Frequently Asked Questions on Tusker
The Global Benefits Team regularly gets questions from people all across the business about the different transaction benefits on offer which include Cycle to Work, Childcare Vouchers, Holiday Trading, SmartTech and Car Benefit. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions on the Car Benefit.
Smart Pay Applications
Can clients view, amend, reject or accept applications for Tusker (Car Benefit) in SmartPay?
Clients can only view applications for Tusker (CarBenefit) in SmartPay but they cannot amend, reject or accept applications in SmartPay. This is because Tusker (CarBenefit) uses an API to connect with SmartPay and the processes are automated. The provider is sending requests to our system based on the affordability checker via the API and the status of the applications is updated accordingly which is why manual amends are not available/allowed.
Can clients view both successful and unsuccessful Tusker applications in SmartPay?
With this question, it’s important to differentiate between what a successful or unsuccessful application could mean.
- Affordability Check: When users apply for a car on Tusker, RG runs an affordability check and either returns a positive response or, in cases where the user can't afford the vehicle, they're asked to choose another vehicle. This is outlined in the process flow here. Our system only receives successful orders where users have passed the affordability check, therefore clients can only see the applications that have passed the affordability check in SmartPay.
- The application status once affordability check has been completed: Once an affordability check has been completed, clients with the correct permissions will be able to view all Tusker (Car Benefit) applications on SmartPay, whether they are pending, cancelled or approved. But as a reminder, clients cannot amend, reject or accept applications in SmartPay.
Auto-Approval Options
Is Auto-approval available on Tusker for RG clients?
With this question, it’s important to differentiate between what ‘Auto-approval’ means for Tusker on SmartPay compared to what it normally means for other SmartPay products.
- Tusker applications cannot be auto-approved on SmartPay in the same way applications for SmartTech, Cycle to Work and Holiday Trading can be. Despite this, the auto-approval option will technically always be switched on for the Car Benefit in the SmartPay setup, even though it does not have the same capabilities as it does for other SmartPay products.
- As a reminder, clients can only view applications for Tusker (CarBenefit) in SmartPay but they cannot amend, reject or accept applications in SmartPay. All Tusker applications have to be manually approved by clients and that process sits outside of SmartPay and is looked after by Tusker.
- Despite these differences, the auto-approval functionality must be switched on for Tusker in SmartPay to allow Tusker to create approved orders via the API between the two systems.
Product Limits
Can Tusker Products limits be set in SmartPay?
Yes, product limits can be applied to the Car Benefit in SmartPay. For example, if there was a £5,000 limit for all SmartPay products, the product-level limit could be £1,000 for the Car Benefit. There is also the option to set individual employee limits that are separate to the product limit set on SmartPay (set via the membership upload) for example John Doe could have a limit of £20,000). The number of orders limit can also be set for Car the Benefit on SmartPay.
Repayment Options
What repayment period options are available?
The repayment periods available are 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 months and the client pre-defines in the setup which repayment periods they will allow for their employees.
How many different repayment period options can be enabled for employees?
As many as the client wishes, out of the available options.
Can clients amend repayment periods once they've been set-up or not? Or would this have be a client support team member?
Clients do not have direct access to amend repayment periods but can submit a request to our support team who can make the amendment.
Membership Data
The importance of membership data we need for Car Benefit
It’s up to the client whether they’d like to benefit from the automatic checks of our system, if they do, then it’s best for them to provide the information needed via a membership data upload, however if they don’t want to provide salary information, then they could provide the minimum information required so the employees have access to our website. However, in any case membership data is needed.
What Information is needed for the affordability checker to work?
For the affordability checker to work, we need the following data for each employee in advance:
- Annual Gross Salary
- Date of Birth
To be as accurate as possible, we recommend also providing the following data as well:
- Weekly hours – If this information is not provided, we use a default value of 40.
- Weeks worked per year – If this information is not provided, we use a default value of 52.
- Other gross deduction – If this information is not provided, we default this value to 0 (zero).
Are National Minimum Wage Checks applicable?
Yes, if the checks are enabled, then they will be applied when the user chooses a vehicle on the Tusker’s website (please check this article Car Benefit process flow for UK only points 6 and 7 - “User selects a vehicle, configures it and clicks "Calculate quote" (via API). Tusker sends an affordability check request to RG to make sure the person can afford the car…RG runs an affordability check and returns a positive response…In case the user can't afford the vehicle, they're asked to choose another vehicle.” If an employee is under the age of 18, they will not be eligible for the Car Benefit in the first place and cannot be included in the benefit.
If the NMW checks option is left switched on for Tusker on SmartPay, this will create a kind of “first filter” for Tusker applications, as it will ensure that all other gross benefits that the employee has on SmartPay will be taken into account at the moment of submitting the Car Benefit application.
The employee may not be allowed to go to Tusker’s portal if they are to drop below NMW or when redirected, they’ll see items they could afford based on the salary data we have and the ongoing deductions.
Other Benefits (Outside SmartPay)
If a client wants gross benefits that are run outside of SmartPay to also be taken into account at the point of application, they need to provide the information within their membership file in a column named "other gross deductions".
If a client wants to switch the NMW checks OFF for Car Benefit by Tusker on SmartPay, then all the other Gross benefits on SmartPay will not be taken into account when the employee submits a car benefit application.
Reporting
Deduction Reports - Deduction reports are always provided by Tusker directly to the client and cannot be set-up in SmartPay
Tusker with SmartPay - What information about Tusker Car Benefit is available on Reporting?
- MI Reports: Total Value of Car Benefit Orders, Total Value of Car Benefit Orders, Monthly Summary of Total Car Benefit Orders, Monthly Summary of Total Value of Car Benefit Orders, Total Employer NI Savings through Car Benefit, Total Employee NI Savings through Car Benefit, Monthly Summary of Total Employer NI Savings through Car Benefit.
- SmartPay: Monthly Summary of Total Car Benefit Orders, List of Applications with Application Details.
- Tusker without SmartPay (only hosted on RG Scheme): There will be no automatic checks and records in the administrative portal SmartPay' there will also not be any reporting available SmartPay or on MI Reports
- Tableau: Client Total spend on Car Benefit/Tusker data can be found on Tableau, we cannot share Tableau reports directly with clients, or share screens showing Tableau reports. However, specific client total spend numbers can be added to slides/visuals shared on client call