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Original poster

To shop neighbour who has been given disability car as a "gift"

178 replies

Jollyranchermuncher · 22/10/2011 13:20

neighbours dad has a brand new sporty disability car that he has gifted to his daughter for her own full use.

It is hers, the dad stays in the next town and never it, I know she has full use of it.

Usually I would mind my own business over most things but it just makes me seethe that she has been given this and so many people who need things have to go without.

It also has a built in bluebadge so she can conveniently park in disabled spaces.

Am not quite sure how payment for disability cars work I take it her dad has to use his dla for the car? But it still seems like a huge take the piss off the system?

OP posts:
TheWisdomOfSolomum · 22/10/2011 14:39

Can someone explain how the insurance works please?

If a nominated driver has an accident whilst using the car for their own personal use does that mean that they/the car are not insured?

If that's the case then they should be reported IMO as should any other uninsured driver.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 22/10/2011 14:42

My OH is very hot on insurance etc.

He has never mentioned a problem if I am driving the car. I dont know what would be classed as my own personal business though.

I drive it for shopping, taking the kids out and ...no thats it. I dont really do anything else.

I wouldnt use it for work because I drive as part of my job. Apart from it being too big for all the parking I have to do, I doubt if that would be allowed as part of the rules.

Which is why I am praying my 20 year old car has a few years left in her yet.

lesley33 · 22/10/2011 14:44

Her father may spend his DLA on a car that he gets no beneft from because he is being effectively coerced and financially manipulated/abused. Unfortunately a minority of people do abuse their disabled or vulnerable parents financially. I have haerd of adult children refusing to visit or help out a very elderly parent unless the parent pays for their petrol and a bit towards their time, for example. And ime, the adult dcs who do this tend not to be struggling financially - just greedy sods.

onagar · 22/10/2011 14:45

lesley33 Not really naive. We can only go by what we know and OP hasn't said anything about boasting.

If the OP thought that you could only use the car yourself or that you had to be in it on every journey that would explain their post. We have seen that it doesn't work like that so unless the OP adds more info we have to assume it's all above board.

rhondajean · 22/10/2011 14:46

Im thinking there might be different views of what is for the disabled persons benefit if they are part of the same household as to if they are not?

Eg if I go shopping for here, its me, DH and DDs who benefit, not my MIL so thats nothing to do with her.

gramercy · 22/10/2011 14:50

I once met an acquaintance from a toddler group at a country park. I was putting my £1 in the machine to pay but she whipped out her Blue Badge and stuck it in her window. She said it was her mother's but she used it all the time and never paid for parking.

I think it is time to reissue all the Blue Badges - all-new design - and this time make sure that it is only those who are really in need who receive them. And make it a towable offence to use anybody else's badge to get free/preferential parking.

TheWisdomOfSolomum · 22/10/2011 14:51

MrsD sorry I meant if someone was blatently using the motability car in ways that had nothing to do with the disabled person?

For example, on holiday without the disabled person or if they lived quite a distance away from them.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 22/10/2011 15:04

Its complicated though thewisdom

I am going away in a few weeks for a couple of days. OH isnt coming with me.
It would be much more sensible for me to use the larger, reliable car to go because its about 80miles away and I am taking a couple of friends.

I wont take it but it would be bloody handy if I did. If I didnt have a car I would have to get a train whilst the car sat outside the house doing nothing. OH wont be using it because he wont be going out. He cant manage the kids on his own and he wont be at work.

I am not sure where we stand if I were to use it. TBH we just want to be like any other family. Its situations like this that remind us that we arent IYSWIM.

If we were well off there is no way I would bother with DLA and Mobility. Its all a bit depressing and not half as much fun as people seem to think it is (not you - but I am sure you have seen the threads).

I am very grateful for the car. OH wouldnt be able to work without it. I would so much prefer him not to have multiple sclerosis though. I would prefer him to keep the DLA and for us to buy a car. I would feel less under scrutiny. We had to put a huge deposit down as it is but OH likes the fact it is covered for repairs etc.

