Oxford County Council -blue badge problem

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Abbafan1972 wrote: »

You could rephrase the bold sentence as "so I can dump my car wherever I please, regardless of the inconvenience to other people".

Get a grip you stupid, inconsiderate moron.

Blue badge holders are entitled to use disabled parking spaces and park on double yelow lines, where it is safe to do so. I'm sure most blue badge holders would far rather be able bodied and park further away, but that choice is denied them.

One day you might just need a blue badge yourself, and then you see how much being able to "dump your car wherever I please" enabled you to live a slightly more normal life.

MothballsWallet

Valli wrote: »

<snip>
OP - your MP should be in the phone book, or have a website. I strongly suggest you telephone him/her or contact him/her by email. (Some) MPs are very good at getting action on issues such as this.

Or, you can try this website: Write To Them. Covers local councillors, MPs, MEPs, MSPs, and even assembly members for London, Northern Ireland and Wales.

vigman

BobQ wrote: »

I cannot comment on the OP, but many people qualify for a disabled badge because they have a serious difficulty walking very far. When you are fit you do not always realise that others:

(a) Cannot walk as far as their nearest bus stop
(b) Cannot walk from a bus stop to where they want to go.
(c) May be comfortable ambling around a store on level ground but are vulnerable/liable to fall when on uneven ground or in windy conditions

All I think the poster means is that he can drive but its no use to him parking a long way from the place he wants to go to. Nobody would defend abuse of the privilige of having a blue badge but equally nobody would choose to be in the position of qualifying for one either. Although maybe you are the exception?

Thank you so much for this!

I wasn't going to give Abbafan1972 the pleasure of directly replying and this is the first time time I have experienced anything like a troll on MSE.

Having lost a very good IT Management job (having had to take ill health retirement) plus having constant severe pain from degenerative arthritis which even the steel screws in many joints can't hold together, the comment about 'dumping' my car at other peoples' inconvenience when I need to go shopping was highly offensive and unexpected on this forum.

Vigman

vigman

BobQ wrote: »

We all see this happening and I agree its frustrating but its also easy to make unfair judgements.

Sometimes there is a badge but you do not see it. The boy racer might not be the badge holder but may have come to meet someone who is for example.

That is quite true, (and 10 years ago could have been me meeting my disabled mother) but so many times I have seen able bodied drivers going back alone to a car in a disable bay with a paper or cigarettes and driving off.

Sometimes I have challenged people using disabled bays and replies range from "f**k off" to "Oh, sorry" but the majority usually say "Oh I didn't see it was a disabled bay and coyly drive off!"

The range of replies here shows what different attitudes people have to disability.

All I can say, is I would give ANYTHING to have my mobility back, be pain free and be able to just have the pleasure of going for a walk with my wife and family.

Going back to the OP, it was the same disappointment as being told I'd won a major prize only then to be told I hadn't...at least not yet!

Vigman

Abbafan1972

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Do you still have the badge that is due to run out? If so just use this and display the letter confirming renewal alongside. Quite probably only the idiot PCC's will try and invoice you for not having "exactly" the right document.

Even 5 years ago the OCC Blue Badge department was very busy and with staff cuts and a higher workload am sure it is worse today.

Reminds me of Only Fools and Horses, when Del Boy had "Tax in post" displayed on his van windscreen!

vigman

I asked about displaying the renewal letter (which I'd already made a copy of) alongside the out of date badge and was told that I would still receive a fine for an out of date badge.

I also used the word "Urgent" in my email subject line to OCC as it said on their website that this would be guaranteed to be answered within 2 hours....that was Thursday morning (now Saturday) and no reply...except an auto response telling me to put "Urgent in the subject line if I wanted a reply within 2 hours...................!!

Vigman

BobQ

vigman wrote: »

I asked about displaying the renewal letter (which I'd already made a copy of) alongside the out of date badge and was told that I would still receive a fine for an out of date badge.

Vigman

I am sure it depends on which Council is dealing with the application. My friend had a similar situation of a delay in issuing the renewal and was told the same thing as you. He then contacted his MP who was appalled because the application had already taken longer to process than the Council had said applicatnts should allow. The MP complained to the Council and miraculously two days later a piece of paper arrived for display with the expitred badge.

chrissie57

Please forgive me if this is too personal (or too stupid:o) a question but are you not entitled to DLA? Higher Rate Mobility confers automatic entitlement so I guess from the way you phrase your concerns you need to be assessed.

Had a look at Oxford's website and they seem a bit behind the times. My Council's system, although not perfect, can take as little as a fortnight from beginning to end.

Were you clear at the start that the Badge may not be granted and the letter you received set your mind at rest or were you under the impression, if your condition has remained the same or worsened, that it was more or less automatic? If the latter you could raise this with the Council.

I would try your local councillor before (or as well as) your MP, they might be able to sort it out quicker. I used to work for our BCB team (and am still connected to it); we did (and do) make mistakes but in an instance like this we would pull out all the stops to put it right. If your Council can't or won't do this for you - well, I'm glad I don't work there.

And I did frequently meet people who patently would have given up all benefits, let alone their Badge, to have their health and strength back and be able to walk without even thinking about it.

Good luck, OP:)

NiallB

I assume the problem is that you're taking your car on holiday and need an up to date badge? If not, presumably it's no problem if the new badge arrives in the post while you're away and you can stick it in the car when you get back?

vigman

chrissie57 wrote: »

Please forgive me if this is too personal (or too stupid:o) a question but are you not entitled to DLA? Higher Rate Mobility confers automatic entitlement so I guess from the way you phrase your concerns you need to be assessed.


Good luck, OP:)

I was still working while disabled and earning a good salary so I have not claimed DLA. In February I had to leave work on permanent ill health grounds.

My pay in lieu of notice has just run out so I am now having to think about claiming DLA. A specialist occupational consultant has confirmed that at the age of 58 I will never be able to undertake employment again :mad:

Unfortunately my various conditions are degenerative and there is no doubt about my entitlement to the Blue Badge.

My badge ran out yesterday and I am on holiday with my car so things are going to get interesting. Oxford say, even if I do get the renewal originally guaranteed in their letter it will be weeks before I get a new card

Vigman