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A couple of weeks ago I contacted Motability about my next car. At the time one of my local VW dealers had the exact car I decided to order, in stock, available immediately. I asked Motability if that was ok and was told that it was not – I could not have the new car before the exact date of my lease ending. The only reason I can think of for this is the 9 weeks of payments they wouldn’t get, totalling what, £550?
Since then the car has had it’s MOT, new pads in the front, and a full service, not to mention that I guess, technically it has dropped further in value as it’ll now be over 3 years old when it goes back instead of less than 3 years old (yeah I know that won’t make a huge difference) but I’m pretty sure they’re already in the red on that decision…
I’m a reasonable man but I’m having a little internal giggle at the situation – tried so hard to get that last £500, it’s probably going to cost them at least that or more at this point…
Rules may well be there for a reason but they should always be applied with a little common sense (although I’m the first to admit that’s a bit of a misnomer nowadays and common sense is anything but common)
"Man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave, in cages of convention, from the cradle, to the grave."
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With the discounts motability get they won’t be loosing out.
A couple of weeks ago I contacted Motability about my next car. At the time one of my local VW dealers had the exact car I decided to order, in stock, available immediately. I asked Motability if that was ok and was told that it was not – I could not have the new car before the exact date of my lease ending. The only reason I can think of for this is the 9 weeks of payments they wouldn’t get, totalling what, £550? Since then the car has had it’s MOT, new pads in the front, and a full service, not to mention that I guess, technically it has dropped further in value as it’ll now be over 3 years old when it goes back instead of less than 3 years old (yeah I know that won’t make a huge difference) but I’m pretty sure they’re already in the red on that decision… I’m a reasonable man but I’m having a little internal giggle at the situation – tried so hard to get that last £500, it’s probably going to cost them at least that or more at this point… Rules may well be there for a reason but they should always be applied with a little common sense (although I’m the first to admit that’s a bit of a misnomer nowadays and common sense is anything but common)
Colin,
It has always been the case that you have to keep your vehicle for 3 full year term before taking delivery of your next vehicle (early terminations aside). That is as per your contract with Motability.
If they ‘bent the rules’ for you simply because your next vehicle was already at the dealers, where would it end when the next customer’s car is ready at the dealer’s 10 weeks before the end of their contract and so on.
The cost of any repairs and the MOT would be factored into the price anyway, and also having the 12 month MOT means Motability would receive more when selling vehicle either through their dealer network or auction etc. Hence any feeling of ‘karma’ or ‘giggles’ that you have cost Motability extra expense would be negligible in the overall picture.
I am sure you would not have been happy if Motability had said go-ahead and get your new vehicle early, only to then sting you with an early termination fee and also loss of your Good Condition Bonus – as you were infact wanting to terminate your contract early.
You may believe that Motability have been inflexible in your case, but in reality all they have done is stick to the contract which you agreed to by entering your PIN when collecting the vehicle in the first place.
Dave
TheDealer Motability advisor told me a story of a new car being ready at contract end on the Monday as the Driver was going away on the prior Saturday on a 3 week driving holiday around Scotland. The driver tried to get permission to pick the new car up on the Saturday but Motability refused permission.
It sounds harsh and inflexible but I suppose Motability have to draw the line somewhere.
You have entered in to a contract and are obliged to see it through, simple as that. It may not have been your intention Colin but your post comes across a little ugly. Why would you feel the the need for ‘ getting one over ’ on a scheme that is ultimately there to help you?
I am not trying to be offensive here so I hope you don’t take it that way, but just trying to see the logic behind this post? yes it’s a little frustrating at times especially when cars come on and off the scheme seemingly at random but that’s how the cookie crumbles as they say.
Out of interest after reading this thread I have a curiosity to know is the penalty for early termination the same through out the term?
For example if you terminate and renew an unsuitable car at say 3 months into the 3 years is the penalty you get the same as terminating at 33 months into the 3 years if you get my drift.
Just curious.?
