NDLS - National Driver Licence Service centres (Qs, waiting times, etc)

d1234 · 24-01-2014 10:04pm

I tried pressing 3 because I had correspondence from them but that wouldn't work!

ian_m · 24-01-2014 10:19pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

No, tried every button. Including combos. I have developed whole new levels in patience that I never thought possible.

Fabsean24 · 28-01-2014 8:03am

I submitted my application for group D driving licence to NDLS Galway office on the 21/11/13. Its ten weeks now and no licence from NDLS. I have been calling NDLS office 0761-087880 twice every week for the past six week and they give any reason why my application is being delayed for so long. I have been to their Galway office three times, still no concrete answer from them either. It seems to be no end in sight for my licence, when will I ever get my licence back. RSA have cancelled my CPC practical bus test which I was supposed to take on last monday, I have to be put back to the waiting list which could be ten weeks or more before another schedule.
What next can I do ?
What other option or action can I take?

ian_m · 28-01-2014 10:14am

Fill in the RSA complaints form and explain your situation. Put your driver number in there too and see if they can investigate the matter for you. http://www.rsa.ie/Utility/Contact-Us/Complaints-Form/

Thats the only thing I can think of. I also popped a few emails over to Dept of Transport asking for details of a complaints proceedure.

Ill be three months waiting this coming weekend, one of the longest waiting in the entire country I reckon.

nd · 28-01-2014 1:15pm

The father applied for his on the 2nd of January and got it today. Not too bad I guess.

faceman · 28-01-2014 1:36pm

My license expires in March and I travel abroad a lot for work. (And need to hire cars abroad). Rang the helpline today and aside for the overly long automated message when you ring I got through to someone very quick. He told me to expect a processing time of 6 weeks.

It means I can't apply for a renewal until a few days before my license expires as I'm away before then.

Fowler87 · 28-01-2014 1:40pm

Waiting over 2 months and was in contact last week to be told that it had been posted or sent for post. But now they tell me its been sent as of last Friday.. Hopefully I'll have it tomorrow

rovoagho · 28-01-2014 7:40pm

I hope you're all sending letters to all of your TDs about this. By all means CC the RSA, but they won't do anything about it, bar trying to sweep it under the carpet.

rovoagho · 28-01-2014 7:47pm

I hope you're all complaining to ALL of your TDs about this, ideally by registered post so they can't accidentally by mistake mislay it, or have it filtered by their naughty spam filter. CC the RSA by all means, but they won't do anything bar try to sweep it under the carpet.

A letter takes 5 minutes to write and 5 minutes to post, everyone can afford 10 minutes of their lives to put these incompetent donkeys in their place. Less if someone posts theirs here for others to copy.

collie74 · 28-01-2014 8:21pm

I Applied Monday 2nd December 2013, I had send a number of emails requesting a status of my licence of a date but had no rely, by the week starting 6th January I'd still heard nothing. I then emailed the NDLS every day that week, after no reply I emailed Minister Leo Varadkar and the RSA on Monday 13th January. I had received replies from two different people in the ministers office, the RSA and the NDLS the afternoon or the next morning ..... Received my licence in the post a few days later on Thursday the 16th January

Definitely worth dropping ministers, TD's or the RSA a email

ian_m · 28-01-2014 8:57pm

rovoagho wrote: »

CC the RSA by all means, but they won't do anything bar try to sweep it under the carpet.

I got a reply from the RSA today admitting there are delays but my license has been issued so I should have it shortly. I guess they are looking into things when asked.

Fred Swanson · 28-01-2014 9:00pm

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ABajaninCork · 28-01-2014 10:25pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Lumpy??? It'd be like a small hill!!

rovoagho · 29-01-2014 2:50am

ian_m wrote: »

I got a reply from the RSA today admitting there are delays but my license has been issued so I should have it shortly. I guess they are looking into things when asked.

Of course they are, but you can bet your sweet bippy they won't admit that the delays have been going on far too long, and don't actually seem to be improving. This was a farcical rollout from day one, they took a system that was working well and completely arsed it up.

