I think we all agree and appreciate the principle and theory of Motability and I think the problem with competition is that if Motability’s share of the market was watered down and spread about to create competition, then they would not have the bargaining power to negotiate as good deals from the manufacturers as they can at present. Nor would any other competitor who won a contract, without that contract being a monopoly, which in turn empowers them to negotiate as good or better deals from the manufactures.
However this does not in any way excuse the greed and abuse of power over their customers that Motability Operations have systematically carried out over recent years. The absurdly high profits and wages to the top management team, does not come from the resale of our cars, it comes from overcharging (compared to what they could have charged) us, the very people that Motability was set up to help and get the best deals for. Although they do get a better selling price if we add extras to our car and keep the millage low. The condition of the car will be balanced out by giving or not giving the Good Condition Bonus.
I do appreciate that there are many disabled and their non disabled drivers, who are able to get a car through Motability with a low AP or no deposit, which suits there needs and I am genuinely very happy for them, however there are also the more disabled among-st us who have struggled to find a suitable car and can only find a suitable car by having to pay an unnecessarily high AP, which was not at all necessary if Motability Operations would have just directed their profits to ease the burden of the people that they were set up to help.
I don’t appreciate the views of the people who say if you don’t like it, well simply go else ware, Motability were not set up and do not have a monopoly for people like me to simply be told to go else ware. I do not pay a high AP because I want a fancy car with a premium badge on it, I pay a high, over inflated AP because I have disabled needs which can only be met by having to pay a high AP.
Also I think when we are talking about the poor taxpayer, having to fund us, I think it is worth pointing out that it is not only people who are working pay taxes, or people like me, who have worked for a good number of years and no longer work but still pay income tax. We are all paying tax as taxpayers (excluding nudists who only eat vegetables), we all pay Vat and if we have a car we also pay fuel duties. In 2017-2018 Income Tax raised 25%, National Insurance Contributions (no longer a separate ring fenced charge going to the National Health and Welfare, but income lumped in to all taxes), raised 19%, Vat 18% and Fuel Duties 4% of all taxes.
Thanks for reading my wee rant and I hope I did not offend anybody else who does not share my views. All views are respected.