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I am looking for some views on the fact local councils are starting to charge an admin fee for people to get and renew there blue badges. Looks like I am not going renew mine instead donate the money +50% to a kids charity. The blue badge is not a luxury its something I have to have so I can park in bays where I can get in and out without damaging other cars. No abled bodied person HAS to pay to park they get choice of going to out of town complexes with free parking if they want, A disabled driver has too pay to get a badge to be able to park there or risk people parking too close. In an ncp car park with a barrier disabled drivers now pay twice. I am hoping for a lot of fines for parking without a valid badge of course I wont pay the fines whats the worst they can do to me I dont own the car and dont own a house

Oh and before the comedians jump in yes I am going to stand up for what I think is right

How much is it going t be?

Come and take your TV and Laptop..

Where I live there are places you do HAVE to pay to park. Unless you fancy a 12 mile hike carrying a fridge.. (although I personally get most stuff delivered as by the time I pay petrol and parking it works out so much cheaper..)

Surely an admin fee is fine? Someone has to print, check, package and deliver these badges.

The fee isnt the issue pleno its only a round of drinks, mildonk you will likely find if I had to park same places as you I would have to pay for parking too, blue badge doesnt give you free parking in most commercial car parks just that up here they are all free so people go there to shop. But anywhere like ncp I pay just same as next man

Yeah don't see what the problem is as long as its not ridic expensive.

Anything sub £40 seems fair to me.

How can they take my tv and laptop they can prove I own them as I live in a house owned by my parents and everything in it can technically be there's

They will take their stuff and leave it for you to prove its not yours.

What exactly is the issue if it isn't the fee?

Maybe they can take your parents tele and laptop then?  The car owner will probably be the first port of call for any parking tickets. If they deny it's them then they'll have to say who was using the car.  

Doesn't seem worth the hassle to me, I'd just pay up and be done.

Flushy if someone came up to you and said you drive where you want but cant get out of your car when you get there and its only you and 5% of the population that have to pay this you would just pay it. Ok maybe you would as the money isnt an issue with you. But money too alot of disabled people is an issue heat, food , and now being able to get out and about

The government own my car I lease it. They wouldnt get through the door to get any stuff mildonk as whole house is my parents nothing is in my name no bill no nothing. Graham the point is the principle I have the same right to park as anyone else I shouldnt have to pay extra for it. If all parking bays where wider then no need for blue badge. Parent and toddlers dont pay an upfront fee to park in same widen spaces

I think charging for the blue badge is wrong.

I also have issue how "easy" it is to get a blue badge.  My sister is disabled and sometimes we have a problem in getting a space since the disabled spaces are full so we hang around waiting only to see an able bodied couple, both carrying shopping, walk up to their car, get in and drive away.  Not sure how these people can justify using these spaces.

Someone has to pay for these badges, why not the people applying for them?

The government have leased you a car at i assume a good rate, this enables you to be more self sufficient i presume?

Now you want to waste the same governments time with collecting parking tickets that you won't pay, there will of course be only one winner in his endeavour.

I'd probably just pay the money even if it gravely offended me and would look to pick a smarter battle.

If it's not that expensive to renew then for the sake of the aggro you would get for not having one, it's probably worth paying the fee and protesting against it some other way.

I agree that charging for the badge itself would be ool but charging an "admin" fee for processing is 100% fine!


If all spaces were wider less people would be able to park overall. You have the same right but not the same ability so therefore of course wider spaces closer to the shop or whatever are needed. How much is it? I will pay it for you. I also think you massively underestimate the power and will of bailiffs, don't forget you could end up in court and would probably lose..

I can see the principle, but if you bugger up your credit rating over this you are the only loser.  Could you still lease the car with a CCJ for instance?  And defending this is going to be a bigger hassle than paying.

When we used to live in London, we had to pay for permits.  I an sure they claimed it was only to pay for admin, but was more a round of lap dances for a big party than a round of drinks.  It was just geography that separated us from the 95% of the population that don't pay for permits.  We got to park where others couldn't.  People used to moan about the unfairness of it all there too, but it all seemed reasonable to me.

As Flushy said, you need to pick your battles. Kick up a fuss by all means, but pay the fee in the meantime.

Could you get in touch with the local paper - start a campaign or something.

I can pay just donating money to charity instead. If it was just a one off payment then fine but the badges last upto 3 years some people it's every year

Wait so its £40 every 3 years? I have to pay £120 a year to park on my street....

I pay £25 a year for someone to empty my grass bin and then council tax every month for the other bins..

