Anyone getting Commuter Checks from their employer?

[Rob Hawks]

If you get commuter checks in paper form from your employer, how do you cash these out? I see on the Commuter Check website that lots of bike shops are listed and 'partners', including REI and dozens of independent bike shops. How can one use these at bike shops? Do you fund a Clipper Card with these checks? If so, how do you get the funds on your card?

Thanks,

rob hawks

[Klguzik]

You take them in, sign the back, print your address and pay with them. I believe they are rung in as a check, but you can't get any change back. They are good for about 18 months, so I've been saving them to discount my next frame purchase. :-)

 I also convinced my LBS to become authorized to take them. It is a bit of a hassle to get approved, but I can use them for anything bike related at his shop. When I tried to use them while buying bibs at Sports Basement, I was told I couldn't use them for clothes. It's how the purchase is entered in to the system...

Anyhow, that's probably more info than you wanted. It's a limited $20 per month, but it's better than a boot to the head!

Kimber

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G Touch

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[Gintautas Budvytis]

You can use them to pay for your transit ticket at special transit centers (Lake Merritt has one, Civic Center, Balboa Park too). I use plastic "Commuter Check" card, works like Debit Card, to buy BART tickets. Also there is a great company in Bay Area "Wage Works" which works with employers and makes commuter benefits a painless affair. I use them and their commuter Credit Card to load my Clipper transit card (automatically, with pre-tax dollars). Ask you employer to move to XXI century ;^)

"$20 commuter program" is a federal stimulus package, I'm not sure it also pays in commuter checks only since my employer (it is no cost to employer) do not provide it to us.

GB

[Rob Hawks]

I'd be careful about how long those are valid. Printed very clearly on my check is a 3 month window, and the current window is nearly over. The check isn't made out to me but is generically printed.

rob

[Rick Martyn]

I use Commuter Checks for the BART part of my commute.  Unfortunately it appears you cannot use the bicycle Commuter Checks and the transit Commuter Checks at the same time.  I found this note:

Important note: Currently the bicycle benefit cannot be combined with the transit or parking benefit. On any given month, employees who opt for the bicycle benefit cannot take advantage of the transit or parking benefit. We will update our information were this restriction in the legislation to change.

at the bottom of this page:

http://www.commutercheck.com/bicycle.aspx

Rick Martyn

Pleasant Hill

Bike, Casual Carpool, BART commuter

On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 11:03 AM, Klguzik <klg...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Kimber Guzik]

Mine is a year and 3 months on the front of the check. I've double checked the year a couple of times to be sure!

Kimber

[Rob Hawks]

Having reached for my glasses and double checked, I see that in fact it is 18 months.

So, are there different kinds of these commuter checks? One for regular transit and one for cycling? I'm not sure I am following the distinction being made about bicycle benefits vs. transit benefits.

If my check says 'payable to transit authorities, transit vendors, and transit providers only' does that limit where I can use these?

There are no free lunches seems true and truer.

rob hawks

[Rick Martyn]

Rob,

Yes it looks like there are distinct "flavors" of Commuter Checks.  There is an image of a Commuter Check for Bicycling on this page:

http://www.commutercheck.com/bicycle.aspx

That is definitely different than the Commuter Checks I get and use for BART.

Rick M.

[Klguzik]

That is an image of the type of commuter check that John receives each month.

Kimber

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G Touch

[Gintautas Budvytis]

Seems like you got (bought with your pre-tax dollars?) a commuter check paper voucher. You can use it to buy (pre-load) public transit ticket. In Bay Area that is Clipper card.
https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/commutercheck.do

GB

[Rob Hawks]

My employer gives these out to employees who do not accept parking passes and who use public transportation. Alas, I don't think there are options to get the bicycle oriented ones so this 'free money' is indirectly going to fund biking items.

rob hawks