NCT Backlog

SupraSonic_26

My nct is up since nov, i rang 5 days before it was due and only avaiable slot was this monday 5th jan in dundalk couldnt even get priorty so im going to push to try get a free test cos its over 28 days or am i wrong just wondering?

mgbgt1978

knotknowbody wrote: »

Free tests are rare but do happen, my sister got a free test this year, she tried to book online two weeks before due date, no slot available until six weeks after due so she called them and they were giving her the same slot on the phone as was available on the website.

She refused that slot and asked to be put on the priority/cancellation list and was told she would get a text with an appointment within 10 days, (she never mentioned free test or 28 days or anything like that because she didn't know about it) when she received the text on the 9th day the appointment was for four weeks after the due date so well outside the 28 day window for a free test, she showed up for the test passed and when collecting the cert she offered her card to pay and the guy told her the computer said it was free due to the delay with getting the appointment, she did not have to pay anything, it was a pleasant surprise to her.

My car is due at the moment and I'm following the same strategy to see can I get it free, have a test coming up in a few days but I called in late November to book so we'll see what happens.

Not calling you a liar but this story doesn't quite add up. You always pay for the test before your car is brought in . In most centres the guy who gives you the Cert couldn't accept payment even if he wanted to as he's down at the other end of the Test Centre.
In other words, if the Test was free your sister would have been informed of this when she handed in her keys and VLC.
Also your post implies that she accepted the Appointment offered, she should have told them that she expected a Free Test as the date offered was outside the 28 day limit. As she didn't do this she tacitly accepted the appointment offered.

edit; "Brought in", meaning the Tester drives the car from the car park into the confines of the Test Centre ( sorry Dottie Lottie, totally my fault. I should have explained it more clearly)

Triceratops Ballet

mgbgt1978 wrote:

Not calling you a liar but this story doesn't quite add up. You always pay for the test before your car is brought in. In most centres the guy who gives you the Cert couldn't accept payment even if he wanted to as he's down at the other end of the Test Centre. In other words, if the Test was free your sister would have been informed of this when she handed in her keys and VLC.

Not true, you can book online and opt to pay at the centre I did so this morning.

The_Morrigan

dottie_lottie wrote: »

Not true, you can book online and opt to pay at the centre I did so this morning.

Yes, but you pay before your car is tested when you hand in your keys, not after the test is done.

mgbgt1978

It is true. Read it again....:rolleyes:
I said that you have to pay before they test the car, not after. You pay them when you walk in the door and and talk to the person at reception.....not after they have completed the Test procedure.

ps. ...and morrigan can type faster than me.

dieselbug

The_Morrigan wrote: »

Yes, but you pay before your car is tested when you hand in your keys, not after the test is done.

Correct but!!! possibly if no fee is due they will not ask for it before the test.

knotknowbody

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Not calling you a liar but this story doesn't quite add up. You always pay for the test before your car is brought in . In most centres the guy who gives you the Cert couldn't accept payment even if he wanted to as he's down at the other end of the Test Centre.

I have brought numerous cars for test over the years to both Drogheda and Kells, the usual procedure in both those centres is, show up just before your scheduled time, enter the waiting area, a tester will come into the office and call you in turn, he will take your car keys go out and drive you car in and test it, he will then return it to the car park and return to the office, he will call you and give you your cert/fail notice and accept payment, I have never had a different person accept payment than tested the car, I have never paid in advance of knowing the result, I would have tested in excess of 30 cars over the years for myself, family and friends.

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

In other words, if the Test was free your sister would have been informed of this when she handed in her keys and VLC.
Also your post implies that she accepted the Appointment offered, she should have told them that she expected a Free Test as the date offered was outside the 28 day limit. As she didn't do this she tacitly accepted the appointment offered.

edit; "Brought in", meaning the Tester drives the car from the car park into the confines of the Test Centre ( sorry Dottie Lottie, totally my fault. I should have explained it more clearly)

She refused the appointment on the phone and asked to be put on the priority/cancellation list and said was available at pretty much any time they could facilitate her, she received a text nine days later saying an appointment had been confirmed for date/time, in other words she wasn't given the opportunity to accept/reject that time, she showed up and gave the mechanic her keys when called, he brought in the car tested it and came back and gave her the cert and told her it was free.

mgbgt1978

knotknowbody wrote: »

I have brought numerous cars for test over the years to both Drogheda and Kells, the usual procedure in both those centres is, show up just before your scheduled time, enter the waiting area, a tester will come into the office and call you in turn, he will take your car keys go out and drive you car in and test it, he will then return it to the car park and return to the office, he will call you and give you your cert/fail notice and accept payment, I have never had a different person accept payment than tested the car, I have never paid in advance of knowing the result, I would have tested in excess of 30 cars over the years for myself, family and friends.

