Irish retailers that still accept cheques???

[LookItsMeAgain]

I have a long service award due to me from my employer.

They are telling me that it is in the form of a cheque and it must be made out to a retailer and not to me personally (due to Revenue rules) and once it's been made out to the retailer, I can use it for certain things like hotel, holiday, golf club shop (that sort of thing) but can't be used for home improvements, car purchases, groceries or gym membership.

Does anyone know of retailers in Ireland that still accept cheques?

This is something that I'm eligible for and entitled to receive and I'm finding it very difficult to get a workable solution as I don't want a holiday voucher and I don't play golf.

If you work for Revenue in Ireland or a retailer that still accepts cheques, please can you help and advise me here.

This is actually nuts. I suspect what they are doing is a really convoluted implementation of the Small Benefits Exemption but I’m an accountant and I have never seen the rules interpreted as the payment having to be made in cheque form to a retailer. The vast majority of employers who do this for their staff - and it is very very common - purchase gift cards such as Allgo, Swirl or One for All which can be used in lots of places.

If you go back to them and suggest this would they go for it? It is really straightforward to order Allgo cards on their website - have done it many times for staff.

Thanks for getting back to me @TheRulerofThings. I've suggested a One4All card and a 'Clever Card' (pre loaded credit card) but they are adamant that it has to be a cheque and made out to a retailer and not to me, the individual.

I'm aware that colleagues in the past did get "Perfect Cards" (again a pre-loaded credit card that could be used anywhere) in the past but I think that company isn't around any more.

It's a complete pain in the face to be honest. I've worked for the same employer and I'm eligible for this award but they are making it so fucking difficult to get it's making me want to throw in the towel here.

I've even suggested that as our HR area are the 'administrators' of the scheme, the responsibility of having a list of retailers that accept cheques should be on them and not on the staff member who the award is for but they aren't having an ounce of that! 😆

I can't find on the Swirl or AllGo cards websites any information as to whether they can be set up using a cheque.

Ok - I think I’ve led you astray - I’ve been digging through the Revenue files and there is a Long Service Award benefit which is probably what they’re looking at rather than the small benefits exemption. I had forgotten it existed as in most cases it’s not worth the hassle for employers as the rules are a pain (as you’re finding out) and most people aren’t in the same job for more than 20 years these days (congratulations!) so it’s rarely used, so most employers opt for the small benefits exemption instead as its more valuable and flexible.

I think the key point from the link above (and related link on the right of the screen) is that it needs to be a tangible item. The cheque payment is a red herring. Not sure if that helps you anything but if they’re willing to pay for something by cheque a bank transfer or credit card payment - which is what most retailers will prefer and so would give you more flexibility - isn’t that much of a stretch.

I'm in England but we had something similar with our long service award, the money was lodged with a supplier and we could choose certain things, DH had a bicycle and I chose some Le Creuset cookware and a coffee machine, there were other things like watches and cutlery that we could have had, are you allowed things like this, as that could be an option.

Arnotts does, if that's any help? Double check with them though.

I was going to suggest maybe Arnotts too.
Could they just do the small benefits exemption instead?
If it helps our SBE comes by way of a prepaid Mastercard called Perx https://perxreward.com/

Just saw PPs update about Long Service Awards, off to read that now.
We used to have a catalogue of items that you could pick from for your long service gift, but they've gone too tight in my place and don't give anything anymore 🙁

Personally I would email the Revenue and clarify with them. Your employer may be happier if they tell them there is another way.

Otherwise some small local shops might except them if they know you.

Our if you have oil home heating those companies often take cheques. Basically use the cheque as credit on your home heating oil account and use the money that you would have used on home heating on something you want.