I think the website is fine, however on the broader subject:
Your need for this MPV does seem genuine, however my read of the site leaves some unanswered questions.
Your wife has this medical condition. Would you therefore be entitled to a suitable vehicle on the Motability scheme?
For the reasons above, what are you new DSS entitlements? You and your wife have paid enough taxes over the years, now it's payback.
If you have looked into Mobility and DSS entitlements etc, then you need to state this and summarise the outcomes to strengthen your case.
How much are you looking to spend on the MPV? You don't mention a target figure. In addition the proceeds from the sale or trade in of your own car should be taken into account, unless you have a valid reason for keeping this as well.
In addition to these, on a more specific motoring note:
Have you identified the MPV most suited to your needs.
Could your current car go towards or evn be the deposit on a fiance agreement (for example 0% with 30% down and NO final payment)? This could meet your immediate needs and give you time to raise the finance over a longer period.
Your wife will almost certainly be ebtitled to free RFL and a disabled badge. Her resulting disability sounds very much like that of my late mother.
In case you didn't know this, insuring your wife to drive should not be a problem provided she is fit to drive. Insurers are not allowed to discriminate on health grounds.
I wish you well in meeting your needs.
Hugo
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Hugo,
Thanks for your message. I'll try to answer your points in order.
I have done a bit of research on the Motability Scheme but it would seem that greater discounts can be obtained by purchasing a new car via a broker such as the ones featured by HJ on this site.
I will look into the DSS stuff tomorrow, thanks for the suggestion.
My overall target figure is around £22,000 and I expect the sale of our current car to contribute around £7,000 of this. I'll add this info to the site.
From a motoring standpoint, I am open to suggestions on which MPV best suits our needs. I am a bit of a Ford man so the Galaxy was my first thought although the sliding doors on the C8/807 do sound like they would be useful. I do not think that the smaller models (Zafira/C-Max/Picasso/Scenic) will meet our needs so it's definately the larger MPV were looking at.
From a financial point of view, were not really in a position to enter into a credit agreement at the moment, 0% or otherwise.
My wifes Consultant Cardiologist has told her that he will support her application for a disabled badge.
Best Regards
Paul.
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I don't mean to be harsh and I sympathise, but if your current car (52 plate 1.8 LX, 51 plate 2.0 Ghia or Y plate Ghia X diesel?) is going to contribute £7k, you only need to find about £8.5k to get into a diesel C8 LX. £7k would get you an 04 plate Galaxy Zetec diesel.
The extra £7k you want to raise will pay for bells and whistles only, although possibly the remote control sliding door may be useful for your wife when she has with the children.
Higher rate DLA is £41.05 per week, or £178.36 per month.
Assuming that you are not receiving anything yet, your credit is good and nothing else changes financially, that would give you about £13,000 to spend on your replacement vehicle without denting your budget. That should get you an 03 or 53 plate example of most of the cars you've named, perhaps without some of the toys you get on the top models.
However I would at least consider a small MPV like a Zafira, Picasso, C-Max or Scénic. They offer the height and most of the width of the full size MPVs for easy access, are much cheaper to buy, easier to park, usually cheaper to insure and certainly use less fuel. If it's really not practical then fair enough but £10k will get you an 04 1.6 diesel C-Max LX (albeit auto ones are rare as hen's teeth and don't work properly, so avoid if that's what you need) and that more or less halves your cost to change.
By the way people, please don't take this as an incitement not to donate but I think it's as helpful to give practical solutions rather than aiming for quite a high target when the practical benefit of half of that money is going to be fairly small.
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Our current car is a 51 plate 2.0LX TDdi Estate and I take your point about setting the target so high and I've modified the site. Your right, remote sliding doors would be extremely useful for Mandy when she has the kids!
I think that although the smaller MPVs have enough space for the kids, it's the stuff that goes with them that they might struggle with.
Thanks for your comments and suggestions and thanks to the kind people who have donated already via both PayPal & SMS.
Paul.
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I haven't bothered reading your site or even the info above thoroughly as I personally wouldn't donate to something like this in this manner - however if the cause is good and can be fully supported on genuine medical or social grounds you might engage some support from a local fund raising organisation such as Round Table or Lions.
Local libraries usually have details of local voluntary clubs.
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I sympathise with your wife's problems.
However;
If all you need is something which is easy to get three kids in and out of, then you don't need £22,000.
Firstly you don't need to buy new. Secondly, you don't need all the extras - You could get something a great deal cheaper and achieve the same.
You were buying a car in September from a brokers. I'm guessing you didn't do that, but surely whatever funds were available then are available now ?
I presume that before asking others for money you have sold the stereo, cancelled the holiday and recycled the cat ? Surely you have raised what money you can yourself rather than simply working out the gap between the car you've got now, the brand new car you'd like to have and then expecting others to fund the difference ?
>>got the idea from the sites that appeared a couple of years ago from girls in the US that wanted to get rid of their credit card debt (www.savekaryn.com) or have bigger boobs (www.giveboobs.com). Surely this is for a better cause?
If you say so. In all three cases it seems to be about avoiding spending your own money but still wanting the benefit.
I know HJ gave you premission to post it here because he felt it to be "cheeky and fresh". I wouldn't have characterised it quite like that, nor would I have given permission. Nonetheless, it is HJ's site, and I respect his decision.
I am sure that my views are about to attract an uproar, but you posted in an open forum, and I have replied with my honest views, however unpopular.
Mark.
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If youre needs are that great!get a cheap second hand car??
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I really can't understand why you cannot obtain the vehicle you require by rather more traditonal methods or through Government support agencies.
Certainly I would have a slightly different expression than "cheeky and fresh" to describe your approach.
If your circumstances are such that you really are having difficulties, then may I respectly suggest you contact your local Rotary or Lions Club.