So what you're saying is that they will test your car, hand you back the keys and a fail sheet, and only then ask for payment ???
I have been to NCT centres in this country with 2 Test lanes in a glorified shed, a Portacabin for Admin (both payment and Cert Printing).....and they always took payment before testing the Car.
Also, as your sister did not enquire about a Free Test I find it very hard to believe that APPLUS+ just waived the cost.

I tempted to call BS.


But if you insist that that's the way it is in your area then you must be correct.

George Dalton

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

So what you're saying is that they will test your car, hand you back the keys and a fail sheet, and only then ask for payment ???
I have been to NCT centres in this country with 2 Test lanes in a glorified shed, a Portacabin for Admin (both payment and Cert Printing).....and they always took payment before testing the Car.

My experience is the same as that. Literally hundreds of cars, mostly in Portlaoise but also in several other centres. You pay first, then they test the car.

pred racer

George Dalton wrote: »

My experience is the same as that. Literally hundreds of cars, mostly in Portlaoise but also in several other centres. You pay first, then they test the car.

Me too!

MadDog76

joujoujou wrote: »

7 weeks prior to due date is not enough, especially if due date is on Jan/Feb - most of cars bought in Ireland has aforementioned due date.

Just booked NCT for myself - it'll be done 2 months prior to due date, no problem.

I'd advise to look up for appointment approx 5 months ahead of due date. :P

7 weeks is not enough notice but it SHOULD be more than enough notice to book a Test ........ which is the fault of the NCT crowd NOT the customers

BabysCoffee

knotknowbody wrote: »

I have brought numerous cars for test over the years to both Drogheda and Kells, the usual procedure in both those centres is, show up just before your scheduled time, enter the waiting area, a tester will come into the office and call you in turn, he will take your car keys go out and drive you car in and test it, he will then return it to the car park and return to the office, he will call you and give you your cert/fail notice and accept payment, I have never had a different person accept payment than tested the car, I have never paid in advance of knowing the result, I would have tested in excess of 30 cars over the years for myself, family and friends.

I always pay when I check in at reception on arrival at the test centre - before the test.

I don't think the mechanics handle money.

Gael23

My mum got an appointment today for the Middle of March in Waterford. It's actualy due about now but car needs tyres which she didn't have the money for until now so couldn't think about booking it well in advance.

boardsuser1

ryanf1 wrote: »

My mum got an appointment today for the Middle of March in Waterford. It's actualy due about now but car needs tyres which she didn't have the money for until now so couldn't think about booking it well in advance.

I know the feeling being short on money, my wifes car has an nct and we still can't sell it

Gael23

KC161 wrote: »

I know the feeling being short on money, my wifes car has an nct and we still can't sell it

It'll pass no problem once it gets 2 new tyres and a routine service but that's €200 altogether which wasn't around coming up to Christmas.

boardsuser1

ryanf1 wrote: »

It'll pass no problem once it gets 2 new tyres and a routine service but that's €200 altogether which wasn't around coming up to Christmas.

It's reasonable, Christmas is the worst time for the nct money wise

dieselbug

George Dalton wrote: »

My experience is the same as that. Literally hundreds of cars, mostly in Portlaoise but also in several other centres. You pay first, then they test the car.[/QUOT

Ok, same here, always pay first, Cahir, Waterford or Kilkenny, but if their system shows their is no fee due due to being outside the 28 days!!!

mgbgt1978

But their system won't show this....unless you specifically request a test wthin the 28 days.
Otherwise you will have just accepted the Date offered and therefore are not entitled to a Free Test.

corktina

ryanf1 wrote: »

It'll pass no problem once it gets 2 new tyres and a routine service but that's €200 altogether which wasn't around coming up to Christmas.

put it in for the test first and see what else i t may fail on.

knotknowbody

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

So what you're saying is that they will test your car, hand you back the keys and a fail sheet, and only then ask for payment ???
I have been to NCT centres in this country with 2 Test lanes in a glorified shed, a Portacabin for Admin (both payment and Cert Printing).....and they always took payment before testing the Car.
Also, as your sister did not enquire about a Free Test I find it very hard to believe that APPLUS+ just waived the cost.

I tempted to call BS.


But if you insist that that's the way it is in your area then you must be correct.

No they generally hold onto the keys until you pony up, but yes I will have the cert or fail sheet in my hand before I pay, I don't know if it is like this for everybody, but that's the way it happens for me.

She didn't inquire about a free test, didn't even know you could get one, I was very surprised myself and questioned her on it but she insists they just waived the fee, he never asked for money before or after, just handed her the cert at the end and said goodbye, she even reminded him he hadn't collected the money and offered her card and he said it was free due to the delay.