Doors car is motability on my war pensioner scheme car is 100%safe credit rating wouldn't bother me either

Andrew will be getting press involved too was going to ,Akers big fuss about telling a traffic warden my car was parked in a bay with out of date badge so I got a ticket but found out in last hour from paper online no more traffic wardens in moray after this month lol

i paid to build a garage so I didn't need to park on my street

Yeah i have a garage as well so don't need to park there.

I guess you are never going to come around to the other viewpoint but i really do hope you listen to us who recommend you fight this the sensible way.

I am going to fight it sensibly and communicate with council the whole way, one of my best mates is on the council and by now the whole council will be aware of me refusing to pay for the badge.

ok just rereading my posts i really shouldnt of made the posts while in my bed still waking up, just off too hopefully pick up a new wheelchair today. will try and explain better my stand point when i get back.

this 100%

....and I'm sure you with friends can think of some "good" campaigning ideas......

Does the cost vary from place to place?

Just had a look on the .gov website, and it's still showing as £10 to renew here.

If it's £40 I'll just pay it anyway, and hope they have fun at their xmas party on the extra dough :D

if something costs something, then sombody has to pay for it. if not the person using it then who should?

Whilst it seems unfair, plenty of able bodied people are entitled to blue badges, for 'hidden' disabilities. I.e unable to walk more than say, 50 yards.

And ironside. Get a grip ffs. Your one man campaign isn't gonna work with anyone. The only person that will lose is you. Pay the charge, then take it up with the council. If you do win, then they can refund the admin fee. Oh, and also the small matter of your mum and dad not having to worry about bailiffs turning up at their house.

It's just another piss taking way of making money for skint councils in a long line of already piss taking measures.

I know lets charge people for parking on a street full of holes outside their own houses. Even if this given house is in the middle of no where. Lets start charging disabled drivers for parking, don't give a fuk how they can't afford it we need to raise money.

Simple, don't pay it. If you get fine say you cannot pay as skint. Go to local press and make a huge fuss.

acidmouse they are asking for 13 pound a year.

You pay it for him then. It's the principle not really the money in Irons case. Though I suspect £13 for alot of disabled drivers means a huge amount.

I'm guessing you can't get the badge, without paying the admin fee first.

ok i am not worried about the £20 its going too cost me too pay for a blue badge and the fact i have too pay it every 3 years, FFs i have played £20 rebuys blind for the  whole rebuy period. I am lucky i can afford too pay the fee, not all disabled people can.

If i wasnt too get a blue badge it would like an abled body person being told sorry you can go out in your car anywhere you like, but dont try getting out of your car anywhere or you could face a £70 fine but if you pay a £20 fee you can get out ok. Oh and not everyone has too pay the £20 just about 1 in 10 of you chosen because of a personal characteristic you have. Ie flushy you havent enough hair you have too pay £20 every 3 years if you ever want too get out of your car as you dont have enough hair, but tikay can park anywhere without paying an upfront fee or risking a fine.

the principal of the matter is i should have the same options of parking as an abled bodied person and the same cost i shouldnt need too pay an extra fee too be able too park and get out of my car.
the blue badge is in place so that councils and car parks can save money by not making every parking space accessible (total waste of money) using the blue badge means that they can offer disabled people a service but now we as disabled people have too pay an admin fee, we pay an admin fee too save the councils money seems fair too me

i wont just be doing this on my own i have taken on the council in past over 2 seperate issues and both times won getting the council too rethink there policy. i have spoken too other disabled people and they are too scared too make a stand and are paying the fee, even people i know who work with the disabled that i know from the last twice i took on the council have told me that people are too scared too protest.

My plan is too get in touch with other disabled people in area and also the local paper on the day my badge runs out too make a public donation too a kids charity, then i was going too find a local traffic warden point out the fact my blue badge was out of date get a parking fine and go through the appeals procedure taking it as far as i can. They can fine me as much as they want i wont pay any fines and dont mind them jailing me for non payment but as any fine or debt will be civil rather then criminal i cant see that happening.

Seriously iron. You find me ten disabled people that can't afford £20 over 3 years, and I'll pay it for them.

I'm bald too, so lets call it 40 son ;)

here its £10 to renew , was £2.50 18 months ago but the new badges must cost more to make & alot less easier to forge

dont think many disabled people would have a problem with that , just think they should restrict that badges a lot more

Be fun if you go to Jail, lots of headlines

Iron. Ignore Vinny. (That's nothing to do with the matter in hand BTW, just general advice). I totally get that it's a principle that you are upholding here, but look at it this way.

The council have footed the bill for making special bays wide enough for disabled people to park in, don't begrudge them a bit of financial help with the admin costs.

Pick your battles.

seriously vinny there are alot of people at the moment struggling between keeping the heating on and eating proper and alot of disabled people are in this position

council have too by dda offer a service where they can, i could try and make them offer a parking service where i can park everywhere an ask for all parking bays be widened i understand this would be a huge cost so i put up with a blue badge i shouldnt have too pay too help save them money

And for that reason, I'm out.

I totally get that mate. I'm not as stupid as red dog looks.

Pay it, then protest. Even if it's only for the sake of your parents peace of mind.

One lapdance freebie every 3 years and its all square.

Wait so its £20 for 36 months? I'm not being funny but if you can afford to run a car you can afford that.

I may be wildly missing the point here but surely your badge doesn't give you the same privileges as able bodies people? It allows you to park for free, in better spots, and often in places an able bodied person either a) can't park, or b) has to pay for.

We used to have one for my brother when I was little. One of the best things to own ever.

Cf it doesn't  allow you to park for free it allows you to park in widen bays, yes some car parks give you free parking I would say about 10% of the ones I use that charge  drivers  give free paring to blue badge holders I would rather pay that or choose not to park there like any other driver would

If you feel you don't benefit from a blue badge, just don't get one.

Ironside, as others have said, this isn't Joanna Lumley and the Gurkhas.  I know that you're annoyed, but there are better ways of going about this.  What's the view of disabled charities/pressure groups?  Is a legal challenge possible?

Iron. Most people on this forum are advising you not to take this stance. Some of these people may even consider you a friend.

How do you think the general public are going to react if you take this to the extent you say? I would guess they also will quickly be persuaded that the charge is reasonable and fair.

All you are likely to achieve here is a lot of frustration for you, and a lot of worry for your parents.

I think it is very unfair that a disabled person should get the VIP spot without paying for it. I am denied that space because I am able bodied. You don't have a free choice of space, I accept that. But neither do I. I just happen to have a greater number of spaces because there is a greater number of able bodied people, but there is also a greater demand.

I also think it is wrong to assume that because someone is disabled means that they need financial help. Some do, some don't. Just like able bodied people. (I'm not saying you assumed this BTW). If someone can't afford the cost of the badge then I think it is reasonable for some of my taxes to help that person. But someone who is disabled and can afford it (my Mum for example) should contribute the tiny amount being asked. £Million's of tax payers money is being spend on things like DDA so I don't think it unreasonable that those that can afford a blue badge pay for it.

Oh, does it not allow you to park on double yellow lines and the like?

Though come to think of it my brothers badge was orange and not blue.

My interpretation of the badge is that I can park anywhere I like (within reason) and for that reason it's invaluable.

OK, please help me understand this.

Some disabled drivers don't pay road tax (but can use the services that the road tax pays for).

why is this?

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-for-disabled-people?source=most-popular

Seriously?

I am resisting a response on Sirs post....must walk away..

You can park for free anywhere that doesnt need a barrier to get out, like street parking.

Not really no. Just trying to point out that it isn't a one sided argument.

For the record my Mum is disabled and I do get frustrated at perfectly able bodied people using disabled spaces without a blue badge meaning she has to sit in the car and wait for one to become free.

But I think Iron is wrong in making this stance for a few quid.

Why do people mention a worry for my parents ? 

Without a blue badge I can't park anywhere, without a blue badge an able bodied driver parks in any car park he wants . Yes some charge some don't.  I just want equal rights to be able to park. Reason badge holders get to park on some yellow lines is to make up for lack of accessable parking . But parking on yellow lines for a wheelchair using driver is like playing Russian roulette with the traffic

It's  not the money I am complaining about it's the principle , it might be £20 this year but just like when other charges came into effect that price will go up once they get people used to paying for it.

In Scotland all hospital parking is free but if I need to go to hospital I need to pay £20 for a blue badge

The reason I mention your parents is because you live with your parents. You are registered at your parents. Any bailiffs wanting to find you, can and will turn up at your parents.

No one is agreeing with you really. That should tell you all you need to know.

Worded like that makes it sound like it costs £20 to park at hospital each time which is twisting the facts a little.

I'm with everyone else here iron. It's not much money. Presumably there is an admin cost associated with the production, checking people are valid, etc, of these badges. I don't think it unreasonable to be asked to pay it. And being able to essentially park anywhere you want is pretty awesome. If I could buy such a badge for £100 I would.

Thread will run until someone agrees :)

We all have to pay for things we'd sooner not, but at the end of the day an admin fee for something which makes my life a lot easier seems fine.


YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jUBbCgMWmE

i dont mind paying for things that i want or need


let say there is a building with 2 levels
there is a staircase and a lift too go up too 2nd level
the stairs are free but too use the lift you have too pay a yearly charge
99.9% of abled bodied people will use the stairs  i dont get the choice and have too pay
for the lift

to me this is same

Gas and electricity up in price, council tax up in price, just went shopping only to find my favourite biscuits have gone up in price. Think I'll be writing to Mcvities about this.

feel free but the same price hike no matter who wants too buy them
its like comparing cheese and plutonium
the council by las have too offer me a service too park as it offer the service too abled bodied people
if they offer parking that is wide enough too open my door assemble my chair and not scratch paint work of cars then fine
but they dont unless i pay for a blue badge

oh yeah i would much rather not have a blue badge in my car as they are thousands stolen every year as they sell well on the black market

Sell yours for £200, buy a replacement for £20 and your good for 10 years.


Do I need to add a smiley?

:-)

Would be interested to see your evidence for this. I for one would pay the charge and take the lift because I'm fat and lazy.

Also, it isn't the same. If there was a separate lift, available only for those that had the pass, then it might be closer.

local shopping mall has 1 lift and an cpl of esculators even though the lift is free it sits empty most of the time only used by those with mobilty problems kids playing games and people pushing prams if there was a pass needed that required money then the people using it would decrease too

Just be thankful you weren't born in the middle east. 1st world problems. I think in the grand scheme of things it is pretty ridic to even consider contesting it.

epic seethe.  wp

This has got to be one of the most tilting threads i've read. Ever. Come on, really?

For every negative that you've brought up about having to pay and how much better able-bodied people have it, people have suggested several benefits you will get from having a badge. My mum used to have one of those badges and it was awesome, the amount of advantages you get from one is brilliant... you can get away with parking almost anywhere. Paying £20 for getting to pretty much park where you want and have special bays made and access made available as well as staff putting in admin time to sort of paperwork for these things to exist, it's nothing.

Fair enough if it was like £150+ i might be a bit pissed off, but people on benefits and pensions etc can afford sky and holidays etc, so £7 a year isnt going to do much damage is it? It's less than 2p a day. Anyone with one will make this money back so quickly via the free parking available it's unreal.

Also if you are going to contest it (which seems absurd to me, but hey ho) definitely don't just refuse to pay and build up fines. This will only hurt you and your family. If you're passionate about it, which it seems you are, then go through the appropriate channels.

If poker doesn't work out for you there will always be a job at the Daily Mail.

Lol didn't mean it to come across quite like that, but £20 for this isn't going to be the thing that tips people over the edge, even just for an admin fee that is very reasonable, for anyone.

only benifit i get from a badge and only one i want is too be able too park in a bay wide enough for me too open my door fully so i can get in and out

only car parking places i get free where others pay  is council car parks which are the worst places espically for the disabled and even abled bodied people dont use them much dispite the price being lowered too £1

every useful car park around here is owned buy ncp ( everyone has too pay) or a supermarket/out of center shopping mall which are free too everyone
i cant park on dbl yellow lines without risking my life as i would have too get out onto the road ( i cant get out onto a pavement if you think about it)

i just want a place too park the same as everyone else and i dont think i should have too pay for that right when everyone else get the right too park without having too pay an advanced fee

how would you guys feel if they asked people with a certain letter on there number plate too pay a fee what no one else had too otherwise they couldnt park too me that the same difference. with the fact there is no traffic wardens working in the area anymore and the out of center places not having any one in car parks it make the whole thing null and void now anyway nobody is ever going too question me using a blue badge bay when i roll up in my chair and as i am not planning of travelling anywhere in near future due to health

That's not the case though is it.  You do receive benefits from it albeit ones that you don't want to use like the free parking at council sites.  Better parking spots more convenient etc.  The fact that you don't want or need them is irrespective as you get them.  You get on street parking for free, you can park on double or single yellow lines for up to three hours.  These are all major benefits and not just for you but for all disabled people including those that make full use of them.  It would create a bureaucratic nightmare to allow you to opt in and out as you please so you are asked to pay a small fee.  Is that really so unreasonable given the extensive rights and privileges it gives you?  Do you think that the ordinary taxpayer should foot that bill?  If not who do you think should pay it?

all i want is too be treated like any other driver i dont want any benifits i just want the right too park and without paying £20 for a badge i cant park as car parking spaces are not wide enough

too me its the same as having a ramped entrance too a building too allow me equal access i just want equal access too parking whats next £20 fee too be allowed too use a ramp?

Unfortunately we don't get treated like every driver Iron, and that's mainly because we're not like them. We have needs which others do not, so for that we require something which fulfills these needs and distinguishes us from people who don't have the problems we do.

Luckily they have something which does all this, it's called a blue badge and to be honest I actually thought we had to pay for them before now. What they should have done, is to increase the cost of our cars by a couple quid a month and then nobody would be any wiser.

As it stands, they've been upfront about it, and I am really struggling to comprehend why you have taken such umbrage over it...

There is none so blind as them what won't listen.

Delboy's mum. Circa 1986.

All you want is to be treated as any other driver?

So, if they said, we will waive the £20 fee, that's payable over 3 years, and in return, we will take back the car, then you can supply your own car, and tax it, and be responsible for servicing it. You'd accept this, just so you can feel you are being treated as any other driver?

yeah I could actually get better deals for the mileage I drive outside of motability  just too lazy not too

personally think you should pick your battles , there is loads that this goverment is doing that will affect people with disabilities

like PIP instead of mobility part of DLA & also take your battles to people who care , those able bodied people will have no understanding what anyone with a disability goes through

Curnow I know alot of people much bettered educated than me thst are making protests about the changes, I will let them take on government and when/if they need bodies they can explain it in laymans terms and I will back them up.

taking on local council is something I feel more capable of doing having been a prominent member of disability action groups in the past and having debated numerous issue in comunity planning meetings(I got invited to these for about 10 years as one of one 2 disabled people representing the disabled) I have had great debates with the ceo on issues in which we have both changed our minds and he used to phone me up when issues occured.

i need too offer an apology too everyone for the way i have pushed this but i needed the feedback you all gave anf i am thankfull for it
i made the post on the forum as i knew the feedback i was going too get was going to be different too what i get in my circle of friends
and associates i already started making my views known too officials a month or more ago including with a few of my drinking mates
who are on the council.
i was actually approached by a few people who work with the disabled that remember me from previous causes i have stood up for but
i am so far out of the loop i needed feedback and wasnt getting it from the circle of friends i have so made a post here too see if i could get
some negativity, i am not going too start doing anything stupid dispite how stubborn i sounded here i was just trying too get myself prepared
when i meet up with some disabled people that have already started a campaign and have made the local rag. but they seem very disorganized
and lack any leadership and or knowledge.
alot of the stuff i have posted on this thread is bogus i do use my badge alot parking on dbl yellow line (putting my life at risk and picking up tickets which i have too appeal) the £20 too me is not important i have a good pension from the army but reason i was asked if i would help out is seemingly some people are struggling
thanks too your posts i am now better prepared for meeting the disabled people, the officials that have asked me if i could be of any help and the Councillors and  council officials that i would meet if i do take this any further. one thing i wasnt aware of untill a cpl of weeks ago was that although its the council that is bringing in the charge its a government backed issue and the likelihood of any protest succeeding is less than 0.01% especially as the policy has been running in several areas for over a year now

so once again i would like too apologizes too anyone i have offended in this thread and for the fact i wasnt open about my reasons for making it my reasons of being stubborn

The thread makes more sense now that we know you were playing devil's advocate :)

Don't think any apologies are necessary though mate, can't see why anyone would be offended by anything you have posted, and neither should they be imo.

thanks too be able too debate an issue properly i always find its best too understand both sides of an argument and not be blinkered i am hoping by posting in a blinkered style i have got some great info on how the other side can and will react

I'm confused. Are you paying the £20 or not?

to good....

:)

Iron, I know it's been good sport round here for donkey's years to take the p**s out of your speelling, but i've noticed the 'too' thing a lot over the last few months, here and on facebook.  I'm sure you never used too doo it (quick check on some old posts confirms my memory isn't completely shot).  Just out of interest, have you started too use voice recognition software or something?

too to two is all to do with repetition same as when i typed teh instead of the but that was corrected by installing a spell check

my fingers get used to bashing keys in order and just do it, teh is a code from my army days that i would input close too 200 times a day
5-6 days a week 7 days when out in the field every since i have never been able too type the without a spell check


just like i always get the camels name wrong despite living 8 miles from the town call Keith

Based on this logic we should charge all people genuinely  in need for whatever service or item required because some people take the piss.. yes well done.