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Bike to Work scheme - the Megathread - Read post #1 before posting

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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,113 ✭✭✭homer911


    Far too complicated!

    Cyclesheme.ie operate on a "certificate" basis so you cant use it online
    biketowork.ie operate in conjunction with Hubex.ie but either way they issue you with a glorified one-4-all single-use debit card which can only be used in bike shops. Most online purchases have to be paid for with a single payment so you cant top up the payment online and you cant use any credit left on the card afterwards


  • Registered Users Posts: 282 ✭✭peneau


    I have, from Canyon, last August. Through my place of work relatively hassle free process. My company was invoiced and I ponied up my part of the deal.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,483 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao




  • Registered Users Posts: 3,153 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    No, it's never happened.

    :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,961 ✭✭✭LionelNashe


    dylbert wrote: »
    Has anyone bought a bike online using the cycle to work scheme?

    I bought a bike through the scheme, but I wouldn't have done it online, unless I could see the bike somewhere first and get some advice. My work contributed €300 towards the cost, and I got the tax back through the scheme. I now have a €900 bike that cost me about €150, that has been sitting unused in my hallway for the last 10 years. I'm thinking about making use of it, any day now.

    Edit: I actually am *thinking* about making use of it. I ordered a stretchy cover from Amazon last week so I can carry the bike in and out of the apartment without risking marking the paint in the hallways.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,380 ✭✭✭kerplun k


    dylbert wrote: »
    Has anyone bought a bike online using the cycle to work scheme?


    I did.
    I bought my bike on line via the B2W scheme, but went to to have a look before I went through with the purchase. It was a relativity painless process, less than I can say for the actual cycle itself.


  • Registered Users Posts: 501 ✭✭✭rtmie


    homer911 wrote: »
    Far too complicated!

    Cyclesheme.ie operate on a "certificate" basis so you cant use it online
    biketowork.ie operate in conjunction with Hubex.ie but either way they issue you with a glorified one-4-all single-use debit card which can only be used in bike shops. Most online purchases have to be paid for with a single payment so you cant top up the payment online and you cant use any credit left on the card afterwards

    Cyclescheme.ie is not the only way to do bike to work and is in fact probably the worst way. They charge a big lump of commission to the seller so both you and the bike seller lose out. Online sellers will not interact with it and even LBS don't like it ( they'll usually be a lot less flexible on price & extras).
    It is just that some employers put their convenience first with voucher schemes.
    If your employer is accomodating then all you need is an invoice for the bike from the seller (online or lbs) made out to the company and they can issue cheque/SEPA transfer to seller.
    If online seller is in EU then that is fine. I recently purchased bike from Rose in Germany online via btw in this way.


  • Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 75,559 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty




  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,492 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    do you mean if you're earning €500 over the threshold, and are spending €1000, say?


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    rtmie wrote: »
    Cyclescheme.ie is not the only way to do bike to work and is in fact probably the worst way. They charge a big lump of commission to the seller so both you and the bike seller lose out. Online sellers will not interact with it and even LBS don't like it ( they'll usually be a lot less flexible on price & extras).
    It is just that some employers put their convenience first with voucher schemes.
    If your employer is accomodating then all you need is an invoice for the bike from the seller (online or lbs) made out to the company and they can issue cheque/SEPA transfer to seller.
    If online seller is in EU then that is fine. I recently purchased bike from Rose in Germany online via btw in this way.

    The interesting point being that if any of them opened their eyes, it is, in my experience, far easier to implement the scheme directly rather than through a third party. There may be exceptions due to scale but in the majority of places, it is a not sensible practice.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,368 ✭✭✭iwillhtfu


    CramCycle wrote: »
    The interesting point being that if any of them opened their eyes, it is, in my experience, far easier to implement the scheme directly rather than through a third party. There may be exceptions due to scale but in the majority of places, it is a not sensible practice.

