Frequently Asked Questions
Computers, Mobile Phones, Audio Visual (Smart TVs)

1. Am I eligible to take part in these programs?

These employee Benefit Programs enable the Trust to provide Technology Products to you and your family for personal home use. This Benefit is available to eligible employees in exchange for a reduction in your salary.

Eligible employees are permanent employees and employees who are on a fixed term contract for a period of at least the length of the benefit period that you have chosen. You must be paid through the Trust payroll, not bank-only employees.

You are eligible if you meet all the criteria below:

• You are paid by the Trust through the Trust payroll; and
• You are at least 18 years old; and
• Your pay remains above the National Minimum Wage after you have reduced your salary

2. How does the salary savings work?

A salary savings program is where an employee gives up the right to receive part of their cash pay due under their contract of employment, in exchange for items offered through this Benefit Program. As with all salary saving benefit programs offered, the employee agrees to a reduction of their salary for each pay period, in return for the employer providing a device or devices for your personal use.

The Gross Salary reductions will be made direct from salary through Payroll, and because you are reducing your gross salary, this means that the National Insurance Contributions and Occupational Pension Scheme contributions are saved by you because they are not due or applied to the amount that you have used for this benefit.

Salary reductions start the month following the approval of your benefit request by your employer.

3. My employment is due to cease before the end of the Benefit Agreement Period; can I still participate?

Although you can participate, the Benefit Agreement will terminate when you leave your employment (e.g. on retirement) and you will be liable to pay the outstanding salary reductions that remain due to the end of the Benefit Agreement Term. Any remaining outstanding reductions will be taken out of your final net salary. If we are unable to deduct from your final net salary, an invoice will be sent to you for the full amount that is outstanding.

4. If my employment ceases on grounds of redundancy how my redundancy will figures be calculated?

Any outstanding amounts will be deducted from the gross salary to the limit of minimum wage. Anything else after will be deducted from the net salary or we will contact you to arrange a repayment plan.

5. What happens if I reduce my hours?

If you reduce your hours during the benefit agreement you can still continue within the scheme if your basic earnings (excluding unsocial hours allowances) do not fall below the National Minimum Wage.  If your earnings fall below the National Minimum Wage, you will be liable to pay all of the outstanding reductions due to end the benefit term.

6. How much will the product(s) cost me?

Your reference pay will be reduced by an amount, equivalent in total to the value of the product(s) that you’ve chosen. This reduction will be spread evenly over the agreed number of pay periods.

7. Can I change the specifications of the product(s) on offer?

No, the specification for each product is fixed.

 8. Can I order more than one product through the program?

We allow you to select however many products you want, as long as you don’t go below National Minimum Wage or exceed the spending limits advertised.

9. When can I order another product/s?

We allow you to get however many products you wish and at any time, as long as you don’t go below National Minimum wage or exceed the spending limits advertised.

10. Am I eligible to order these devices?

The salary savings program is open to all staff on the PAYE payroll (excluding zero hours Bank contract) where basic salary does not go below the National Minimum Wage after the salary reduction is applied.

11. Will this program be offered again?

The program will be reviewed on an on-going basis. We cannot guarantee that it will be run again in the future.

12. Can I change my mind once I have signed the Benefit Agreement?

No. Once you have signed your Benefit Agreement you are not allowed to cancel. However, your employer has given you an additional right, and you may cancel this agreement within 5 days of signing your Benefit Agreement and provided the products that your employer has acquired for you have not yet been shipped to your home address.

13. Can I have the product(s) delivered to my workplace?

No, to ensure delivery, we need to deliver to your home.

 14. Are the products covered if damaged during the benefit term?

No. Please ensure that you have home contents insurance cover or alternatively, you have purchased extended warranties and product damage protection from the manufacturer.

15. Do I have a Tariff with a Mobile Phone?

Mobile Phones are supplied as Sim Free only and are not supplied with any tariff.

16. How much will I actually pay for these products through the scheme, after savings?

Payslips will show the Gross Salary reduction shown on the Website for your chosen product and it is this Gross amount that is shown on your signed Benefit Agreement. The Gross amount appears on your Payslip, from where it is then subject to the savings of National Insurance and Occupational Pension Scheme contributions.

Income Tax only is then due on the Benefit and is re-assessed as a Benefit-in-Kind and you will pay the income tax due. Examples of savings are detailed on the website.

17. Information regarding the effects on NHS Pension

Effect on your NHS Pension

The fact that your contractual pay is being reduced means that your level of NHS pension contribution will be reduced.

The April 2015 new national NHS pension scheme your pensionable benefit will be 1/54th of your reckonable pay for each year of your membership. Further it will be based on career average earnings, rather than final salary. Your participation in a salary savings program may affect your NHS pension, as salary savings reduces the basic salary that your pension is based on. The Trust and its officers do not give pension advice.