They should have started the process gradually when the new licences were initially required by the EU, and not at the last minute, or used the motor tax offices for a year or two to get the project started.

Typical Oirish implementations, in other words. Or "Irish Water", as we'll be calling it from now on.

boomshakalaka · 29-01-2014 10:26pm

After nearly 12 weeks I got an email from the director of RSA confirming my licence has gone out in the post. Seemingly dragging everyone in to this mess that you possibly can does help!

ian_m · 29-01-2014 11:05pm

Got mine today. Just short of 3 months wait. If I lose it I'm just going to drive off a pier.

D Trent · 29-01-2014 11:29pm

ian_m wrote: »

Got mine today. Just short of 3 months wait. If I lose it I'm just going to drive off a pier.

What if your stopped by the nnngarrdaii enroute to said pier??

ian_m · 30-01-2014 12:13am

D Trent wrote: »

What if your stopped by the nnngarrdaii enroute to said pier??

Well if I got away for 3 months without being stopped, whats one more day?! :pac:

31-01-2014 7:56pm

I was happy enough with mine. Put in for it on 7/Jan and it arrived on the 27/Jan. Not too bad. Suppose I was probably just lucky.

visual · 31-01-2014 10:30pm

RSA grubby hands all over this.

In this day and age what checks do you really think they are doing that takes weeks or months

The licence can be printed instantly. After they visually inspected you are the person in photo. Its entered into computer system. Computer will look up instantly all relevant information.

Then its ready for posting and there is even a question why it can not be handed over to you there and then as posting it to your home address doesn't really validate any more than showing proof of address in office.

Sooner the elections roll around the better.

Old diesel · 04-02-2014 11:54am

visual wrote: »

RSA grubby hands all over this.

In this day and age what checks do you really think they are doing that takes weeks or months

The licence can be printed instantly. After they visually inspected you are the person in photo. Its entered into computer system. Computer will look up instantly all relevant information.

Then its ready for posting and there is even a question why it can not be handed over to you there and then as posting it to your home address doesn't really validate any more than showing proof of address in office.

Sooner the elections roll around the better.

College ID cards can be done up there and then - and they have the black strip for scanning too - shocking that NDLS can't come up with a better solution for licences

shinikins · 04-02-2014 7:55pm

Old diesel wrote: »

College ID cards can be done up there and then - and they have the black strip for scanning too - shocking that NDLS can't come up with a better solution for licences

In fairness , college ID cards are a piece of plastic with a photo printed on them. I've never seen a college or work ID with UV reactive printing or laser engraved signatures on it, or an embedded chip, or any of the other security measures the licence has.

visual · 04-02-2014 8:30pm

shinikins wrote: »

In fairness , college ID cards are a piece of plastic with a photo printed on them. I've never seen a college or work ID with UV reactive printing or laser engraved signatures on it, or an embedded chip, or any of the other security measures the licence has.

Ah come on how long do you think it takes the machine to print licence ? Less than 30 secs and I'm being very generous.

In the time it takes a licence to be issued a car can be built shipped halfway around the world and put on your drive way

shinikins · 04-02-2014 8:45pm

visual wrote: »

Ah come on how long do you think it takes the machine to print licence ? Less than 30 secs and I'm being very generous.

In the time it takes a licence to be issued a car can be built shipped halfway around the world and put on your drive way

You've obviously not seen one of the new licences! It would take a lot longer than 30 seconds to print a photo, categories, name and address, UV features, light reactive ink, engrave each individual signature and embed each persons information on the microchip, all on different layers on the card itself. 30 seconds to print a crappy college ID card maybe, but I'm sure it takes quite some time to print the new licence. It has some of the same features the new passport has and they can't be printed up in 30 seconds either!

donkey balls · 04-02-2014 8:48pm

I have what is known as a ADR licence (Fuel Tankers etc) it has my mug on the front along with DOB/signature etc and the different class of dangerous goods that I can carry,It also has the issuing body hologram for security purposes yet it only costs €15 and takes less than a week to issue and it is a standard EU licence.
The RSA should never have been given the job off rolling out the new licence and it should never have been farmed out to a private company,The motor tax office is were it should have stayed,Like the HSE the RSA also seems to have layers of bureaucracy for instance if I need to talk to someone in vehicle standards or enforcement.
Instead of calling the office directly which I was able to do up to recently,Instead I get put through to some sort of call center in Balina were by I'm put on hold for a few minutes and then asked by the operator why I want to talk to someone in a certain department.

