensible registration system to prevent abuse of the system. Without it, people will be claiming tax relief for any dodgy receipt, and you and me (the taxpayers) will be paying for this.

The OPW have more than enough on their plate to keep them busy, and I'd imagine they were not keen to take on this extra work with no additional resources, but that's generally the nature of life in the public service.

Yes a "sensible" registration system - why have common sense when you can have bureaucracy!?!?!?

Our Finance Manager is a bit of a clever son-of-a-bitch. The devious fiend asked the shop to provide him with the frame no. of the bike then asked me if I wouldn't mind if he examined the bike, just to check I got what the employer paid for. What a pity only he could do something like that and no one else could possibly do the same thing:rolleyes:

SerialComplaint

Jawgap wrote: »

Our Finance Manager is a bit of a clever son-of-a-bitch. The devious fiend asked the shop to provide him with the frame no. of the bike then asked me if I wouldn't mind if he examined the bike, just to check I got what the employer paid for. What a pity only he could do something like that and no one else could possibly do the same thing:rolleyes:

Your clever son-of-a-bitch has the luxury of being at the same location as you. When you have 350,000 employees to worry about, it gets a bit more complicated.

douglastubbs

SerialComplaint wrote: »

Your clever son-of-a-bitch has the luxury of being at the same location as you. When you have 350,000 employees to worry about, it gets a bit more complicated.

Rather than go through all the no need for that here is Revenue's quote and verse
"4. Qualifying journeys
The bicycle/safety equipment must be used by the employee or director mainly for qualifying journeys. This means the whole or part (e.g. between home and train station) of a journey between the employee’s or director’s home and normal place of work, or between his or her normal place of work and another place of work. While an employer will not be required to monitor the use of the bicycle/safety equipment, the employer will be required to obtain a signed statement from the employee or director that the bicycle is for his or her own use and will be used mainly for qualifying journeys."

In sum, all the finance manager needs is an invoice to the company. an amendment to your contract signed by you and a director or office holder stating that the employee is responsible for all accidents/death/theft etc - i can forward on the amendment.
1

SerialComplaint

douglastubbs wrote: »

Rather than go through all the no need for that here is Revenue's quote and verse
"4. Qualifying journeys
The bicycle/safety equipment must be used by the employee or director mainly for qualifying journeys. This means the whole or part (e.g. between home and train station) of a journey between the employee’s or director’s home and normal place of work, or between his or her normal place of work and another place of work. While an employer will not be required to monitor the use of the bicycle/safety equipment, the employer will be required to obtain a signed statement from the employee or director that the bicycle is for his or her own use and will be used mainly for qualifying journeys."

In sum, all the finance manager needs is an invoice to the company. an amendment to your contract signed by you and a director or office holder stating that the employee is responsible for all accidents/death/theft etc - i can forward on the amendment.
1

There is more to it than that. For a start, the employer needs to ensure (as is standard with any invoice), that the invoice matches with the goods recieved. He needs to ensure that a bike was purchased, and not (for example) an iPod or a satnav. He needs to be confident that he is dealing with a reputable outfit who aren't going to rip off the taxpayer via the employer.

Lumen

SerialComplaint wrote: »

Your clever son-of-a-bitch has the luxury of being at the same location as you. When you have 350,000 employees to worry about, it gets a bit more complicated.

Yes, a manager with 350,000 direct reports would have bigger issues than bike scheme purchases.

It is the nature of the public sector to transform very small problems into very big ones.

Darby OGill

Have to defend the public service here to some extent, even though I want to take part in the scheme too.

1. No-one wanted this work. Numbers are being cut and yet someone has to take on the extra duties. No volunteers I'd suggest.
2. Procurement is an issue- there are very strict procedures anywhere I've ever worked. No branch of the public service can be seen to give an unfair advantage to any sector or business. In theory, you're looking at 350,000 bicycles...... however unlikely. So naturally, that has slowed things down. (If you ever have to do an ad for the Official Journal of the European Community, you'll know what I mean).
3. Large bodies move slowly- this is a simple fact of working life. There may be some jobsworths messing about, but ultimately, the government announcement caught everyone cold. A small private company with complete decision-making autonomy willl always implement these schemes quicker.
4. As above, at least everyone will get the choice in the public sector- no-one will be allowed say no to the scheme..

Jawgap

Darby OGill wrote: »

Have to defend the public service here to some extent, even though I want to take part in the scheme too.

1. No-one wanted this work. Numbers are being cut and yet someone has to take on the extra duties. No volunteers I'd suggest.
2. Procurement is an issue- there are very strict procedures anywhere I've ever worked. No branch of the public service can be seen to give an unfair advantage to any sector or business. In theory, you're looking at 350,000 bicycles...... however unlikely. So naturally, that has slowed things down. (If you ever have to do an ad for the Official Journal of the European Community, you'll know what I mean).
3. Large bodies move slowly- this is a simple fact of working life. There may be some jobsworths messing about, but ultimately, the government announcement caught everyone cold. A small private company with complete decision-making autonomy willl always implement these schemes quicker.
4. As above, at least everyone will get the choice in the public sector- no-one will be allowed say no to the scheme..

Sorry, but I have to take issue with your taking issue!!

I work in the public sector and I'm proud to. I enjoy my job, I work hard and I'm happy to debate the merits of the service with anyone anytime.

But I don't believe for one moment the Public Service is perfect and it could be an awful lot better than it is.

The C2W scheme is a perfect example - brilliant idea, excellent conception, crap implementation. Prior to moving into the Public Service I worked for a consultancy and the big difference I'd say in cultures is that the Public Service is constantly and actively looking for problems and not solutions - the C2W Scheme demonstrates that admirably.

First, lots of people wanted this to work, especially the "users" - the problem as I see it is that it was a Green Party idea that had to be implemented by a FF-led Department of Finance and would they want the junior party in coalition to pull of a coup? Having already been stung a number of times by the PDs, they weren't going to let the Greens get even one over on them.

Second, it's not a procurement issue. Similar and comparable schemes operate in other EU member states and they don't go running to publish notices in the OJ.

Third, large bodies might move slowly but they don't have to. In the private sector there are numerous examples of companies that are nimble - Samsung probably the most obvious example. But the international public sector has them too. The IRS in the US dwarves the HSE but they are many times more responsive and flexible in terms of capacity and speed of response. The Irish public service moves slowly because we've allowed the idea of social partnership the permeate every level of the component organisations and as a consequence those who should be providing management, leadership and governance have willingly abdicated and out-sourced their responsibilities.

Anyway, rant over!!