I am very surprised GG that you have raised this subject, especially by loading the argument with “ that this is being funded entirely by the benefits of disabled people “ which is patently untrue. There are two sides to every argument, and I am one of very many Motability Customers entitled to take an opposite view, and who believe that the scheme, albeit not offering the choices it once did, is and continues to be a Godsend for the disabled ( I am however not a serial defender of this or any other scheme ) and I have defended and , as long as it continues with a similar business model to the existing model, will continue to defend Motability Operations, against what is a very small , but vociferous, number of scurrilous politicians and newspaper reporters and , since the restrictions on vehicle choice (which of course has nothing to do with the chip shortages, and manufacturers thereby restricting available sales to the more profitable side of their business) dissenting customers who seem hell bent on pulling Motability apart? Of course we chose to spend all or part of our disability allowance on the services provided by Motability Operations but that is our choice. If we chose to use our Mobility Allowance on a private lease would that lease company be accused of misusing benefits, which seems to be the theme of this thread? If I interpret it correctly, ‘somehow the greedy fat cats who run the operation are using our disability benefits to pay undeserved salaries and bonuses to Motability staff’ ? However, Motability Operations is actually a stand alone organisation, owned by four banks, and is actually funded by a variety of sources (not simply benefits )such as the resale of vehicles on the scheme, issuing of bonds to raise funds etc .etc ., – ‘it does not receive any direct funding from the Government / tax payer’, except by way of a VAT advantage, i.e. it is not using disability benefits to line the pockets of employees! Just like any good business model, it will make a profit on it’s operation and in this case , these profits are reinvested ( ie held in reserve ) . Motability’s bulk buying power allows Staff to negotiate far better deals with car manufacturers than individuals can get , and the same applies to insurance, servicing, repairs Etc and this alone, answers the remuneration question – they may be well paid, but they ‘ may’ also be top quality operators, making better deals and getting better services for us? As a former Manager/employer of a team of nearly 200 staff, I would much rather have a top quality , highly paid and motivated team working on my behalf, rather than the opposite! I wonder how much higher AP’s would be, or how much further restrictions on available vehicles would go, if negotiations were carried out by lesser motivated negotiators, with much lower salaries. As stated ‘up front’ there are two sides to every argument.
@Mike 700. When you take out the VAT element from a private lease you will find in some cases they are much cheaper. Motability wasn’t given charity privileges to make obscene profits but to look after the disabled and make best use of their benefits. In my view it isn’t doing either and needs reeling in. Giving a 12.5% bonus to people who answer telephones for a living is obscene in my view especially given the current climate. All aboard the gravy train!
@Mike 700. When you take out the VAT element from a private lease you will find in some cases they are much cheaper. Motability wasn’t given charity privileges to make obscene profits but to look after the disabled and make best use of their benefits. In my view it isn’t doing either and needs reeling in. Giving a 12.5% bonus to people who answer telephones for a living is obscene in my view especially given the current climate. All aboard the gravy train!
Many people have made this claim, and it could be true if you remove the VAT element on a small number of cars, however in many cases it is not. A private lease with “full maintenance and servicing, with a mileage allowance 20k pa will normally work out a lot more expensive and will be less flexible with no ability to change cars due to changing circumstances. In the main I am with Mike. Motability is far from perfect but overall its a 9/10 from me. Sometimes we feel the grass is greener on the other side, the reality can be different.