ACC up to their old tricks, undisclosed rego increase from 1/7/2010

**scissorhands** · 28th June 2010, 16:55

Got an email from Andreas at Scootling on the weekend. ACC on the sly have added another $40 to moped registration. So the $130 new 12 months is actually now $170 (used to be $80)

This was done behind closed doors in a semi secret way. No googling or search of the LTSA reveals this increase.

Scumbags!! The extra $37 odd is for driver education, of which is yet to exist!!

I realize scooterists are down the food chain but if they think they can weazel this extra in this way, they may try it on the big boys. I thought it would be prudent to post this in rant and rave as the ACC forum gets little traffic, though it may be moved.

Beware ACC!

**MSTRS:Me** · 28th June 2010, 17:22

Check the breakdown of each charge.
The total was never going to be $130...just the ACC component.
If you are right...well. That's different.

**mashman** · 28th June 2010, 18:20

I wonder if it'll be the same with cars? I am startting to get fed up with these slippery little blue fuckers...

**scissorhands** · 28th June 2010, 18:27

Andreas at Scootling just now sent me this below. Does appear an increase called a 'safety levy' has been slipped in just recently. And they have stated its in effect due to talks with motorcycling groups.

A few facts from Paul Gimblett, Scheme Manager, Vehicles at ACC and the officer primarily responsible for the levy amounts:

- NZTA component of rego cost is unchanged, all increase is due to ACC levies
- $111.65 (99.24+ GST) is the increased levy, not including a "safety levy"
- The safety levy is $30+GST. This arbitrary amount was set and signed into legislation by the Minister AFTER the public consultation process was finished.
- The safety levy was apparently added after feedback from motorcycling groups
- Owners/riders of petrol powered mopeds also pay 9.90 cents per litre on the petrol they buy to ACC.

TVNZ reported in December 2009 that rego cost for scooters was going to $130, which would have been almost correct given the publicised and publicly consulted levy increase to approx $99+GST. The true figure that we have to pay was not publicly consulted or publicised.

I'll get on KB shortly and add my own info about it

Cheers
Andreas

**avgas** · 28th June 2010, 18:51

You can thank Bronz for that. It was their component to the "negotiations".

**avai007** · 28th June 2010, 20:48

Unless VTNZ / AA / NZ Post have been updated via memo from NZTA (was LTSA) they are probably still telling incorrect figures to people who ask how much moped rego will go to after 1 July. That is not their fault, NZTA just did not give them correct info. The agents got figures for what they thought were all classes of vehicles, however mopeds were strangely omitted from that memo. So they quoted moped costs at the class which seemed to apply (ie asking for the cc rating, customer says 49cc, agent's memo says 'up to 60cc' = $394). That 60cc class is an odd one, I don't know why such pains were taken to advise the agents (VTNZ / AA / NZ Post) of the rego costs for that little-known class while not advising on that same memo the new costs for mopeds (which are cheaper).

Most of the agents assumed that 60cc class was the new moped class but of course that is not the case as both still exist, and mopeds (sub 50cc) are still significantly less at $169/year. Yes moped costs are going up but so are car and motorcycle rego/licensing costs. I just don't like the lack of publicity regarding the changes to moped costs, given the public interest this negligence could be perceived as quite deceptive on the part of ACC.

As TVNZ reported on 10 December 2009 the licensing cost for mopeds was supposed to rise to $130/year. This was based on the levy figure of $99+gst set by a repentant ACC after the backlash following their initial, much higher proposal. So the public consultation finishes, the national broadcaster gets the message out that the levy is not too bad after all, and then Nick Smith tacks on another $30+GST and signs it off himself. This last action, unsurprisingly was not made clear to the majority of moped owners. ACC claims the $30+gst additional levy was added after consultation with "motorbike groups". Whoever this group is needs an honorary accounting fellowship and a big pat on the back because without concrete schedules or programmes nor specific groups to actually take these additional millions of dollars and do something useful with, they have done a sterling job of predicting it was going to cost EXACTLY $30.00 per licensing fee... Is that the stench of arbitrariness I smell on those numbers? Even if the $30+gst is for motorcycle safety, mopeds and bikes have very different safety requirements and respective needs in rider training and riding gear and applying a $30+gst levy to mopeds as well is not valid in my opinion.

