Is this a bit off? - Motability
Discussion
Before I start this isn't something I plan to report or stitch anyone up with but I just thought I'd run it past the hopefully balanced minds of the PH folks. 
In short my neighbour has a lung condition and needs to be on oxygen 24/7 meaning she can drive but can literally only walk from the front door to the car without being very short of breath.
I have noticed that since the start of Covid her car was missing, she has a motability car which does hardly any miles before it's handed back after three years but like I say no sign of it. Yet I had seen her daughter popping in regularly and waved to her when outside so she's ok.
Now I happen to have a conversation with my neighbour and she mentioned the car, told me that her grandson had been borrowing it to run errands for her. I work from home, my office is literally opposite where her car parks and although I don't sit and watch every car that pulls up, it's a very quiet road and I've seen the car once!
I can't help thinking that it seems more like the grandson (probably under 25) has basically got a brand new car to use for free, well at the cost of the authorities.
Like I say I wouldn't go out of my way to say anything or report it but it seems a bit of a p!ss take of both my neighbour and the system?
In short my neighbour has a lung condition and needs to be on oxygen 24/7 meaning she can drive but can literally only walk from the front door to the car without being very short of breath.
I have noticed that since the start of Covid her car was missing, she has a motability car which does hardly any miles before it's handed back after three years but like I say no sign of it. Yet I had seen her daughter popping in regularly and waved to her when outside so she's ok.
Now I happen to have a conversation with my neighbour and she mentioned the car, told me that her grandson had been borrowing it to run errands for her. I work from home, my office is literally opposite where her car parks and although I don't sit and watch every car that pulls up, it's a very quiet road and I've seen the car once!
I can't help thinking that it seems more like the grandson (probably under 25) has basically got a brand new car to use for free, well at the cost of the authorities.
Like I say I wouldn't go out of my way to say anything or report it but it seems a bit of a p!ss take of both my neighbour and the system?
Alex_225 said:
Before I start this isn't something I plan to report or stitch anyone up with but I just thought I'd run it past the hopefully balanced minds of the PH folks.
In short my neighbour has a lung condition and needs to be on oxygen 24/7 meaning she can drive but can literally only walk from the front door to the car without being very short of breath.
I have noticed that since the start of Covid her car was missing, she has a motability car which does hardly any miles before it's handed back after three years but like I say no sign of it. Yet I had seen her daughter popping in regularly and waved to her when outside so she's ok.
Now I happen to have a conversation with my neighbour and she mentioned the car, told me that her grandson had been borrowing it to run errands for her. I work from home, my office is literally opposite where her car parks and although I don't sit and watch every car that pulls up, it's a very quiet road and I've seen the car once!
I can't help thinking that it seems more like the grandson (probably under 25) has basically got a brand new car to use for free, well at the cost of the authorities.
Like I say I wouldn't go out of my way to say anything or report it but it seems a bit of a p!ss take of both my neighbour and the system?
Sounds more like sour grapes to me.In short my neighbour has a lung condition and needs to be on oxygen 24/7 meaning she can drive but can literally only walk from the front door to the car without being very short of breath.
I have noticed that since the start of Covid her car was missing, she has a motability car which does hardly any miles before it's handed back after three years but like I say no sign of it. Yet I had seen her daughter popping in regularly and waved to her when outside so she's ok.
Now I happen to have a conversation with my neighbour and she mentioned the car, told me that her grandson had been borrowing it to run errands for her. I work from home, my office is literally opposite where her car parks and although I don't sit and watch every car that pulls up, it's a very quiet road and I've seen the car once!
I can't help thinking that it seems more like the grandson (probably under 25) has basically got a brand new car to use for free, well at the cost of the authorities.
Like I say I wouldn't go out of my way to say anything or report it but it seems a bit of a p!ss take of both my neighbour and the system?
from motability site:
We'll ask you to make sure:
The car is used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person. This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. In practice, this means other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping and other routine activities, as long as the disabled customer will benefit.
Only named drivers listed on your Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the car*.
That you let us know about any changes that may affect your lease.
- We will only accept drivers who have a legally valid driving licence. Drivers with a non-UK driving licence will be subject to additional checks.