    It's by far easier for the employer to complete the transaction directly. The employee does all the running around dealing with invoices etc and presents this to the account dept and it is dealt with like any other invoice. The voucher schemes are a pain and always trying to tie companies into the scheme by getting several employees on board at once.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,492 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    couldn't have been simpler with my employer (albeit a large multinational); i filled out the forms, got the invoice, and the team assistant just picked up the phone to the bike shop and paid the bill over the phone with the company credit card.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,846 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    and then you are guaranteed 10% discount that the voucher companies normally scalp for themselves!!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 357 ✭✭loudymacloud


    couldn't have been simpler with my employer (albeit a large multinational); i filled out the forms, got the invoice, and the team assistant just picked up the phone to the bike shop and paid the bill over the phone with the company credit card.

    same with me, in the Public Service. Fill out the forms, get the invoice, Invoice was paid within 2/3 days, collected the bike. No messing around. was great.

    Im elligible for it again this year :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,363 ✭✭✭✭DDC1990


    Just to say I ordered from Canyon. Filled out a form attatched the invoice. No problems. Lovely bike. 100e off nearly all of their bikes for the duration of the TDF as well.


  • Registered Users Posts: 501 ✭✭✭rtmie


    Absolutely agree. Set payment based on invoice , fill out forms, provide copy of invoice, seller IBAN/BIC, and transaction ref. They make xfer. Took them a matter of minutes.


  • Registered Users Posts: 42 Kubota


    Looking for Help! Canyon Bikes & Local Authority Worker.

    Has anybody on here who works for a Local Authority purchased a bike from Canyon on the BTW Scheme. I have purchased a bike on the prepayment system and received an invoice for the full amount which is in excess of the €1,000, my employer a Local Authority is saying that they will have a mismatch in the payment system as the Invoice exceeds the max amount they are paying.

    Also they saying that they will be only able to pay by Cheque and not through an Electronic Fund Transfer.
    Canyon are saying that they won't accept Cheque only EFT and they cannot split the Invoice into two seperate invoices making up the full amount.

    Anybody working in a LA who has purchased from Canyon using the BTW Scheme, I would be grateful for your assitance on how you overcame these problems.

    Thanks Kubota.


  • Registered Users Posts: 42 Kubota


    Sorry to jump on your thread but am also buying/trying to buy the Canyon Endurace CF 8.0 on sale at €1500. Cracking bike and great value. Only problem is I am purchasing on the BTW Scheme and work for a Local Authority.

    I have purchased the bike on the prepayment system and received an invoice for the full amount which is in excess of the €1,000, my employer a Local Authority is saying that they will have a mismatch in the payment system as the Invoice exceeds the max amount they are paying.

    Also they saying that they will be only able to pay by Cheque and not through an Electronic Fund Transfer.
    Canyon are saying that they won't accept Cheque, only EFT and they cannot split the Invoice into two separate invoices making up the full amount.

    Anybody working in a LA who has purchased from Canyon using the BTW Scheme, I would be grateful for your assistance on how you overcame these problems.

    Thanks Kubota.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,153 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    Kubota wrote: »
    Sorry to jump on your thread but am also buying/trying to buy the Canyon Endurace CF 8.0 on sale at €1500. Cracking bike and great value. Only problem is I am purchasing on the BTW Scheme and work for a Local Authority.

    I have purchased the bike on the prepayment system and received an invoice for the full amount which is in excess of the €1,000, my employer a Local Authority is saying that they will have a mismatch in the payment system as the Invoice exceeds the max amount they are paying.

    Also they saying that they will be only able to pay by Cheque and not through an Electronic Fund Transfer.
    Canyon are saying that they won't accept Cheque, only EFT and they cannot split the Invoice into two separate invoices making up the full amount.

    Anybody working in a LA who has purchased from Canyon using the BTW Scheme, I would be grateful for your assistance on how you overcame these problems.

    Thanks Kubota.

    You have already asked that in the B2W thread. It's not good practice to post the same question in multiple and non-relevant threads.

    I am in Public Service and I can't but from Canyon unless it's €1000 or less. It seems to be the same for you - as in your employer has already said the invoice can't be more than the €1000. If they won't do EFT it's also a non runner. They are unlikely to change their process for this purchase.


  • Registered Users Posts: 890 ✭✭✭Statler


    Kaisr Sose wrote: »
    If they won't do EFT it's also a non runner. They are unlikely to change their process for this purchase.