Every penny such organisations raise for charitable purposes is used for exactly that - all the work involved is done voluntarily, unlike some of the more famous name charities which are run, quite literally, as businesses.
Only a very small proportion of money donated by the public is actually used in charity wrok and the remainder goes in administration costs by these particular organisations.
In fact if more people were aware of just how little they donate is used for what they anticipated there would be quite a backlash.
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No uproar from me me Mark. I hope the Tax man is keeping an eye on this one?
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Could someone please give me...shall we say....30 grand please? I fancy a nice V70.
Thanks
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Adam
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yeeah while your on the subject my flat roof leaked and cost me 1800 notes this month, that takes some finding with two young kids. so i would be greatfull for a few handouts as well.
my wife wants a picasso, but thats on a back burner now cos of the roof.
why dont you sell your car and buy to bangernomics type cars
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all i can say is fair play to you
i was told by my father that in this world
if you dont ask, you dont get.
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In the back of each issue of Private Eye there are columns of ads from people, very few of which have any contact details, some of which have some justification, but all with a bank sort code and account number. They are looking for donations, anonymously.
I often wonder whether it would be worth the £20 or so to place and ad just to see how much I'd get...
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Thanks to all those who have posted sensible comments and suggestions. I have updated the FAQ on the site to answer some of them.
To those who think it is a waste of time, your comments are as valid as anyone elses' but another reason for this site is to showcase myself as a Web Designer, and any jobs I gain through the site would help the cause too.
VTiredeyes - Too true!!!
Paul.
PS. By the way, I have come up with a way people can help without parting with their own cash - for more info visit: www.givempv.com/donate4free.asp
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As I mentioned in my previous post, I would have thought you would seek advice as to what help you could get from Govt agencies/funds ie Mobility allowance etc.
In addition I do feel you have rushed into this idea without first considering the options. As others have pointed out, you don't necessarily need a new car, you simply need something to meet your every day needs. That means IMO going round all the franchise dealers and trying as many MPVs as you can, rather than plumping for the top of the range galaxy, and new to boot.
It is for this reason that my sympathy, and that of others others probably, is limited.
If you're going to ask for a hand out from people who can often barely afford to run their own cars, do you homework first.
You didn't ask to be put in the position you're in I know that and for that you do have my sympathy. But with all the grief going on around us it really gets my goat when you ask for a new top of the range car in this way.
I wish you luck in finding and buying a vehicle to suit your needs. I don't wish you luck in trying to get a new Galexy.
Hugo
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I agree with the views expressed that you should scale down your expectations - lots of people would like a brand new car, but can't afford one. An explanation why you cannot obtain Mobility Allowance or help from any other source on the website would also be useful.
Also, on the site, I think you should
1) be open about how much you are want to raise and included a daily update on funds raised
2) state what happens when you reach the mimimum you say you need
3)state what will happen to any excess money - there are many good causes - perhaps something linked to disabilty or your wife's medical condition?
Without this, I've got a feeling the vast majority of people will just see it as another internet scam!
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I have reworded the site (FAQ) page so it is clearer what the aims of the site are. Also, (Hugo) I have never stated that I am looking to get a top of the range Galaxy!
In respect of DLA, I must admit that I wasn't aware it existed and did'nt really think about whether Mandy qualified for any disability allowance. We have now applied for DLA so that we can hopefully get a vehicle on Motability. If this is successful any money raised by the site will be donated to the British Heart Foundation.
Also, I have come up with a way of people helping the cause without parting with any of their own hardearned cash. If you visit the site and click on the "Donate for FREE" link, there are a number of companies who will pay me if you visit their sites and signup (no outlay). The best examples of this are: -
* Apply for a free, no-obligation quote from e-loan.co.uk and we'll get £30
* Signup to Talk Talk (the home phone company from the Carphone Warehouse) for free and we'll get £20
* Signup for a free trial of GoToMyPC.co.uk and we'll get £6
* Register on Ebay.co.uk and place a bid for any item (within 30 days) and we'll get £6
* Order a free mousemat (with free worldwide delivery!) and we'll get approx. £1
I'd really be grateful if everyone could do at least one of these.
I hope I have answered everyones questions, if not please let me know either via this thread or through the site and I'll try to answer ASAP. I want to be as open as possible.
Regards
Paul
www.givempv.com
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I've just visited your website (more out of curiosity than anything) and, to be quite frank, you'll need to work very much harder if you wish to attract paying customers requiring website designs.
To be quite honest the whole concept leaves me completely speechless especially as I believe, as obviously do others, that you can get a considerable way to meeting your (necessary) requirements through a number of channels without resorting to such tactics.
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Some errors on your website;
"Definately" would be better spelled "Definitely"
Fund progress says you wish to "raise" £8,000 whereas FAQ only wants to "raise" £7,000
"raise" is normally spelled "scrounge"
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I am afraid there is something about this site that just churns my stomach. My sister just sold her Toyota Picnic with 6 individual captain seats for £5k. If you really were desperate for a car that suits your needs, then you could sell your own and buy an appropriate car, like the Picnic and walk away with change in your pocket.
I do not doubt for a minute the medical conditions etc involved, but in my experience, most disabled and ill people do not like to use their own illness as a bargaining tool.
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SWMBO's disabled mother would turn in her grave. She wouldn't mind me saying, fought against MS for 35 years and from a non privlaged background (clergy) had to scrape pennies and pounds together to fund changes to three Victorian Rectories (oh and re-instate before moving on) and several cars.
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Some errors on your website;
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you missed telling him that "your" is not the same as "you're".
also, on another note, he says he will update the site daily - we will see if he does work the few minutes to keep his promise to do the updates.
although i somehow think work is another word he won't know the real meaning of.
lock this thread.
p.s. is begging legal ?
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