As you'll never be able to prove otherwise and life is too short, you should just go back to reading the Daily Mail.
techguyone said:
Sounds more like sour grapes to me.
from motability site:
We'll ask you to make sure:
The car is used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person. This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. In practice, this means other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping and other routine activities, as long as the disabled customer will benefit.
Only named drivers listed on your Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the car*.
That you let us know about any changes that may affect your lease.
As you'll never be able to prove otherwise and life is too short, you should just go back to reading the Daily Mail.
Any need to be quite so obnoxious?from motability site:
We'll ask you to make sure:
The car is used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person. This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. In practice, this means other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping and other routine activities, as long as the disabled customer will benefit.
Only named drivers listed on your Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the car*.
That you let us know about any changes that may affect your lease.
- We will only accept drivers who have a legally valid driving licence. Drivers with a non-UK driving licence will be subject to additional checks.
As you'll never be able to prove otherwise and life is too short, you should just go back to reading the Daily Mail.
I'm well aware of the rules around the use of a Motability vehicle. My father suffered from MS for many years and in turn my parents had use of a Motability car for his benefit. When he went into a nursing home, my mother wrote to them to explain and the vehicle was taken back. I'm well aware of what the correct use is. So sour grapes I can assure it isn't.
My point was merely whether it could be deemed a bit of a p!ss take of the system, considering the car is paid for by the Motability scheme but is never actually anywhere near the person who should be benefitting from it.
As I said clearly in my first post, it's not something I'd do anything about was merely pondering it. If she benefits from it by being brought shopping, medication etc. then I completely agree. The fact that the car has been missing from the address for 6 months+ I can't help it's a bit farcical.
Pica-Pica said:
Agreed, breathe in, breathe out, move on. I assume you have been running errands for your neighbour too?
I live in a road full of mostly bungalows, so I'm often on hand for elderly neighbours. I speak with my neighbours daughter/son in law at various times during the week. This particular neighbour is shielding so doesn't leave the house often. BTW, I'm not particularly wound up about it, there are plenty worse things in the world. I suppose what adds to the irony is that the father of said grandson is the bassist in a band that had huge success in the 90s, so could probably stretch to sorting him a car out! haha
bigandclever said:
As long as she benefits from him driving it, it’s within the rules.
This!Obviously he has to be on the insurance. The Motability website will say if you have to be 25+ to be a driver.
av185 said:
Many Motability cars are abused in terms of inappropriate use by all and sundry and have been for years.
Just another example of mugging us poor taxpayers.
Abuse us at the expense of the person who pays for it...the disabled person!Just another example of mugging us poor taxpayers.
av185 said:
Many Motability cars are abused in terms of inappropriate use by all and sundry and have been for years.
Just another example of mugging us poor taxpayers.
Who is to say that she didn’t pay more tax than you ever will do. Here’s to you needing Motability, the help of family, and the understanding of others, at some point in the near future. Love you. Just another example of mugging us poor taxpayers.
I meet 100’s of disabled people each year in my job. The abuse of mobility vehicles is staggering. I agree, to me most are just a pool car for families
Although clearly an absolute lifeline for some and I’d hate to see that end.
Prime example next time yr at a supermarket: try and spot an suv not parked up with obese person in it, choking on a fag whilst some one else shops.
Although clearly an absolute lifeline for some and I’d hate to see that end.
Prime example next time yr at a supermarket: try and spot an suv not parked up with obese person in it, choking on a fag whilst some one else shops.
austinsmirk said:
I meet 100’s of disabled people each year in my job. The abuse of mobility vehicles is staggering. I agree, to me most are just a pool car for families
Although clearly an absolute lifeline for some and I’d hate to see that end.
Prime example next time yr at a supermarket: try and spot an suv not parked up with obese person in it, choking on a fag whilst some one else shops.
Nissan qashqai is favourite. Although clearly an absolute lifeline for some and I’d hate to see that end.
Prime example next time yr at a supermarket: try and spot an suv not parked up with obese person in it, choking on a fag whilst some one else shops.
av185 said:
Many Motability cars are abused in terms of inappropriate use by all and sundry and have been for years.
Just another example of mugging us poor taxpayers.