    Just to second this, they will not change their procedures under any circumstances, had dealings with them a couple of years ago about getting a bike on the BTW scheme and they're absolutely rigid with their procedures.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 42 Kubota


    Sorry for the double posting. Thanks for the replies unfortunately not the answers I was hoping to hear.

    Statler. Are you talking about Canyon or your employer?

    It's looking like it's going to fall through at this stage don't think there is an equivalent spec'd bike out there for the same money.


  • Registered Users Posts: 890 ✭✭✭Statler


    Kubota wrote: »

    Statler. Are you talking about Canyon or your employer?

    Talking about Canyon, great to deal with once you're happy with their terms...


  • Registered Users Posts: 357 ✭✭loudymacloud


    Kaisr Sose wrote: »
    You have already asked that in the B2W thread. It's not good practice to post the same question in multiple and non-relevant threads.

    I am in Public Service and I can't but from Canyon unless it's €1000 or less. It seems to be the same for you - as in your employer has already said the invoice can't be more than the €1000. If they won't do EFT it's also a non runner. They are unlikely to change their process for this purchase.

    i work in the public service and for a few years was in charge of the BTW scheme for our Department, we managed to buy a bike via canyon that was over the €1000 limit.

    invoice came in for about €2300 i think, the employee paid the €1300 directly to canyon and we paid the €1000 to canyon too via EFT.

    Our records were ok as we just added a note to the invoice to state that we only paid €1000.

    seemed to work ok that time, that is a few years ago now, so it may have changed since.


  • Registered Users Posts: 42 Kubota


    Thanks loudymacloud. When you say Public Service do you mean for a LA? I was onto Canyon and they said that customers from other Local Authorities have purchased bikes on the BTW Scheme so hears hoping.


  • Registered Users Posts: 357 ✭✭loudymacloud


    Kubota wrote: »
    Thanks loudymacloud. When you say Public Service do you mean for a LA? I was onto Canyon and they said that customers from other Local Authorities have purchased bikes on the BTW Scheme so hears hoping.

    Was not an LA, was Dept of Education at the time.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,153 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    i work in the public service and for a few years was in charge of the BTW scheme for our Department, we managed to buy a bike via canyon that was over the €1000 limit.

    invoice came in for about €2300 i think, the employee paid the €1300 directly to canyon and we paid the €1000 to canyon too via EFT.

    Our records were ok as we just added a note to the invoice to state that we only paid €1000.

    seemed to work ok that time, that is a few years ago now, so it may have changed since.

    Canyon will not allow seperate payments now. Maybe they did before. I tried as well. Full payment only.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    Just have the company pay in full, then mark the excess (>e1000) as a bonus payment to employee. This is how I accounted for it. Employee will have to pay tax as normal on the bonus payment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,368 ✭✭✭iwillhtfu


    Kaisr Sose wrote: »
    Canyon will not allow seperate payments now. Maybe they did before. I tried as well. Full payment only.

    I think someone posted here recently that they were on to Canyon and they could pay a deposit up front and the balance on completion but it will all be as one invoice.


  • Registered Users Posts: 42 Kubota


    Canyon have no problem in taking separate payments on one Invoice only. They will not give you two Invoices for the one bike, one for 1k for the BTW and balance for the customer.

    My employer has a problem with an Invoice for the full amount above 1k.
    They are looking into it to see if can be resolved. I have suggested that they pay the full amount and I pay them the balance, surely in this day and age something could be sorted to keep the auditors and taxman happy.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,368 ✭✭✭iwillhtfu


    Kubota wrote: »
    Canyon have no problem in taking separate payments on one Invoice only. They will not give you two Invoices for the one bike, one for 1k for the BTW and balance for the customer.

    My employer has a problem with an Invoice for the full amount above 1k.
    They are looking into it to see if can be resolved. I have suggested that they pay the full amount and I pay them the balance, surely in this day and age something could be sorted to keep the auditors and taxman happy.

    That's what I did when I bought from Canyon I paid them and they paid the total invoice. Although in saying that I work for the kind of company that probably would have allow me pay back the entire amount over 12 months so to say they're easy going would be an understatement.


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