Solitary chicken - need advice

[whittlewitch]

yes the increase is painful

yes it is unfair that those that have money can afford to 'ignore' green taxes

yes we live in a capitalist society driven by money

yes the increase in fuel cost and road tax is making me think about my transport needs

 

any change, in this case to encourage greener lifestyles, is always going to come with some pain - thats life folks

 

If the increase in the tax was to be used for subsidising green energy etc, I would not have such a problem, but do you really think that will happen, will the extra tax because they will be making money on this, go the energy saving trust, to help fund green energy improvements, I think thats unlikely don't you - and when we have all manage to trade up to a more environmentally friendly car, and we all pay the lowest level of car tax, just how are they going to pay for the upkeep of the highway system etc??

 

Sorry but I really don't feel this is about being green, because the last time I witnessed Gordon Brown get out of a car I don't remember it being a hybrid .

[Christian]

Sorry but I really don't feel this is about being green, because the last time I witnessed Gordon Brown get out of a car I don't remember it being a hybrid .

 

It was a range rover!

[chelsea]

Sorry but I really don't feel this is about being green, because the last time I witnessed Gordon Brown get out of a car I don't remember it being a hybrid .

 

It was a range rover!

 

Typical and he doesnt have to scrimp and save to tax it!

 

its not about being green, just another way to con us out of our hard earned cash. This government is a joke they really have to wake up and realise that everyone is beginning to struggle now, they reckon home fuel bills are going up by half...where's the money coming from?

 

rant over....sorry.

[whittlewitch]

What ever happened to leading by example!

[whittlewitch]

Hear hear!!!

[Ana's flock]

If the increase in the tax was to be used for subsidising green energy etc, I would not have such a problem, but do you really think that will happen, will the extra tax because they will be making money on this, go the energy saving trust, to help fund green energy improvements, I think thats unlikely don't you - and when we have all manage to trade up to a more environmentally friendly car, and we all pay the lowest level of car tax, just how are they going to pay for the upkeep of the highway system etc??

[/quote/]

 

... I wondered how much it's costing for Prince William and his friends to have a 'jolly' playing at soldiers in some exotic land ... oh sorry, it's called 'practice exercises' and it's really, really useful for all of us, so that when the bad people try and invade us he can pull out his big guns and defend us... so are we talking a few million £? billion? I mean, all those flying machines and their fuel are not cheap... So now we know why they need so much tax money... because it's not to pay all those new midwifes, or refurbish the old hospitals, is it now?

 

I stop here before I get arrested (or have an 'accident').

 

Signed: someone borrowing Ana's computer

[Helly Welly]

We use the car more now that i'm in a wheelchair. Yes, the buses take wheelchairs, but only if there's not already buggies on board and there always are on our route. So what am i supposed to do? We are lucky in that we don't pay for parking at City council-run car parks which is actually more incentive for not using the bus. Our bus company sells adult all-day tickets for £3 but children can only get singles, not returns or all-day tickets, so that ends up costing £2.40! Not exactly half-fare is it?

 

OH works in Reading so he needs the car. Luckily he only goes in once a week. Fuel price are hitting us hard because we are doing so many more shorter journeys since i became disabled.

 

I can't work out whether we would pay more road tax or not. We have a 'V' reg Rover 620, anyone any ideas?

[Tina C]

If that is pre-2001 and over 1549cc you will pay £185

 

(Same as I will for my camper - which is also my car - that does a few hundred miles a year)

 

Under 1549cc is £120

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524

 

I think?

[Helly Welly]

Thanks Tina.

 

Phew, that means an increase of only about £10 a year. We wanted to get an estate car so that my wheelchair will fit into the boot beter, but i guess that will have to wait.

[whittlewitch]

Thanks Tina.

 

Phew, that means an increase of only about £10 a year. We wanted to get an estate car so that my wheelchair will fit into the boot beter, but i guess that will have to wait.

 

 

I'm like yourself, the increase iI incurr s very little, but I still find it so annoying. It should apply to new cars from now onwards, when you buy a car you take all the various expenses into account, you don't then expect them to change massively just because the governments decided they don't like your particular vehicle.

[chelsea]

 

 

It should apply to new cars from now onwards, when you buy a car you take all the various expenses into account, you don't then expect them to change massively just because the governments decided they don't like your particular vehicle.

 

Totally agree, and then in the future the WAG's and Co can still go and buy their 4 litre range rover sports and we can buy cheaper to tax cars.

[Helly Welly]

I'm applying again ( ) for Disabled Living Allowance as i have got worse since last time i applied and was refused. If i get Higher Rate Mobility then i'll be able to get a new estate car on Motability.

[Jules.]

Helly Welly I take the bus with Ethan in his buggy sometimes.

There is a sign on the bus that says it can take 2 unfolded buggies, or one unfolded buggy & a wheelchair- & the wheelchair user gets the priority. I have sometimes had to fold up my buggy to get on the bus- maybe the bus driver could make the people with the buggies fold them up so that you can get on ?

Maybe check with the bus company what their policy is?

 

Car tax- mine was £170 which I paid last month

It cost me £47 to fill up on Wednesday too.

Maybe the Govt will give discounts on car tax to smokers since it is losing so much revenue to people giving up smoking?

 

[Mrs Frugal]

Keep fighting for it, Helly Welly. Getting your consultant to help your application would definitely be a good idea. Ask if they'd write a letter to support yours. I was turned down twice but my consultant wrote to them and I've now got a lifetime grant at the higher level as there's no chance of things getting any better for me. Keep on at them as the application process seems to require determination.

[Leicester_H]

It's time the tax was applied to the fuel so that those who use the roads most pay the most.

