By Ahmed Abdelsalam
A disabled driver identified only as Mr B has been banned from the government-funded Motability car scheme after lying to police about who was driving his vehicle when it was caught speeding.
False claim and confession
Mr B told police and Motability that another man, unknown to him, had been driving the car at the time of the offence. He claimed the man had offered to take the penalty on his behalf. When Motability informed him that the named driver was not insured and his hire agreement would be terminated, Mr B admitted he had lied.
Ombudsman rejects complaint
Mr B complained to the Financial Ombudsman Service, arguing that the four-year ban from the scheme was unfair. Ombudsman Mark Hollands dismissed the complaint, stating that the severity of Mr B’s dishonesty meant Motability had not acted unreasonably.
About the Motability scheme
The Motability scheme allows people receiving qualifying mobility allowances, such as Personal Independence Payment, to lease a vehicle for three years. The scheme has around 915,000 customers. In recent years it has faced criticism over the provision of luxury models and the range of health conditions qualifying for support.