Yes many motability cars are used in a way not intended by the scheme. Most police officers you speak to will have stories of relatives using a motability car for drugs/ other crime.Just another example of mugging us poor taxpayers.
However, I disagree that tax payers are really getting mugged by this. Users receive motability cars instead of money (usually PIP), and Motability actually run a a surplus through a combination of being well run and having such strong purchasing power that they get the cars so cheaply. The tax payer isn’t any worse off if a person takes the cash or gets a car.
I could have had a Motability car on the basis my mum qualified.
It definitely would have been the case that it was all for my use and doing the odd bit of shopping for her. That definitely didn't qualify under the scheme
I didn't bother in the end for the exact reason highlighted here (and I am fairly sure it wasn't within the rules)
I suspect abuse is rife.
It definitely would have been the case that it was all for my use and doing the odd bit of shopping for her. That definitely didn't qualify under the scheme
I didn't bother in the end for the exact reason highlighted here (and I am fairly sure it wasn't within the rules)
I suspect abuse is rife.
You have to give up the higher rate of mobility part of disability benefit to get a motability car, it is not 'free.' The schemes vary slightly but it's usually over £60 a week.
https://www.motability.co.uk/about/allowances/#:~:...
It's cheaper than leasing a new car your self, but you could run a used car for less.
https://www.motability.co.uk/about/allowances/#:~:...
It's cheaper than leasing a new car your self, but you could run a used car for less.
In my family there are two recipients of Motability allowance.
The two main drivers (as the recipients are disabled) are not disabled. They both get car allowances through their work and have to prove to their work their vehicle is insured for business us. Motability have a set of criteria to go through and you can be in a situation, where a car is used for a disabled person and also used for other business use by the driver.
Motability have known these situations for the family for nearly a decade an Motabilities insurer, RSA, have included the business use by the driver(s) obo the recipient(s).
One of the cars is absolutely awful to drive, adapted to hand paddles not feet. So don't think peeps are out getting free cars for fun (the 90 page form for DLA and all the appointments that go with it is more cumbersome than transporting nuclear fuel to Japan)!
The two main drivers (as the recipients are disabled) are not disabled. They both get car allowances through their work and have to prove to their work their vehicle is insured for business us. Motability have a set of criteria to go through and you can be in a situation, where a car is used for a disabled person and also used for other business use by the driver.
Motability have known these situations for the family for nearly a decade an Motabilities insurer, RSA, have included the business use by the driver(s) obo the recipient(s).
One of the cars is absolutely awful to drive, adapted to hand paddles not feet. So don't think peeps are out getting free cars for fun (the 90 page form for DLA and all the appointments that go with it is more cumbersome than transporting nuclear fuel to Japan)!
Whether or not the rules are being broken deliberately and the boy has, in effect, a car from/funded by the taxpayer, is a tough one. It no doubt happens but if the rules allow it then we have to attack those who make the rules and who seemingly fail to check for abuse of same, for I am not sure many of us would not consider and use this avenue if in the same position.
Not saying you are so OP but it does remind me when everyone gets up in arms about the rich using tax avoidance schemes - they do so because they can and I am not sure why we get angry at them for doing so.
Not saying you are so OP but it does remind me when everyone gets up in arms about the rich using tax avoidance schemes - they do so because they can and I am not sure why we get angry at them for doing so.
austinsmirk said:
I meet 100’s of disabled people each year in my job. The abuse of mobility vehicles is staggering. I agree, to me most are just a pool car for families
Although clearly an absolute lifeline for some and I’d hate to see that end.
Prime example next time yr at a supermarket: try and spot an suv not parked up with obese person in it, choking on a fag whilst some one else shops.
If the smoking fatty is the disabled person then that's ok, might be blue badge abuse.Although clearly an absolute lifeline for some and I’d hate to see that end.
Prime example next time yr at a supermarket: try and spot an suv not parked up with obese person in it, choking on a fag whilst some one else shops.
Agreed about some abuse of cars, the insurer had about twice the average own client fraud.
Also cars used as dog kennels!
sixor8 said:
You have to give up the higher rate of mobility part of disability benefit to get a motability car, it is not 'free.' That's over £60 a week.
Exactly this, the car being used by a random family member is an abuse of the mobility claimant who is paying for it through their benefits, not the taxpayer. Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff