Bikes for the NHS scheme

[skwerl]

Has anyone ever had to actually buy the bike at the end of the year? I run cyclescheme in my office I know that payment for it will never be asked for.

nope. I'm onto my decond bike and have not been asked for money for the last one. I even phoned HR and asked them. I was told I'd receive a letter, which I haven't, so I'm assuming I'll never have to cough up anything. The company depreciates the asset anyway so there's no loss to them and no tax liability, plus they get the VAT on £1000.

 

[skwerl]

http://www.nhsbikes.co.uk/employee.html

The irony here is that a Government entity is grossly breaking the terms set out by the tax man. At no point are the employer allowed to state that the bicycle may be sold to the employee at the end of the agreement. Doing so makes it hire-purchase and subject to tax. Not that the tax man is likely to do anything.

 

[Downward]

Actually, you are supposed to use the bike for commuting 50% of the time according to cyclescheme. However, as you say, it isn't something that can be policed!

Indeed although here it's amazing how many £1k + bikes have been bought on the scheme yet you never see the people riding these bikes or any of these super bikes in the bikesheds/bike park !!

There is no way they can check either unless they inspect your bike and then what are they going to do ? come round your house?!

At the end of the day the cyclist makes money, the NHS Trust makes a profit, Cyclesheme take their 10% + Admin fee and your LBS make money from sale/future business so it's a win,win,win,win situation.

I keep my bike in the office and due to stock outs it isn't the same one as what is listed on the Cyclesheme purchase.

No-one is going to come and look either. I could be not even riding a bike to work and just using it for day trips.

 

[mangaman]

There's nothing to say you can't do exactly that.

Get a £1,000 bike on the scheme, leave it at home for weekend riding, and get a cheap/second hand one to ride to work on.

There's no rule that states that you you must ride to work on the actual bike that you get through the scheme. Even if there was, it would be completely unpoliceable.

You're right Bonj - it just seems a bit of a scam somehow

 

[Downward]

You're right Bonj - it just seems a bit of a scam somehow

The cyclist makes money, the NHS Trust makes a profit, Cyclesheme take their 10% + Admin fee and your LBS make money from sale/future business so it's a win,win,win,win situation.

Only Loser is the Taxman !

 

[magnatom]

Only Loser is the Taxman !

Ah, but if you are a car driver you could suggest that this is these bl&&dy cyclists avoiding paying more bl&&dy tax!

 

[Greenbank]

Has anyone ever had to actually buy the bike at the end of the year?

Yes. The people who bought bikes last year at our company through Cyclescheme have received a letter asking for the money. 5%+VAT.

I guess most employers can't be bothered, or simply choose not to.

 

[Greenbank]

Ah, but if you are a car driver you could suggest that this is these bl&&dy cyclists avoiding paying more bl&&dy tax!

Counter: £2000 credit for scrapping an old car? Who pays for that then?

 

[HJ]

Incidentally there are 20 Sheffield stands in total for bike storage in the hospital and just over 2400 people work on the site, so I hope the pick-up rate isn't too high!

But isn't this NHS staff we are talking about, most of them probably see a bike shed as a place to go for a crafty fag....

 

[skrx]

The irony here is that a Government entity is grossly breaking the terms set out by the tax man. At no point are the employer allowed to state that the bicycle may be sold to the employee at the end of the agreement. Doing so makes it hire-purchase and subject to tax. Not that the tax man is likely to do anything.

NHSbikes.co.uk don't seem to have anything to do with the NHS.

The website domain (nhsbikes.co.uk) is registered to
Urban Media
Paje House
164 West Wycombe Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP12 3AE
GB

 

[eldudino]

I guess most employers can't be bothered, or simply choose not to.

I think that's the case. As I said, I'm the cyclescheme representative (and only user!) but the office I work in is small and wouldn't pursue a small amount of money like that, even if they knew they could do it!

 

[HJ]

True. You don't need a £1000 bike to commute, but you can use one to commute.

I have two bikes at the moment, my first is my bad weather bike, and was £275 when I bought it back in 2005 (spent plenty on it since!). My new bike was £900. I use this to commute on good weather days. I also use it to go on longer rides as well. So it is dual purpose, and this is certainly allowed on the scheme.

I think the average price for a commuter reflects the fact that people want a bike for more than just commuting, and some people just like to buy bling!

you only commute on it once a year!

Bet you did use it to commute today

 

[magnatom]

you only commute on it once a year!

Bet you did use it to commute today

Actually, I think I've commuted on it more than my hybrid over the last couple of months. It has been surprisingly dry! I'm on it today as well, I took a bit of a gamble looking at the weather forecast, but it looks ok at the moment....

 

[Greenbank]

This is the bike I just got on the cycle to work scheme:-

http://www.greenbank.org/bikes/wilier.jpg

And, in the first year, it will probably have 50% of its use for work journeys. I may just choose to take a rather elongated route to work (Putney to Southbank via Ewhurst and the Surrey Hills, or Southbank to Putney via 3 laps of Richmond Park).

 

[magnatom]

NHSbikes.co.uk don't seem to have anything to do with the NHS.

The website domain (nhsbikes.co.uk) is registered to
Urban Media
Paje House
164 West Wycombe Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP12 3AE
GB

That's fine. The company that is running the scheme will be outside the NHS. Our health board went to tender to decide why company to use.