Of course, it came across as ugly, I all but stated that my feelings were somewhat unreasonable, and while I am well aware of the terms of my lease, my point was (supposed to be) that rules are rules, true, but blindly following a rule for no other reason than “Because it’s the rule” is completely counter-intuitive.
I run my own business and we have “rules” but I regularly bend or break them when there is no, or next to no loss to me or my customer AND there’s a benefit to either or both of us. The truth of the matter is, there really wasn’t a downside for Motability from allowing me to get the car early (but still well within the final 3 months when they will allow you to order) but there would have been a substantial benefit on both sides. I’d have had the car I wanted, and they’d have had a confirmed continuing customer for another three years. Win-win, both sides benefit which, personally, I think is EXACTLY the time when you should bend a rule.
Rules should, in my opinion, always be a guideline, and if there’s a GOOD reason not to stick to the letter of them, then that’s the time to consider if it’s better for everyone if there’s a little flexibility, so I repeat (ironically the one thing no-one mentioned in the comments.) that I believe rules should be taken with a little common sense to get the best overall outcome for everyone.
This was never about me bitching about not getting what I wanted, it was about the missed opportunity for both sides of the situation to benefit, ultimately resulting in BOTH sides being worse off.
"Man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave, in cages of convention, from the cradle, to the grave."
Hi Chris,
The termination fee is the same whether you cancel a month after your lease starts or a month before it ends. It is always £250 unless they waive it under certain circumstances.
Colin motability do help if you have a genuine reason to change early. Rules that they waive do state at their discretion and thats what we all agree too.
someone said your car will be more saleable if serviced and motd and ready to sell as a one owner car, as I said they are very unlikely to loose money.
There must be an added cost involved to change early as they are breaking a credit agreement with the manufacturers and they state there is a max number of times they are willing to do this, before they find you unsuitable for the scheme.
Of course, it came across as ugly, I all but stated that my feelings were somewhat unreasonable, and while I am well aware of the terms of my lease, my point was (supposed to be) that rules are rules, true, but blindly following a rule for no other reason than “Because it’s the rule” is completely counter-intuitive. I run my own business and we have “rules” but I regularly bend or break them when there is no, or next to no loss to me or my customer AND there’s a benefit to either or both of us. The truth of the matter is, there really wasn’t a downside for Motability from allowing me to get the car early (but still well within the final 3 months when they will allow you to order) but there would have been a substantial benefit on both sides. I’d have had the car I wanted, and they’d have had a confirmed continuing customer for another three years. Win-win, both sides benefit which, personally, I think is EXACTLY the time when you should bend a rule. Rules should, in my opinion, always be a guideline, and if there’s a GOOD reason not to stick to the letter of them, then that’s the time to consider if it’s better for everyone if there’s a little flexibility, so I repeat (ironically the one thing no-one mentioned in the comments.) that I believe rules should be taken with a little common sense to get the best overall outcome for everyone. This was never about me bitching about not getting what I wanted, it was about the missed opportunity for both sides of the situation to benefit, ultimately resulting in BOTH sides being worse off.
Colin,
If you find that Motability are so rigid that they do not meet your flexibility requirements, then why use the scheme? Surely if you want the flexibility to change cars whenever you like, you should go down the private purchase route. Then you are totally free to change vehicles whenever you wish.
For a lot of people on this forum, Motability is a lifeline, without which they would be stuck, unable to afford a reliable and comfortable vehicle. As such they avail themselves of Motability and comply with Motability’s rules which to be honest are hardly onerous in comparison to taking out a private PCP/Lease plan. Particularly with regards to cost, early terminations, minor damage, damage caused by wheelchairs etc.
Motability make the rules to apply to everyone, not to someone trying to game the system or have ultimate flexibility on when they can change their cars. We as customers accept those rules as part of the package. It is not a case of ‘rules for rules sake’. The rules are there to protect the scheme and customer.
With respect, if you don’t like Motability’s rules, you are free to not have another car on the Motability scheme and find a supplier/scheme/solution that can meet your mobility requirements.
Dave
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