NCT Lead times gone crazy?

ec_pc · 01-12-2022 8:11pm #1

For the first time ever in all the years doing NCT's I got a reminder letter today for a test due at the end of December. A good reminder to book a test in my local Naas centre - first appointment is June 2023. Carlow is May 2023, Portlaoise is also May 2023.

I know I can call them, but I have never seen such a long lead time on their website. Of course they cover their ass in the letter by saying its a penalty point offence etc etc.

Why is there such a lead in time?

Lord Nikon · 01-12-2022 8:20pm

Friend of mine drives a taxi, only talking to him earlier, he got a booking for Monday, and he only rang them today.

Flinty997 · 01-12-2022 8:24pm

Grab what you can get. It will only get worse.

ricimaki · 01-12-2022 8:32pm

Try and book it early in the morning and you'll see any cancellations. You need to be quick to book them, though.

hoodie6029 · 01-12-2022 8:53pm

’magic time’ on the website around 11:30 at night. Cancellations are added then. Should get an appointment soon that way.

keithb93 · 01-12-2022 8:54pm

have a look at the nct website just after 12am. I got a booking for 4 days later recently.

Whocare · 01-12-2022 9:09pm

You need phone them up website is rubbish. Booked my nct only few weeks ago and got a appointment for tomorrow

mikeecho · 02-12-2022 11:35am

Is there not something, that if they can't provide a test within 28 days it's free.

HildaOgdenx · 02-12-2022 11:42am

I read somewhere that they don't show all the available slots online. No idea if that's true or false. But I know people can usually get a slot by contacting them.

Mine was due in October and all I was finding when I was trying to book - in good time for it - was February 2023 slots. I tried logging on late at night and found a date quite quickly that way.

bazz26 · 02-12-2022 1:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119948143#Comment_119948143

They only needed to come back to you with an appointment within 28 days of requesting one, that appointment date itself didn't have to be within 28 days however. Not sure if that policy is still in operation either.

The reason for the long delays is like alot of industries here since the pandemic, they simply cannot get the staff to meet demand.

mikeecho · 02-12-2022 11:16pm

According to the NCT customer charter – :

You will be provided with a test, free of charge, where an appointment cannot be offered within a 28 day period, unless any of the following apply:

the test is overdue by more than 7 days at the time of contacting us;

an appointment was offered 7 days or more prior to the test due date;

you have made specific requests regarding suitable days, times or dates;

you have declined or rearranged two or more appointments;

you have failed to attend an appointment; or

you have previously accepted or requested an appointment outside of the 28 day period.

pron · 02-12-2022 11:54pm

Yeah - I tried the customer charter thing with them over the summer - they claimed it was suspended due to covid and many of the mechanics having to call in sick - along with a deluge of no-shows .. either way, t'was easily a few months before I got an appointment in that case - despite being on the "urgent" list and having attempted to book a solid six weeks before it was due :)

vandriver · 03-12-2022 9:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119946175#Comment_119946175

Taxi drivers have reserved slots and never have to wait.Its because we have an annual inspection called suitability which requires a valid NCT.

If you don't pass suitability you can't work.

HBC08 · 03-12-2022 9:40am

I noticed a few weeks ago mine was due in Dec,the earliest they could offer me was March.

I went on the site and there was some sort of emergency request function. They got back in a few days with a slot on Dec 5th.

creedp · 03-12-2022 11:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119951946#Comment_119951946

So unless you're going to book 4 to 5 months in advance, it looks like the online booking system is broken and its either telephone or email option for now

FazyLucker · 03-12-2022 11:52am

Ring them, and ring them again every couple of days. You will get lucky and get one in a few days.

Supercell · 03-12-2022 11:52am

Mines due in February, earliest they can give is June 20th, madness.

Sarn · 03-12-2022 12:11pm

We went to book ours back in September for January, thinking we’d be ok, first appointment was the end of March.

Decided to give them a call and got put on a list. They came back after 6 weeks with an appointment in December. Checking their site late at night occasionally showed an appointment for the next day.

junkyarddog · 04-12-2022 2:43pm

Booked my NCT online Friday night,

Got a slot for today at 1pm,and it passed.

Quite pleased with that.

Not bad for a high mileage 08 Mondeo😎

NCT Lead times gone crazy?

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