Scootling owns approx 20 mopeds and we did not receive a single indication of the additional increase until I inquired at NZTA. ACC also claims that moped owners should have received notices with their licensing renewal forms describing the new costs and a breakdown of those. With 20 mopeds registered to us, I would think we'd be privy to at least one of these elusive letters but I am still waiting, and there are now two days left until the increase. When I passed this information on to Paul Gimblett (Vehicles Scheme Manager at ACC) he replied that he was "disappointed". He also professed the same "disappointment" at VTNZ, AA and NZ Post not having received a correct memo about moped licensing costs.

ACC's spin will have you believe that they were a little negligent in adequately informing the public of the difference. Given the importance of this issue, the fact that there should be public consultation during ALL of the levy-setting process, their actions are tantamount to widespread deception. I will be posting more developments as I get more response from ACC on my forum at: scootling.co.nz/bb/viewtopic.php?p=4224#4224

**bogan** · 28th June 2010, 21:09

From what i heard at the time, I though the 30 was going to come from the ACC levy, rather than be an additional cost, guess I was wrong there! Though it is a larger percentage increase for scooters than motorcycle riders, hopefully the money will be put to good use for all of us. And tbh from what i've seen scooter riders would benefit greatly from some basic skills training and education about gear, then again, any training offered using the 30bucks is likely to be voluntary anyway.

so it's rat-shit we've been blindsided by this tax, but if put to good use it'll be well worth it, though I think we will have to keep an eyen on them and make sure the money is spent on us!

**Squiggles** · 28th June 2010, 22:46

Originally Posted by avgas

You can thank Bronz for that. It was their component to the "negotiations".

Get fucked, I was there at the Wellington meeting. It was decided by them (not asked for by us) and is akin to the $50 safety levy collected in Nicks favourite Australian state, Victoria. They're yet to touch base with any of the other groups from around that table as to how it will be spent...

**CookMySock** · 29th June 2010, 08:50

Originally Posted by Squiggles

Get fucked, I was there at the Wellington meeting. It was decided by them (not asked for by us) and is akin to the $50 safety levy collected in Nicks favourite Australian state, Victoria. They're yet to touch base with any of the other groups from around that table as to how it will be spent...

All groups have to do is turn up at a meeting like that, and you will get some thing foist upon you like it was your idea.

Meetings where you have everything to lose are always a really bad idea.

Steve

**mashman** · 29th June 2010, 09:09

Originally Posted by bogan

From what i heard at the time, I though the 30 was going to come from the ACC levy, rather than be an additional cost, guess I was wrong there!

Same here... but as per the govt can change the terms and conditions of everythingt they choose when it suits...

**MSTRS:Me** · 29th June 2010, 09:21

I do not have a reg. demand for a date after July, so cannot check the breakdown.
Somebody will though, so can they tell us all what the breakdown is.
As I understood it, 601cc+ was to be an extra $175 INCLUDING a $30 'safety' levy. With GST on top of that, the total reg would jump from $321 to $501.

**squip** · 30th June 2010, 19:27

I hope this isn't a stupid question - but do the increased motorcycle rego's increase from midnight tonight?

**squip** · 30th June 2010, 19:42

Okay - stupid me, just found the page: changes are effective from midnight tonight: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/regi...sing/fees.html

**JohnR** · 30th June 2010, 22:13

Originally Posted by MSTRS

I do not have a reg. demand for a date after July, so cannot check the breakdown.
Somebody will though, so can they tell us all what the breakdown is.
As I understood it, 601cc+ was to be an extra $175 INCLUDING a $30 'safety' levy. With GST on top of that, the total reg would jump from $321 to $501.

601cc+ rego is $517.25

Just got my "demand"

ACC Safety Levy of $30 is separate.
ACC Levy is $396.92.

Info brochure included states "This is based on a similar levy in Victoria, Australia, which has helped achieve a big fall in injuries to motorcyclists." I suspect this is because people have said "F**K that I'll just buy a car!"

It also states "How it will work in NZ is still being worked out - however, it will be used only for motorcycle safety programmes..." Yeah right. "...and you'll have a chance to share ideas about the safety initiatives it could fund." Aren't we lucky...free hi vis vest anybody!

At least, since it is itemised on the "invoice", we will be able to request the actual amount available, at any time, via the Freedom of Information Act (or whatever).

**MSTRS:Me** · 1st July 2010, 08:51

Originally Posted by JohnR

601cc+ rego is $517.25

Just got my "demand"

ACC Safety Levy of $30 is separate.
ACC Levy is $396.92.

Then, although it's seperated on the demand, it IS included in the increased amount that was announced.
ACC levy was $252 + $175 for 601cc+ = $427 (less $30 = $397) Figures rounded.

So - nothing to see here, as far as an extra gouge is concerned.