BabysCoffee wrote: »

I always pay when I check in at reception on arrival at the test centre - before the test.

I don't think the mechanics handle money.

The mechanics do everything in the test centers I use, including handling cash and taking card payments, maybe the bigger centers are different.

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

But their system won't show this....unless you specifically request a test wthin the 28 days.
Otherwise you will have just accepted the Date offered and therefore are not entitled to a Free Test.

But if you refuse the date they offer you on the phone and tell them you want to go on the cancellation/priority list and then still get a date outside the 28 day window what happens, this is the way it happened for the sister.

TheSheriff

Jesus lads this whole thread has become whether his sister got a free test or not and at what point she should have handed over a fee?

Does it really matter?

Point is if your date is over the 28 days from when you first contacted them you are entitled to a free test. Thats it.

flogen

Ended up getting a date on the website in Greenhills for next Friday - as opposed to the one they offered me for April last week.

I guess I'm lucky to have a few centres I can get to (which wouldn't be the case in many places outside of Dublin) but it does seem that the booking system is a bit of a mess.

skyhighflyer

TheSheriff wrote: »

Jesus lads this whole thread has become whether his sister got a free test or not and at what point she should have handed over a fee?

Does it really matter?

Point is if your date is over the 28 days from when you first contacted them you are entitled to a free test. Thats it.

It's not though. As has been said, you need to specifically request a test within 28 days. If you don't, you will likely be given a date outside the 28 days which you will be deemed to have accepted by turning up on the day.

Stheno

Booked a test for ohs car last night for this sat

cormie

skyhighflyer wrote: »

It's not though. As has been said, you need to specifically request a test within 28 days. If you don't, you will likely be given a date outside the 28 days which you will be deemed to have accepted by turning up on the day.

I rang to book in December for a cert that expires the end of February, I got a text weeks later saying I'm booked in for 26 March :mad: If I ring back and request this booking to be within 28 days, I'll get the test for free?

skyhighflyer

cormie wrote: »

I rang to book in December for a cert that expires the end of February, I got a text weeks later saying I'm booked in for 26 March :mad: If I ring back and request this booking to be within 28 days, I'll get the test for free?

Possibly, although they might say that because you've 'voluntarily' accepted a date outside the 28 days they won't give you a free one. It could be worth a try.

TheSheriff

cormie wrote: »

I rang to book in December for a cert that expires the end of February, I got a text weeks later saying I'm booked in for 26 March :mad: If I ring back and request this booking to be within 28 days, I'll get the test for free?

Itll be free anyway I think but no harm in requesting a free one.

I rang yesterday to confirm that the one I booked on the net was going to be free (she offered me march over the phone, I rejected and went back on the list then found a date myself on the website)

She said no problem itll be free, she actually said they were processing quite a few freebies at the moment and the garages know not to charge when it appears on the system

Falcon L

My test is due in February 2016. Looks like I'll have to book it soon.

cormie

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Possibly, although they might say that because you've 'voluntarily' accepted a date outside the 28 days they won't give you a free one. It could be worth a try.

TheSheriff wrote: »

Itll be free anyway I think but no harm in requesting a free one.

I rang yesterday to confirm that the one I booked on the net was going to be free (she offered me march over the phone, I rejected and went back on the list then found a date myself on the website)

She said no problem itll be free, she actually said they were processing quite a few freebies at the moment and the garages know not to charge when it appears on the system

Thanks for the replies. I didn't accept the date, they said they'd put me on the cancellation list and try get me one asap, then I just get a text saying I'm booked for March

I'd be happy to pay if I can get my test done before expiry but if not I'd feel a bit ripped off paying. When did you get your earlier test booked for TheSheriff?

TheSheriff

cormie wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I didn't accept the date, they said they'd put me on the cancellation list and try get me one asap, then I just get a text saying I'm booked for March

I'd be happy to pay if I can get my test done before expiry but if not I'd feel a bit ripped off paying. When did you get your earlier test booked for TheSheriff?

Its booked for the day the car expires on the 14th of Jan at I think 9.00pm at night. They couldnt have left it any later really!

griffin100

My test is not due until May but I want to do an early one so went online the weekend and nothing available until mid March in any of centers that suit me (there's 5-6 that suit me). After reading this thread checked online about 11.45 last night and there was availability in 3 of the centers that suit me, but in all of them it was for January 19th for some reason.

corktina

I don't beleive there is a backlog. I booked on first of Jan, took test (and failed) today re-test booked for the

(Before you ask, failed on headlight alignment and a split tyre valve)

Cleveland Hot Pocket

corktina wrote: »

I don't beleive there is a backlog. I booked on first of Jan, took test (and failed) today re-test booked for the

(Before you ask, failed on headlight alignment and a split tyre valve)

