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Had a call from Motability grants team, pleasant young lady said she will look at suitable cars and compile a list. One thing she did say is the grants team don’t take into account fuel type, I didn’t know this, she said “the list may contain diesels”. I explained a diesel is no good for us as our journeys are nearly all short and the DPF will block up, her answer “then take it on a long run”great idea when we’re already struggling on money even more now as our energy bill has just increased by £30 pcm so let’s just waste diesel.
We had a diesel before our Motablity car, it was a nightmare 30 mile round trips to clear the DPF several times it ended up going in for a forced regeneration when a motorway run failed. She said she knew all about DPF and as they are helping with a grant we have to consider possible having a diesel. The vehicle list will be interesting, in my opinion there are very few cars that are suitable as per roof height and boot size, but we shall see.
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I phoned and enquired about a grant and they were thoroughly rude and obnoxious to the point I hung up and gave up.
No choice of fuel so I said so you’re happy for me to have a car I can’t afford to use then and they said well we get the lease money if you use it or not…. I kid you not!
I explained my needs like low boot sill etc and she basically just snorted that’s what it sounded like and said I could have a petrol Qashqai I said can you afford to run a petrol Qashqai because if you can’t on a wage I can’t on benefits thanks.
I love in a very rural location so in the end I settled on an MG zs EV for £199 and put it on a credit çard. Car wasn’t totally suitable but was the closest I could get still struggle now esp trying to get a boot scooter in or out but not like there’s much to swap to wanted a Berlingo or combo e but £4500 and £6100 for those and can’t see Motability ponying up for that.
Other than those there’s next to nothing with a low load back, big boot and a very upright seating position etc. Used to be you do a search and get 2 or 3 pages in before you got above £200 now it’s second page and shoots up pretty quick.
It’s mental seeing how different people’s application processes have been on here. Given how high AP’s have become, the grant system should be very easy yet it sounds like an exam in which I have to know how to word my answers in order to be in with a chance of approval!
What’s it going to be like by 2030 when we’re all apparently getting pushed to electric?….how high are the AP’s going to be then seeing as though most are at astronomical prices now.
Second car I got I needed a grant, gave them a list of suitable cars and they came back with a Nissan Micra and Qashqai (mk1), neither on my list. Told them I was 6′ 6″ with mobility problems and they insisted I go to the garage and try to get into them. Nissan dealer wasn’t particularly helpful when I explained, couldn’t even get into the Micra!, head was jammed into the roof of the Qashqai with the seat as far down as it would go!.
So rang Motability from the garage and explained and was told that someone in the office was 6′ 4″ and he could get into a Qashqai. Ended up having to put the salesman on the phone to confirm I didn’t fit!.
Ended up with a very nice Honda CRV which was perfect, I got a grant towards the AP for that luckily and kept it for 5 years.
Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!
What’s it going to be like by 2030 when we’re all apparently getting pushed to electric?….how high are the AP’s going to be then seeing as though most are at astronomical prices now.
2030 will see the ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles – hybrids will continue untill 2035 before a ban on new vehicles comes into force 🙂
Yes a large suv is just way too big height ways and wont fit in my drive also
Kezo,
And imagine how much AP’s are going to be like by then. Motability customers are going to get backed into a corner…a lot are already and we’re nowhere near the carry on that will happen come 2030 and onwards.
Yes a large suv is just way too big height ways and wont fit in my drive also
If your case manger isn’t listening to your needs either phone or email him/her requesting to speak to their manager. Explain your daughters situation, aswell as a large vehicle won’t fit on your drive and there is no off road parking outside your house and, it wouldn’t be safe to leave your daughter either in the house or in the car as you would have to leave her unattended whils’t you fetched her equipment. This would ultimately lead to having an early termination. Hopefuly your case manager will listen to this!
Failing that it may take a couple of go’s getting through to your case managers, manager but, stick with it.
Write everything down so your not thinking about what to say when you speak to the grants team.
Thank you Kezo for your help. I just still cant believe how rude the girl on the phone was to me when i told her a small SUV is the most suitable and how dismissive she was.
I offered her to come to my home then make a decision because then she can see the everyday real life struggle. She of course just kept with her negative tone
Now they have changed their name to Motability Foundation I wonder if it is because the bad feedback on trustPilot under motability grants. Apparently due to too many complaints which after many years on good relations with grants team now I am not allowed to call them until 2026 and now under dater protection I have asked for my records to be sent in writing as the Ombudsman and my Solicitor have asked me to do this. Remember guys if unhappy get them to put everything in writing which they usually do not want to do as they know they are in the wrong quite tragic really when all we want is help to get around,
Got awarded a grant recently and was given a list of what they deem as suitable. I suggested a vehicle which was in my eyes perfect but it was slightly over the advanced payment they were willing to pay. I asked if I could contribute towards it. They said no. The vehicles they suggested wont even take the fixed wheelchair. They said if I turn it on its side it will fit in. Yeah I’m going to manhandle an Rea azalia wheelchair. They suggested an electric but we dont have anywhere suitable to charge, they said you can go to a garage and sit while its charging.
I must admit The grant team I’ve got worse I needed a higher car for both me and my wife so are you Applied for a grant The lady on the phone said what type of car you were looking for so I said something that is quite tall and she asked me about electric cars and I said I couldn’t have one because I’m leave it in a block of flats and if I had, I would have to have a lead about 40 foot long if not more just to get to the car which is not practical from Six floor a few days later I received a phone call saying yes the grant has been awarded. He’s a Lift of car you can have. all electric except for two which were very small cars so I rang them back off and they said oh no, so we don’t take into account that you can’t have electric charger at home so I had to turn down the grand plus a lot of people don’t know that you can only had so much money to the grant you are offered which pushed mine to or just £1000 or just over You’re not even able to put your £750 towards it only a percentage which I think you remember what they was the grant plus £350.00 when I rang back up to say I’ll have to turn the grant down I was asked why and I told them about the electric cars being the only option I was told well we don’t take that into consideration about public charging so they didn’t help me. I just think at the moment because of grants and everything, push it electric cars only sure thing a lot of people I’ll be returning the grant before they’ve even used them lucky enough family members stepped in and help me get the car that I need and I’ve had to borrow it as well
They are definately pushing the electric thing. And said they will only offer electric at some point. They seem to think that if its suitable for local travel and appointments, thats all that is neccesary. So disabled people arent supposed to travel.
I’ve just applied for a grant – someone I volunteer with suggested it. I got the same message re: will only help with the vehicle WE think is appropriate, etc…..
Was told the lead time is 4 weeks
Told them I had ordered already but that it is cancellable.
Current Car Ioniq 5 MY24 77KWh RWD
Previous Cars: Kona Electric 2021 UK, Seat Ateca 2.0 Diesel Turbo
Proof of ESA
I’m sure when IU applied it said I could provide a bank statement to prove my ESA, but got email today saying it must be the proof of award letter. I’ve got this coming after waiting nearly 2 hours to be told it can’t be emailed.
Not sure what will be offered after today’s rises, just annoyed I have to wait even longer now…..
Current Car Ioniq 5 MY24 77KWh RWD
Previous Cars: Kona Electric 2021 UK, Seat Ateca 2.0 Diesel Turbo
Proof of ESA I’m sure when IU applied it said I could provide a bank statement to prove my ESA, but got email today saying it must be the proof of award letter. I’ve got this coming after waiting nearly 2 hours to be told it can’t be emailed. Not sure what will be offered after today’s rises, just annoyed I have to wait even longer now…..
Good luck with it, hope you get the choice of car you want 🙂
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