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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to scream that Motability cars are NOT FREE!!!!!

254 replies

Mamaz0n · 16/05/2011 19:48

Ihave just seen a programme on the BBC where they have yet again claimed someone recieved a "free car"

No they fucking didnt!

They have been given a lease hire vehicle under the motability scheme. It is not their car, they DO PAY for it and it is only for a certain period of time.

It pisses me off that people assume that being disabled is a sweet life with loads of freebies.
It isn't. far from it.

you would expect the BBC at least to get it right.

OP posts:
ccpccp · 17/05/2011 10:34

So you lease the car out of DLA that is given freely?

That would be a free car then.

stickytoffeepud · 17/05/2011 10:37

So you lease the car out of DLA that is given freely?

That would be a free car then.

thats my understanding too. If I get given £100 for having blue eyes, then swap that £100 for a new bike, Im not out of pocket am I

stickytoffeepud · 17/05/2011 10:38

You would think, given how good all these disabled people have it, that there would be lots of people deliberately injuring themselves severely so that they too can cash in.

you didnt read my local paper recently then where a guy is eating himself to morbid obesity for the benefits and extras?

DillyDaydreaming · 17/05/2011 10:44

I am sat here just wishing disability on some people here, just for one year so they can see and experience the difficulties for themselves. The fuckwittery might stop then.

My son gets free money for being autistic. Care to take that off him? Nope! Thought not.

And he doesn't get "a free car" either.

Lots of people here who appeared to have eaten the Daily Mail for breakfast with the Express for afters. Don't believe all you read folks- exercise the brain cell you were given.

Mamaz0n · 17/05/2011 10:46

yes. you get a free car in exchange for being disabled.

woohoooooo

OP posts:
DillyDaydreaming · 17/05/2011 10:46

Deliberately eh? You really ARE thick aren't you? Fancy believing all you read in a local rag.

Oh well

Bye

MintyMoo · 17/05/2011 10:50

But the DLA doesn't cover the whole cost of the car.

A 'free' car doesn't magically make being disabled ok you know

ccpccp · 17/05/2011 10:51

Disabled people who need cars should be provided with them, and it shouldnt have to come out of DLA.

OP is BU though. The cars are free becasue the source of income to lease them was free.

ccpccp · 17/05/2011 10:53

Putting a bit of cash towards modifications to a car is still a free car. You are splitting hairs here.

Mamaz0n · 17/05/2011 10:56

So someone on benefits gets "free" energy? "free" food? "free" clothing?

don't be so fucking ridiculous

OP posts:
CanYouBeHappyAnyway · 17/05/2011 10:57

erm, have any of you read the explanations of how to get a motability car?

you need to have a downpayment, as well as exchanging mobility DLA for the lease hire.

so, money is spent, from the general household budget, as downpayment. this downpayment can easily run into thousands of pounds, depending on what size of car you need, and what adaptations.

so, the car is not free. at all.

MintyMoo · 17/05/2011 10:58

*You can get a car just for your DLA higher rate mobility allowance so in essence it is paid for. However this is the smallest car in the world.

We paid a downpayment of £6k to get a car large enough to get DH's scooter in it. They also get the mobility allowance which is about £200 a month. And after 3 years we have to give the car back and start all over again* (mercedes posted this on the first page)

£6k deposit for a car you only get for 3 years is hardly a bit of cash. My DP is looking for a normal car - he's got a budget of around £2k. £6k is a lot of money.

ccpccp · 17/05/2011 10:59

"So someone on benefits gets "free" energy? "free" food? "free" clothing? "

Of course they fucking do. Jaysus.

worldgonecrazy · 17/05/2011 11:00

My friend has just had a new Ford Focus top of the range on her motability. She paid £300 as a down payment. All the other running costs, except fuel, come out of her DLA allowance.

I work full time and could not afford to lease one of these cars. I don't have a problem with her having a decent car, but I suspect it is the anomally between what a non-DLA person pays for a car and what a DLA person pays for a car which is perpetuating the myth.

ccpccp · 17/05/2011 11:03

Benefits are given for FREE to allow the recipient to exchange them for goods and services they cannot afford themselves.

These goods and services are thus provided to the recipient for FREE.

Fuck me - its not rocket science.

MoominmammasHandbag · 17/05/2011 11:11

MrsDeVere
I used to have a motability car and the way we understood it was that DH could use it to do something that helped me out.
So he could use it to get the shopping or take the kids to school but not to drive himself to work or go to the football.
We were always concious that if he had an accident while driving it for his own purposes he wouldn't be insured.
I can't see a problem with you using it for shopping or taking the kids to the hospital, but it was because of these sort of restrictions that we no longer use motability.

Glitterknickaz · 17/05/2011 12:04

Oh of course. Disability is soooo fucking cushy isn't it. Care to try it? The free money makes it sooooo fucking easy.

Wankers.

RabbitFood · 17/05/2011 12:10

I just knew this thread would kick off,

HRHShoesytwoesy · 17/05/2011 12:11

I love the Idea of DLA being free, as if it is given as a gift....
I bet you don't want to swap with dd and have all the "free" stuff she gets, and have her severe disability for her...
also lets not forget she like most others lives in a family that pays taxes.

DillyDaydreaming · 17/05/2011 12:14

So ccpccp you would be happy to have a disability then. By the way you DO realise the "free" car is not a definite don't you

Yes I will "split hairs" because there is a difference between able bodied youngsters choosing not to work and some one who is disabled needing payments to keep them mobile. And if that person works and pays tax then the DLA is not free but a benefit which has been contributed to.

My son didn't choose to be autistic and I would give anything for him to be "normal". On the other hand he has more compassion in his little fingernail than some of you so called normal people here. He has learned from me that society is not equal and that you treat people with kindness especially if they need help and support.

Both my son and I are grateful for everything we have and make an effort to care for others. That's something some of you might take on board.

Glitterknickaz · 17/05/2011 12:15

Apologies for my language in the last post.
Day in day out attacks on your children and family life gets a little..... wearing.
Especially when sanctioned by the government, media (including the BBC) and some internet forums.

ccpccp · 17/05/2011 12:18

Dont come over all hurt just because I pointed out that yes, DLA is a gift.

I'm not questioning that the gift should be given by society to its less fortunate, and I would perfer that there were no disability and thus no DLA.

But a free car is a free car, which is what the thread is about.

CanYouBeHappyAnyway · 17/05/2011 12:21

except, ccp, as has also been pointed out - the car is NOT free. there is a downpayment needed, which often runs into the thousands of pounds (we do not have a motability car. but the one we would need would indeed have a downpayment of about £5k.)

and then, 3 years later, you need to do it all again. with another downpayment.

that is not, in any way, a free car.

RabbitFood · 17/05/2011 12:22

ccpccp - is the downpayment thousands, can you clarify?

Glitterknickaz · 17/05/2011 12:26

I'm currently saving £1k for our next car. We need one big enough for three kids, a wheelchair and a walking frame.