Can anyone advise me? Halfords Cycle 2 Work Scheme

MisanoTT

Hi, could someone please help and advise me regarding a recent C2W agreement I have taken out?

During lockdown like many others, I decided I wanted to get fit. I was aware of the C2W scheme through my employer and thought it would be great incentive. I found a bike I wanted but the demand for bikes via the Halfords website was understandably really high and all the bikes within my available budget were out of stock. The only way the website would allow me to pre-order the bike online was to purchase the bike using a C2W LOC Collection Number. So I submitted my application however, the bike had gone back out of stock even to pre-order when the c2w loan agreement came through. Not a problem I thought, as another bike in the same range was available to order so I ordered the bike. This bike is however, £50 more expensive. No problem I thought, I would just pay the difference. 

I had to wait another three weeks for the bike to come into stock and be delivered to the store so up until this point I thought everything was in hand and was looking forward to the collection day. I had a call today to say the bike was ready to collect, so I explained that there was now a difference of £50 to which I was told, this was not possible. So they recommended I call the C2W contact team and of course I did that and tried to explain. 

The advisor I spoke to was really dismissive and stated that, as I was passed the cooling off period there was nothing that could be done. I would have to find a bike for that exact price or less and nothing more could be done. To the letter of the law I'm sure the advisor is correct in what he has told me, but due the current circumstances, is there really nothing they or I can do? 

The advisor also said if I do not use the credit voucher it will simply keep rolling over with a new expiry date, so maybe I could hope the bike eventually gets discounted to this price or be left in a situation where I have to purchase something I don't really want. It just feels quite unfair and I wanted to seek advice from anyone on this forum that may be able to guide me on a possible way of finding the solution I want or confirming that there really isn't anything I can do. 

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. 

Cheers

Anthony

Aylesbury_Duck

MisanoTT said:

Hi, could someone please help and advise me regarding a recent C2W agreement I have taken out?

During lockdown like many others, I decided I wanted to get fit. I was aware of the C2W scheme through my employer and thought it would be great incentive. I found a bike I wanted but the demand for bikes via the Halfords website was understandably really high and all the bikes within my available budget were out of stock. The only way the website would allow me to pre-order the bike online was to purchase the bike using a C2W LOC Collection Number. So I submitted my application however, the bike had gone back out of stock even to pre-order when the c2w loan agreement came through. Not a problem I thought, as another bike in the same range was available to order so I ordered the bike. This bike is however, £50 more expensive. No problem I thought, I would just pay the difference. 

I had to wait another three weeks for the bike to come into stock and be delivered to the store so up until this point I thought everything was in hand and was looking forward to the collection day. I had a call today to say the bike was ready to collect, so I explained that there was now a difference of £50 to which I was told, this was not possible. So they recommended I call the C2W contact team and of course I did that and tried to explain. 

The advisor I spoke to was really dismissive and stated that, as I was passed the cooling off period there was nothing that could be done. I would have to find a bike for that exact price or less and nothing more could be done. To the letter of the law I'm sure the advisor is correct in what he has told me, but due the current circumstances, is there really nothing they or I can do? 

The advisor also said if I do not use the credit voucher it will simply keep rolling over with a new expiry date, so maybe I could hope the bike eventually gets discounted to this price or be left in a situation where I have to purchase something I don't really want. It just feels quite unfair and I wanted to seek advice from anyone on this forum that may be able to guide me on a possible way of finding the solution I want or confirming that there really isn't anything I can do. 

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. 

Cheers

Anthony

It's been a while since I last had involvement in the scheme and the rules may have changed since, but I think they're correct.  Your mistake was to assume you could top-up the voucher.

I just checked the website - it does clearly state:

If the bike you would like has gone up in price you will need to cancel your application (where possible) and reapply for your new value. You are unable to add your own funds towards the cost of your bike. If the bike has reduced in price, you are able to redeem the balance on cycle accessories of your choice!

I suggest you speak to your employer to see if you can cancel the agreement and start a new application at the right price point.  If you can't, it's a case of waiting for the price to drop or selecting a cheaper model and spending the balance on accessories.

MisanoTT

Thank you Aylesbury_Duck for your quick reply. 

You share my thoughts then that it is then very unlikely they would be willing to resolve this in the way I'm hoping for. I just feel its unfair in that I had to take out the agreement first before I could pre-order the bike, had to wait three weeks for the bike to come back into stock so when I did put the order in, my cooling off period had already passed. As I'm spending more not less, I'm really surprised that they can't amend the agreement or at least allow me to cancel this one and submit a new application with the increased amount. I guess I will learn the hard way on this one but it has left a nasty taste in my mouth so to speak and I will never use this scheme again due to how inflexible it is. It's not worth the financial gain to me so a lesson learnt! 

Thank you for your clarity. 

Sandtree

Never dealt with Halfords on the C2W scheme at all but have had to for other matters in the past and on occasions they've been willing to "do a deal" when buying a substantial item or two and then some accessories etc. At the end of the day the conversation with them can't hurt.

Lomast

i have just signed up to this scheme and I'm afraid I agree it is made quite clear on the site that you cannot top up the amount paid the problem as I understand it is the employer owns the bike for the next 5? Years it would be very messy if you owned part of it too