Welcome to Motorhomefacts, we are a thriving motorhome community (Largest in Europe). Why Not JOIN NOW and get instant access to more of the website. It costs nothing to join and only takes a few minutes. We have 200,000 different people visiting our site monthly and this amount of motorhomers in one place guarantees a fast response to any questions you may have. We also have unique facilities not found elsewhere such as our Online Logbook, stopover tracker, Motorhome directory with Ebay type feedback and the largest repository of motorhome campsites reviews found anywhere
As you have described it, your greatest difficulty is with signing the example required declaration which includes "I use a wheelchair or stretcher to be mobile", because evidently you don't.
However, if I were a dealer presented with a signed declaration that you DID, along with a letter from your GP citing your degenerative disease and stating that this will require you to use a wheelchair for mobility when the condition dictates, I would be content to sell you a custom-adapted vehicle VAT free.
The example of MS is a pertinent one because of its relapse nature. Does your condition degenerate monotonically or with periods of relapse?
Thanks for the suggestion Peter I am not, it was a hypothetical question to Dave!
Turning to Dave's last comments, if he reads my previous posting he will see that I had been issued with an NHS wheelchair. To get one at the time required a letter, not from a general practitioner but a hospital consultant.
Incidentally can anyone tell me where on the form to claim VAT exemption it says 'Letter from GP?' I am not aware of this but do feel that if this was a requirement it may go some way to stop the system being abused by some. Of course there would most likely be a charge for a GP's letter such as the ‘cash for ash’ doctors are allowed to claim.
In his letter of referral for me to be issued with an NHS wheelchair, the hospital consultant wrote; “She requires a wheelchair as an aid to her mobility NOT as an aid to her disability”. I cannot explain the feelings I experienced the first time I went out in the wheelchair, it was ghastly! It was as if my whole personality had been stripped away from me but I went as it was an occasion I was due to attend with my family. If I hadn't got into the wheelchair to be able to join them, the rest of the family said they would not go.
When I was financially able to do so, I purchased an electric disability scooter that with help I was able to get into the car. This meant that I no longer had to rely on someone to push me. What a difference! No longer did people speak only to the person pushing me in the wheelchair, ("does she take sugar?!"), but actually saw me as a person.
This takes me back to what I have inferred previously, if one has to adapt a vehicle to carry any type of wheeled aid to one's mobility, be it wheelchair, electric wheelchair or electric scooter, then in my opinion VAT exemption should be available at least to compensate for the adaptations required.
I still have the manual wheelchair and use it for short journeys when there is a 'pusher' available. It is certainly more comfortable than the scooter but I forgo comfort in the main in return for my independence.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that some posters have absolutely no idea what it is to experience the sheer frustration that is felt by people with limited mobility. I am finding this subject going round and round in circles so will endeavour to say no more but thank those who have personally given me their support, both here on the site and through personal contact. You know who you are!
Peggy my wife died of Motor Neurone disease I know as much as anyone would want to about limited mobility.
______________________________________________________________ Regards Frank - - please follow me on twitter @FrankieBryant
Denn wir haben nichts in die Welt gebracht; darum offenbar ist, wir werden auch nichts hinausbringen.
RIP Peter and Fiona Our thoughts are with you Chris and Graham. Fighting with Mavis and Ray
Plusnet, Safari 5, G5 PowerPC iMac running OSX 10.5.8, Salisbury UK : Get behind early - it gives you more time to catch up.
If you want support in terms of empathy, you have it. I was trying to give more factual information to answer your questions. I am sorry this is not appreciated. To answer your question:
"Incidentally can anyone tell me where on the form to claim VAT exemption it says 'Letter from GP?' I am not aware of this but do feel that if this was a requirement it may go some way to stop the system being abused by some. "
If you read the authoritative link, the answers to ALL your questions (starting with electric wheelchair) are there, so I am not sure why you seem resistive to reading it but prefer to will that the system were different, certainly in terms of its application to mobility scooters.
