Urgent warning for anyone who has or is about to sign up to Cycle to Work

We recently had a demo by a provider who mentioned this, they are just going to ask for a picture of the bike at the end of the scheme, if the bike looks covered in mud and like it's not been looked after they will be charging well below the hmrc guidelines.

This is the thing to remember, it's just guidelines, if you can provide good reason why the bike is worth less you shouldn't have to pay as much. (the brakes broke so it's not road legal anymore... It's been in a crash...)... Also of note:

This approach cannot be used for cycles with special value even if, exceptionally, such cycles have qualified for the exemption in section 244. Cycles with special value are those whose value is higher than for other second hand cycles because of special and unusual features or provenance. For example, this approach cannot be used for antique or collectable cycles, for expensive specialist cycles that have been individually hand built to order,
so everyone should just get a made to measure frame and then claim it won't fit anyone else :)