I don't believe that there are roads in Ireland but it doesn't change the fact that, like the backlog, it exists

I and many others are waiting two months plus for dates.
I've booked three NCT tests in the past couple of months and the shortest available date was 6 weeks (in the whole of leinster)

bren2001

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

I don't believe that there are roads in Ireland but it doesn't change the fact that, like the backlog, it exists

I and many others are waiting two months plus for dates.
I've booked three NCT tests in the past couple of months and the shortest available date was 6 weeks (in the whole of leinster)

I booked one this morning for Fonthill on the 23rd of January. There is a backlog but if people are a bit proactive, check the site regularly and go on around 23:30, they will get a date in a short amount of time.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

bren2001 wrote: »

I booked one this morning for Fonthill on the 23rd of January. There is a backlog but if people are a bit proactive, check the site regularly and go on around 23:30, they will get a date in a short amount of time.

Surely they should just make the dates available to all on a first come first served basis not this BS of knock knock wink wink be online at the night time.

The_Morrigan

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Surely they should just make the dates available to all on a first come first served basis not this BS of knock knock wink wink be online at the night time.

I think it's as slots become available again the system resets overnight.

boardsuser1

The_Morrigan wrote: »

I think it's as slots become available again the system resets overnight.

The system needs a revamp not a reset, bloody nct, i've seen some of the most stupid fail sheets, one being the irish name on the number plate.

ShaunieVW

11.30 things always works. I have always gotten dates in 2 weeks using this method! Im prepared this year, NCT is due the end of May so its booked in for March!

cormie

I thought you could only book 3 months in advance? How do you have it booked already for May? Does that mean I can book mine for the earliest test date possible as soon as I pass this years one?

EDIT: I just rang them up (+35314135992) as I locked myself out of the online booking system for entering the wrong details too many times I said I wanted a sooner date than 26th March and he said he didn't have anything until April, then I said about getting it for free because it's not within 28 days and he said he could put me on a priority list and I'd be guaranteed a test within 28 days and I should receive a text with confirmation within 10 days.

Would have preferred to have a look at 23:30 and choose one myself instead of waiting and getting a random date chosen for me but we'll see how it pans out.

TheSheriff

cormie wrote: »

I thought you could only book 3 months in advance? How do you have it booked already for May? Does that mean I can book mine for the earliest test date possible as soon as I pass this years one?

EDIT: I just rang them up (+35314135992) as I locked myself out of the online booking system for entering the wrong details too many times I said I wanted a sooner date than 26th March and he said he didn't have anything until April, then I said about getting it for free because it's not within 28 days and he said he could put me on a priority list and I'd be guaranteed a test within 28 days and I should receive a text with confirmation within 10 days.

Would have preferred to have a look at 23:30 and choose one myself instead of waiting and getting a random date chosen for me but we'll see how it pans out.

You can still go online at 23.30 and book a test it will automatically negate their priority list.
I was on the list and still booked online. Youll be locked out for 24 hrs then you can try again

mgbgt1978

He's booked in for March...Current NCT expires in May Cormie.:)

cormie

Thanks again TheSheriff, I'll try that.

But.. May is 4 months away, I know it's only 2 months away from March, but I thought you could only book within the 3 months, if you can book at any time, for a date within 3 months, that's good to know, may as well just book months and months in advance to get it as soon as possible.

mgbgt1978

Cormie,
you can do the Test 90 days ahead of expiry, and still keep the original Due Date.
You can book a Test up to 3 months in advance (more to do with the lame NCT system, than any legislation).
So you could book a test now (for a date 3 months away) if your NCT expires just under 6 months from now.


.....I think you kind of knew this already, so just confirming it.

cormie

Thanks for the info, I actually didn't know I thought that you can only book within the 90 day period leading up to expiry for any day within that 90 days. That's nice to know!

mgbgt1978

Also, once you get yourself 'unlocked' just click on "pay online" to check for appointments.
This means you don't need to find your Date of first Registration to look for dates.....but if you want to go ahead and book a date (and pay at the centre) you'll have to come back out and click on "click here" to book now and pay later.
Have a look at the examples of VLC's etc to make sure you are putting in the correct Date of Registration, to avoid geting locked out & missing a slot.....if you find one that suits.

cormie

Sorry, where is the "pay online" link you're referring to? I just tried to login again, with my date of first registration, and it said no information found

I then went to: https://www.ncts.ie/internet_bookings.html , clicked "book your NCT or re-test" and got this:

tossy

trying to book a test also and getting this

boardsuser1

tossy wrote: »

trying to book a test also and getting this

I got the exact same

tossy

KC161 wrote: »

I got the exact same

Site is down now.

corktina

works for m, been displaying that cert stuff for a few days. I wouldn't risk my card details, but you can book to pay at the NCT centre