Archive for Adaptations – Page 4

Mid-Term Motability Adaptations

We were asked a question by a Motability salesman a few days ago and as it’s not the first time, so we thought it was worth sharing.

The question was, “Can a Motability customer have further adaptations added to their vehicle during its lease period?”

The short answer is yes, your customer can have adaptations fitted to their vehicle during its lease period (after handover). However, they must advise Motability beforehand and the vehicle must be suitable for the adaptations. If it is, your customer must pay the Motability Adaptation Specialist directly.

There are a few reasons why someone may need adaptations fitted after the vehicle handover:

  • An unforseen change in their disability or circumstances.
  • The client hadn’t realised which adaptations were available to them.
  • Something was missed by the client, dealer or adaptations specialist at the time of ordering the vehicle.

Obviously, a change in disability cannot be predicted and therefore adding extra adaptations is unavoidable.

The other two circumstances may be avoided if the adaptations specialist takes the time to speak to your client at the time of ordering.

At Ergomobility we always contact your customer before adapting their vehicle. We sometimes find that they would benefit from additional adaptations, many of which they may not be aware of and are often free under the Motability scheme. For example, a customer requesting hand controls may also benefit from a steering ball, indicator switch and pedal guard.

It is our mission to ensure we find the best solution for your customer first time, every time, so they can enjoy their car for the entire period of their vehicle lease, without the need for additional adaptations.

You can contact our friendly and knowledgeable team on 01444 882233 or info@ergomobility.co.uk. Alternatively, head on over to our contact page and fill out the enquiry form.

Assessing Boot Hoists

wheelchair lifts for cars

Boot hoists are used to lift wheelchairs and mobility scooters into the car safely and effortlessly and are one of the most popular adaptations on the Motability Scheme.

Hoists are the biggest growing market since Motability started subsidising through the Adaptation Scheme. They are a necessary product for thousands of people who rely on their scooters and wheelchairs for their daily independence.

To a direct client, they can cost from £800.00 to £1,800.00, but the Motability Scheme offers huge subsidies on hoists, meaning many cost a fraction of that!

Whilst it’s all good news, we have to ensure your customer receives the correct hoist to lift their scooter or chair and that it fits into the correct vehicle.
When we receive an online order for a hoist we always contact your customer, check what size of chair they are looking to lift and make sure it will fit into the vehicle whilst retaining sufficient seats. You’d be surprised how often we receive an order for a hoist only to discover that your customer’s chair/scooter doesn’t actually fit in the car!

So, what can you do as a Motability Specialist?

  1. Make sure your Motability customer brings their scooter/wheelchair with them at their initial visit to look at your range of cars.
  2. Make sure it can fit into the vehicle – many scooters and wheelchairs are foldable and can be dismantled to a point, but, depending on their disability, your customer may or may not be able to do this.
  3. Make sure your customer is fully aware that their chair/scooter may take up some of the car seating capacity.
  4.  Use your Adaptation Specialist!  Call us when you are with your customer so we can offer on-the-spot advice and help. Every day we talk to Motability Specialists advising on appropriate vehicles, hoists and their chair/scooter combinations. We spend many hours demonstrating hoists to customers to ensure their hoist and vehicle combination is spot on! Use our expertise so you can offer the very best service to your customer.

Please click here to see further product information on our website.

Why Motability have made Swivel Seat demos compulsory

Lowering swivel Seat - Turny EvoSwivel seats are the ideal solution for a person with a mobility issue. They enable a passenger or driver to sit comfortably in the front of a car and are often an alternative to sitting in the back of a wheelchair accessible van.

The only drawback with swivel seats is that they don’t work for everyone. In our experience, for every three people we meet looking at a swivel seat to help them access a vehicle, only one is actually suited to it.

For this reason alone, at Ergomobility we have only ever fitted a swivel seat if the person has had a full demonstration and assessment by us or, someone trusted by us.

It may surprise you to know that a common reason for an early termination or returned vehicle on the Motability Scheme is the selling of a swivel seat to someone who mistakenly thought it would solve their access issues; a belief that was unchallenged due to there being no demonstration, or the wrong advice given by their adaptation specialist.

So, it’s good news that under Motability it is compulsory for anyone buying a swivel seat on the Online Scheme to have had a demonstration carried out by the adaptation company. 

Although this is not necessarily your responsibility, it certainly puts you in a very good light if you can ensure your customer speaks to the right adaptation company; one with experience and expertise in the complex area of swivel seats. The last thing you want is a customer returning their vehicle because they weren’t given the correct advice.

Not all Adaptation Specialists have swivel seat expertise. We do, so don’t hesitate to give us a call for advice.

Please click here to see further product information on our website.

Ergomobility Sussex
Units 1 – 4, Crosspost Industrial Park,
Cowfold Road, Bolney,
West Sussex, RH17 5QU

Telephone: 01444 882233

Ergomobility Thames Valley
Tylorstown,
Caversham
Reading, RG4 7XW

Telephone: 0118 321 8193

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Ergomobility is a trading name of Equivalent Engineering Ltd. VAT Registered Number 776341117
Company registered in Cardiff number 4321179 Registered office – Units 1 to 4, Crosspost Industrial Park, Cowfold Road, Bolney, RH17 5QU