A ‘protected characteristic’ is a type of disability that comes under the Equality Act. In putting all lease services to ‘the back of the queue’ is indirect discrimination, but discrimination nonetheless. This is because the majority of people who use lease schemes are disabled. The fact that manufactures want to make money is understandable, however they can’t just decide that they will not honour a contract that will put all disabled clients at a disadvantage. Regardless of whether you agree or not, the law states that what they are doing is indirect discriminating.
Yes, I have the evidence and have sent it to Ford and Motability. They have both gone silent on me. We had a date for 12 weeks from July and then for December. Seemed fair enough given the situation. However since December we have had no build by date. I have contacted Motability who tell me to go to Ford, and Ford tell me to go to Motability. Despite numerous emails they say they cannot give us a build by date! If it’s going to be in 6 weeks, 6 months, a year or 2 years, we do not know! That is not reasonable. I think it is reasonable to give us some idea so we can either wait or make alternative arrangements given that information. I really don’t imagine they would just not give any indication of when to expect their car to a private seller. It remains that by law this is discrimination. Also to continue to not give us any indication of when the order could be ready, given the information they have been given regarding the nature of my sons disability and they will not make any reasonable adjustments and provide a date, is also discrimination. I do not want to detail my sons disability. I also have a Motability car and have nothing but praise for them but I do not think it is ‘reasonable’ that they do not act against discrimination against their clients. The key word is ‘reasonable’ under the Equality Act. It is reasonable to expect your order, that Ford accepted, to be dealt with in the order it was taken, and reasonable to give a timescale for this to be done, however long this maybe.
Its not about them being compassionate nor do I expect them to be a ‘charity’. It’s about them being reasonable, honouring a contract and not indirectly discriminating!