TheWisdomOfSolomum · 22/10/2011 15:16

I think its such a good thing to have available and its literally been life changing for people who have been able to get a mobility car who otherwise be housebound without it.

I have no issue with the way people use their car, and tbh I think the way most people use their motability car, is perfectly reasonable, and beneficial to the family as a whole. I would view you (mrsd) using the car to go away as perfectly reasonable, you work hard, you deserve a break, the car is sitting there otherwise etc.

I asked my question based on a specific set of circumstances, which is totally unrelated to anything posted on this thread (with the exception of the OP)

saintlyjimjams · 22/10/2011 15:18

gramercy - a lot of areas make you pay with a blue badge anyway. It's why I always take ds1 to the beach in his car (motability) rather than dh's work car. Disabled tax disc = free parking, blue badge doesn't.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 22/10/2011 15:21

The OP sounds dodgy.

Trouble is, we see this a lot and the ones that are dodgy get lumped in with the ones that are misunderstanding and become one big pile of 'people get free cars and theres nothing wrong with them'

Which is why I would rather own our own car. At least we could sell it and get some of our money back.

But OH has never had a brand new car before and he feels more secure with the repairs being included. His choice.

I will continue to enter the lottery though, just in case Smile

Original poster
Jollyranchermuncher · 22/10/2011 15:42

The daughter was not boasting as such when she told myself and other neighbours. She pulled up into the street one day and told his all how she had the new car.

I'm not confused about why she has the car and what she uses it for, it's her car for her sole use. She does not run errands in it.

OP posts:
TheWisdomOfSolomum · 22/10/2011 15:43

Me and you both MrsD!

worraliberty · 22/10/2011 15:46

How the buggety bugger could you possibly know whether she runs errands in it or not? Confused

Do you shadow her every single move?

NinkyNonker · 22/10/2011 15:47

I think some people are under the impression these cars are free, they are far, far from it.

And as has been mentioned, there is no such thing as a built in blue badge.

mycatsaysach · 22/10/2011 15:52

op just stirring

timidviper · 22/10/2011 15:59

Surely there is an issue that people using these things wrongly reduces the resources, and the public sympathy, for those who really need to use them. I am totally in favour of any schemes that improve the lives of disabled people but detest the abuse of them as, although others may see it differently, I think it is no better than theft.

I have a friend with MS who, on her good days, gets abuse from people as they suspect she is not "properly" disabled despite her being unable to walk far. If we weeded out the fraudsters people might be less likely to make assumptions and do this.

I have a family member who regularly uses a disabled badge obtained for her elderly mum (her mum is now almost housebound so, apart from hospital visits, never needs it) and I have been tempted to report it more than once. Come to think about it, she has just got a rather expensive new car despite living on benefits.....................[hhmmm]

Debs75 · 22/10/2011 16:02

It is illegal.
Mobility cars are only to be used for the benefit of the named recipient, they don't have to be in the car but your journey does have to benefit them. Shopping, paying bills for her dad would be fine, but general day-to-day use by her would not. Even with a latrge family they do mean it just for the disabled person. I regularly use mine to ferry my other 3 kids about but according to the last issue of motability if there is no direct benefit for ds(disabled one) then I am in breach of rules.

Using a blue badge illegally means she can be fined

Report her if you think she is doing something wrong. I would

Original poster
Jollyranchermuncher · 22/10/2011 16:08

Worral what part of she told us that it is her new car for her sole use are you not getting?

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 22/10/2011 16:11

Mobility cars are generally on a lease, that lease lasts three years after that time you change it or it goes back.

FabbyChic · 22/10/2011 16:11

The car costs minimum £46 a week perhaps she actually gives this money to her relative?

Debs75 · 22/10/2011 16:12

JollyranchermuncherSat 22-Oct-11 16:08:52

Worral what part of she told us that it is her new car for her sole use are you not getting?

You know the answer then don't you?
If you want to report her then report her

borderslass · 22/10/2011 16:12

Not always you can buy or lease them, choice is yours.

herbietea · 22/10/2011 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Voidka · 22/10/2011 16:14

Welcome to MN op Hmm