You are strongly advised to consider the impact of the reduced salary due to salary savings and seek independent financial advice if you are unsure about the potential impact. Although the effect on your pension may be small, you should take advice regarding the individual effect before proceeding.

Further information can be obtained from:
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/4017.aspx
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339746/NHS_Pension_Scheme.pdf

18. When will I receive my chosen product(s)?

Deliveries will commence to eligible employees soon after your employer has authorised your application. You will be contacted by email or text to advise you of a delivery date.

However, new product releases (such as the latest Apple watches or iPhones) may have an extended delivery time depending on stock availability from the manufacturer.

Please ensure that you only provide a contact eMail address and telephone numbers that are always monitored and checked.

19. When will payroll reductions start?

Payroll reductions will commence in month of or month after you receive your products.

20. How will I receive my warranty?

The warranty activation process for each product will be different, so please ensure you read the online warranty instructions or paperwork shipped to you with your package. If you have any queries about the warranty or product information you receive please call our Helpline.

Important: Please read the standard warranty terms supplied with the products. You are responsible for completing warranty details online or the returning to the manufacturer of any registration form or doing anything else needed to activate such warranty.

21. What do I do when the products are delivered?

You are required to confirm receipt by signing the carrier’s delivery note.

Please Note: If the product packaging is damaged please ensure that this is noted on the carrier’s Delivery Note as “DAMAGED”; or if in doubt, please reject the delivery. Where such circumstances are applicable you will not be recharged for a subsequent delivery.

If a damaged item is delivered to a safe place by the courier, please ensure a picture of the damage is eMailed to support@1callbenefits.com immediately or within 24 hours and ensue that you also directly notify the courier via their website.

Important: It will not be possible for us to replace items that are delivered in damaged packaging if you have NOT signed the Delivery Note by making it clear to the Delivery Company that the Packaging was damaged when delivered.

21.1 White Goods (Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Ovens, Fridge/Freezers & TV’s):

Delivery of White Goods and TV items will be arranged with you directly by our supplier. Failed delivery charges apply for White Goods & TV’s and any redelivery charge must be paid directly by you.

Before ordering your new product/s you must ensure the following!
a) Please ensure that you measure the space and importantly, the access space accurately prior to ordering your new product/s.
b) Location space must be able to take the size of your ordered product/s.
c) Access space must be large enough for the product/s to fit through – Front door – Kitchen door way – Back door – Utility room door way – Hallway.
d) Allowance must also, be made for your products “connection to” utilities such as water, waste and electricity.
e) Fitting is entirely your responsibility and at your own risk. We will not be able to take the product back.
f) Removal of old product is also your responsibility – for the avoidance of doubt – the delivery driver will not take your old product/s back.
g) All products are warranted.
h) Returns: Any goods damaged in transit must be reported to us within 24 hours.
Faulty Goods will only be collected on proof of a valid manufacturer “uplift number”.
i) We reserve the right to charge a “restocking charge” of 25% on unwanted goods but are unable to collect goods which have been discontinued or ordered specially.
j) Deliveries will only be made to a ground floor entrance by a single driver – you may need to provide assistance for larger heavier items.
 

22. Can I load my own software or upgrade my product(s)?

You can load any additional licensed software or connect any additional products to your equipment throughout the Benefit Period. However, you must not violate the manufacturer’s warranty terms or instruction.

23. If I choose a computer will the anti-virus software supplied?

No. You will need to ensure that youpurchase anti-virus software for your computer.

24. What happens if I go on maternity, paternity or agreed unpaid leave?

If you take any unpaid leave for any reason during the term of the Agreement, then your payments will be suspended for the period of such unpaid leave. On your return, we will recommence the payments to cover the period of unpaid leave and extend the Benefit period accordingly. For your paid maternity and paternity periods this will be based on the relevant earnings period for those schemes and may be lower due to sacrificing part of your salary.

25. What if I leave my employment for any reason?

If you end your employment with us, the Benefit Agreement will terminate. We will ask you to pay the remaining amounts on the package(s) you have chosen. This will be deducted from your final net salary. If we are unable to deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary you will be required to forward a payment to us for the full amount that is outstanding.

26. Does the adjustment to my salary make a difference to any other benefits?

The adjustment of your salary will have no effect on salary-related payments such as overtime and shift. These payments are based on your total remuneration, i.e. revised gross salary plus the value of the Product Benefit. Statutory benefits are calculated on your salary less the money you have paid for your product(s). Your lower rate statutory benefit may remain unaffected. Statutory benefits such as sick pay and job seekers allowance are unlikely to be affected as long as your earnings do not fall below the lower earnings limit for National Insurance contribution purposes.

27. What is the taxable value of these products?

The value for Income Tax purposes is 100% of the total annual value of the products you have ordered. So, for a £1,000 spend, spread over two years, you will pay tax on £500 per annum for the two years.

National Insurance Contributions and where applicable, your NHS Pension Contributions are not due on the items value and are saved by you.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS