Widow left fighting for £1000 scrappage discount because car was in late husband's name

Jun 21 2009 Jane Barrie

WIDOW Margaret Ellam applied for a £1000 discount on her new car under the Government's £300million scrappage scheme.

She knew she qualified for the rebate as her existing runabout was 10 years old and she had owned it from new.

But she was horrified to be told that she would not receive a penny...because the vehicle had been registered in her late husband's name.

That is when Margaret, 62, called me in.

She said: "I can't believe the Government are using a loophole to get out of paying.

"To qualify for the discount, you have to have owned the car for 12 months and they are trying to say that I have not.

"I'm angry as I've driven about in it every day since 1999 but the paperwork was in my husband William's name when we bought it. It only transferred into my name when he died of lung cancer last August." The scheme, introduced in this year's Budget to try to boost sales of new motors, offers a £1000 incentive to people scrapping a 10-year-old car or small van.

So far around 50,000 new vehicles have been bought and the £1000 is often matched by garages bringing the total savings to £2000.

Bombshell Margaret, of Glenmavis, near Airdrie, signed up in April when she decided to trade in her Skoda Felicia for a new Fabia costing nearly £10,000.

She said: "It was a great saving and I was really looking forward to getting the car." But the Government department responsible for the scrappage scheme dropped the bombshell days before she was due to take delivery.

Margaret, who has a daughter, Julie, 36, said: "I simply couldn't believe it.

"I explained that the Skoda I was trading in had been my car all along. I'd taxed it, MOT'd it and looked after it but they wouldn't listen.

"I find it galling that I can't get something I'm entitled to when MPs are having a field day with their expenses, helping themselves to taxpayers' money." Margaret, a retired bank worker, complained to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills but got nowhere.

She said: "I understand why the 12-month clause exists so that people don't buy old bangers and profit from the scheme.

"But my car has been registered at the same address since new and the only change in the DVLA documents is from William's name to mine. It's a disgrace that I am being penalised for this.

"It makes you wonder if there is any common sense left in the world." The good news is that officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are poised to look into Margaret's case.

A spokesman said: "The scrappage scheme is primarily designed to kick start the car industry, which is under a lot of pressure at the moment.

"The rules state the old vehicle must be registered to the keeper continuously for 12 months before the order date of the new vehicle.

"This is to prevent the abuse that has taken place in other EU countries where people buy a very old car for a token sum to take advantage of scrappage scheme funding." I'm hoping common sense will prevail and Margaret will receive her rebate. Otherwise, you'll be hearing all about it..