The letter from a GP was merely my advice or hypothetical example. Section 12.5 is the relevant part of the VAT Notice, and the responsibility/ judgement/ risk is with the supplier in the first place:
Quote:
"12.5 What must the supplier do?
You are responsible for ensuring that you are charging the correct amount of VAT.
Possession of an eligibility declaration does not mean that you can automatically zero rate your charge.
You must be satisfied that the declaration made by the disabled wheelchair user, charity or eligible body is valid before signing your section of the form.
You should be able to show that you have taken reasonable steps to confirm the validity of the declaration. You may wish to ask for additional information or documents to support a claim for VAT relief, such as relevant correspondence.
You must not accept a declaration that you know or suspect to be untrue.
As a concession, if you have taken all reasonable steps to check the validity of a declaration and acted in good faith, you will not normally be asked to account for VAT if the declaration is subsequently found to have been made in error – see Notice 48 Extra-statutory concessions.
You should retain the declaration and any supporting documents as part of your records."
Yes, Frank, and my mother died of Motor Neurone Disease - we cared for her at home until the final few weeks. And my brother died of MS. I know about Mobility, too.
Lets not blame the dealers for all of this. We no longer sell motorhomes thankfully but when we did some potential customers got very angry when we told them the truth about buying a vehicle VAT exempt.
When I got involved I always suggested writing to the Customs and Excise (as it was then) giving them all the facts, costs names and adresses and let them decide.
This normally resulted in the matter being dropped when the potential bogus claim was being made.
I have no problem with anyone claiming anything, as if the law states that a benefit is available there is no fault in my mind for some one to claim it. So this is not a personal attack on anyone on this forum.
I do however still not understand why the VAT is reclaimable on the purchase of a motorhome? Yes mobility is important, so I understand a car qualifying.
Why not a boat or a caravan or come to that a holiday, does not the same arguement carry for these?
I agree Eddie (and my mother was disabled). I can see a logic in any modifications to a MH to make it suitable for disabled usage being VAT free, but not the MH itself.
Given we are were we are though, I'm puzzled that the approach isn't that VAT isn't paid then reclaimed from HMRC, or alternatively that HMRC don't issue some form of voucher for the purchaser to present to the dealer so as not to have VAT apply. It seems to me the current system puts the dealer in a very difficult piggy-in-the-middle situation.
I do however still not understand why the VAT is reclaimable on the purchase of a motorhome? Yes mobility is important, so I understand a car qualifying.
Why not a boat or a caravan or come to that a holiday, does not the same arguement carry for these?
Eddie
Motorhomes were not VAT free prior to about 2001 and neither were cars. Most things specifically substantially adapted for the disabled are VAT free, certainly caravans are.
One argument I would put forward to continuing to allow the disabled to purchase motorhomes VAT free is they give so much more freedom to a disabled person. For us, it is not just a holiday vehicle, we would not be able to visit our sons or other relatives without it. It even makes days out and meeting friends more pleasurable.
The whole problem is where do you draw the line on what is a disability?
I too think more evidence should be produced to substantiate a VAT free purchase, a doctor's letter maybe one way, but in the review of the blue badge scheme, it was reported it was not unknown for doctors to be "threatened" or continually badgered for evidence of need.
I do think for the more severely disabled ,SUBSTANTIALLY adapted items should be VAT free but to give it to those just because they use a scooter is definitely OTT.
peedee
______________________________________________________________ The best journeys are not always in straight lines
For an account of our journeys click >here< (Last updated 1st March 2012)
Our motorhome was purchased vat free with a letter from the G.P. , do you know I would give every thing I own even my own life for our son to be abled bodied and to be able to live a "normal" life, as parents we get so little help and are a one income family due to our sons needs, just thank your gods or lucky stars the ones that are complaining of any help we get that you dont need it!!!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 9 of 9Goto page : Previous1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
France
Our thoughts are with you Chris and Graham. Fighting with Mavis and Ray 