Yes - I agree. Cars don't pollute - burning fuel pollutes - so the more you burn, the more you should pay. Yes - I know some people HAVE to live in the country and this would penalise them, but overall, I think its the least bad option. People who drive couldn't then avoid paying (like some do now )

Then instead of displaying a tax disk, people could have to display an insurance disc.

[TAJ]

Have a look at this website: http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/road-tax/ - you just put in your car details and it tells you the rates for 2008, 2009 & 2010. The car we just got rid of is £185 now and would have gone up to £200 - the new little car will be £120 now and goes down to £90 by 2010. So that is good for us.

 

Tracy

[Leicester_H]

Yes - I have a 1999 Rav4. I have it because its small but with big doors (so good for my back). So these changes don't affect me much. Its nealy 10 years old, but only done about 40,000 miles - so I see no reason to change.

 

BUT they're just tinkering with the system - there doesn't seem to be any overall strategy or logic. If someone has a BIG car but only drives it once a week, why should they pay more tax than someone who does 'millions' of miles everyday.

 

In fact, people with big cars might decide that if they're already paid the extra road tax, they might as well drive it more.

 

What are 'they' trying to do. Discourage people buying big cars or reducing pollution.? The yshould decide on the aim, and then implement measures to achive it - not intoduce bits and bobs of ideas.

[Clur]

My road tax is 35 quid a year and I'm not directly affected by these changes (apart from currently trying to sell our old 2.0l family car grrr), but this is such an unfair tax (seemingly) not based on any logic.

 

The vast majority of road tax doesn't go on the roads, and I can't see much of the additional money raised going on green initiatives. This is a money making exercise pure and simple, and I can't see much of it improving services/environment unfortunately

 

If it applied to new cars then people can make an informed decision as to what to buy (but I suspect the car manufacturer's would be baying for blood!). To apply this retrospectively is absurd - that's like the government suddenly bringing in a 'one-child' rule and penalising anyone with big families!!!

[MedusA]

Thanks for the link, Tracy. At lease my little Micra will only go up by £5 in two years. The way inflation is now, that's not so bad!

 

That's really good advice from Kate, Helly. When I worked in Neurology, I was always getting requests for supporting letters to help someone get DLA or AA. I never minded. You should be entitled to it after all!

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Our car is a 2l diesel and will go up by about £40. Not welcome, but could have been a lot worse.

 

My Dad is very worried - he drives a London taxi, which has a 2.7l diesel engine. Like a haulier, it is his business and source of income. Taxis aren't quite as green as buses etc., but they are more accessible and much of his work invloves transporting disabled people. His taxi at the moment is pre-2001, but if it 'dies' and has to be replaced, his tax will go into the £400 bracket. If he were to replace it in 2010, the first year will cost £750. There are no tax exemptions for taxis, they are treated like private cars, although his is only used for work purposes. He doesn't go to the supermarket in it because too many people try to jump in!

 

He is already paying about £15 more PER DAY for fuel, and had to shell out £3k to have the cab tested and given its certificate this year. If the current trends continue there will be no point in him taking the cab out to work because it will take several hours to break even.

[dogs and chickens]

Don't understand this goverment! The country is already on it's knee's and they decide this should be the next thing to charge us all for .

 

Hubby has a sabb, which will be sold as we will not be able to afford the petrol costs let alone the car tax (although not sure increase will affect his old banger!), but to be fair he only drives back and forth to work so he does not need such a big car. However it is a J plate that he has driven forever.

 

I drive our family car a Honda CRV. Which is big enough to fit baby, all his kit, both dogs and buggy. We also go away in this country and always take our doggies with us, so we need a larger car.

 

Personally I think anyone with more than 2 children would struggle with a small car, and that means that the government are basically saying you can't have more than two children.

 

For the green issue - We don't think so!

[whittlewitch]

To apply this retrospectively is absurd - that's like the government suddenly bringing in a 'one-child' rule and penalising anyone with big families!!!

 

 

Whoaaa... Clur. Don't give them any extra taxation ideas, I have three kids!!

[Guest]

Personally I think anyone with more than 2 children would struggle with a small car, and that means that the government are basically saying you can't have more than two children.

 

That's actually not true - I used to fit one husband, three children (all in car seats/boosterseats) and a medium sized dog into a Clio, with plenty room to spare.

 

That said, now we have 4 children, we've sat and worked out that we will actually be cheaper running two C1's than getting a people carrier. It's just not as sociable if you and hubbie are in seperate cars everytime you go out!

[whittlewitch]

Personally I think anyone with more than 2 children would struggle with a small car, and that means that the government are basically saying you can't have more than two children.

 

That's actually not true - I used to fit one husband, three children (all in car seats/boosterseats) and a medium sized dog into a Clio, with plenty room to spare.

 

That said, now we have 4 children, we've sat and worked out that we will actually be cheaper running two C1's than getting a people carrier. It's just not as sociable if you and hubbie are in seperate cars everytime you go out!

 

 

But did you go camping for your holidays, we originally managed, 2 adults 3 kids on boosters, 1 six berth tent and alot of camping paraphernalia in a Jazz with a roof box, but as the kids and paraphernalia expanded, we needed a larger car, we still camp on a fairly regular basis and lets face it when you camp in the Uk you need all the gear (we camped in last July's monsoon season!).

[Guest]

 

We did manage one trip with aforementioned children, hubbie and dog, with a roof box full of camping gear and 2 bikes on a carrier on the back. We must have looked like a scene from a bad Carry-On film as we all emptied out of a maroon Clio, whilst families with one child rattled about in huge MPV's!