lollsangel · 04-02-2014 8:49pm

shinikins wrote: »

You've obviously not seen one of the new licences! It would take a lot longer than 30 seconds to print a photo, categories, name and address, UV features, light reactive ink, engrave each individual signature and embed each persons information on the microchip, all on different layers on the card itself. 30 seconds to print a crappy college ID card maybe, but I'm sure it takes quite some time to print the new licence. It has some of the same features the new passport has and they can't be printed up in 30 seconds either!

Gnib cards are printed instantly. They have all an immigrants info on it and also their finger printing

shinikins · 04-02-2014 8:59pm

GNIB cards aren't an identity card, and are only of use to the Gardai, if they request it-just like the Garda Age card. Totally different from the new licence.

lollsangel · 04-02-2014 10:20pm

shinikins wrote: »

GNIB cards aren't an identity card, and are only of use to the Gardai, if they request it-just like the Garda Age card. Totally different from the new licence.

However they DO hold more info than the driving license, and are printed off immediately. It can be used when applying for theory test, xan be used when applying for your driving license as identification.

rovoagho · 04-02-2014 10:20pm

It should be obvious to you they were talking about the printing.

Days 298 · 04-02-2014 10:26pm

So my licence arrived last week. Mistake on it. It expires in 8 months because I held another provisional in a different category last year.
I am not paying another €30 in 9 months. Dont want to give it back now as I want to start learning to ride a motorbike but you need the licence.

Gahh

shinikins · 04-02-2014 10:47pm

lollsangel wrote: »

However they DO hold more info than the driving license, and are printed off immediately. It can be used when applying for theory test, xan be used when applying for your driving license as identification.

What other info does it hold? As for using it as ID when applying for the licence, I'm afraid your wrong, it's used to prove residency entitlement along with a valid passport.
"Current Certificate of Registration (GNIB card) for non-EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens must be produced with current national passport"

nd · 12-02-2014 10:01pm

Applied for mine 27th of Jan. Got it in the post today. They seems to be getting better.

ION08 · 12-02-2014 11:44pm

I applied for my renewal on saturday 8th of Feb and was told it'll take around 6 weeks to receive!... 6 Bloody Weeks?!?! For a card?? ... Crazy.

Shane Fitz · 13-02-2014 6:34pm

nd wrote: »

Applied for mine 27th of Jan. Got it in the post today. They seems to be getting better.

Where'd you apply. ?
I applied December 15th in city west and have heard nothing.

ION08 · 13-02-2014 6:38pm

Shane Fitz wrote: »

Where'd you apply. ?
I applied December 15th in city west and have heard nothing.

8 Weeks?? Shocking.

nd · 13-02-2014 8:38pm

Shane Fitz wrote: »

Where'd you apply. ?
I applied December 15th in city west and have heard nothing.

In the Limerick center.

ian_m · 13-02-2014 9:18pm

Shane Fitz wrote: »

Where'd you apply. ?
I applied December 15th in city west and have heard nothing.

I'd ring them if I was you. They won't call you if there is a problem. They will put your application to the bottom of the pile. They may have lost something.

gruffler91 · 20-02-2014 5:18pm

Applied for my full licence on 15th Nov and still waiting for my licence. I've rang them 3 times, twice I've been told it's in the post and most recently as of Jan 24th that it was in the printers.NDLS have ensured me that they have all my relevant docs and nothing except their initial backlog was holding up my application.

I have already made a complaint to the RSA and am waiting to hear back from them but just wanted to see if there's anything else that people have tried and has resulted in them getting their licence?

ian_m · 20-02-2014 11:28pm

gruffler91 wrote: »

Applied for my full licence on 15th Nov and still waiting for my licence. I've rang them 3 times, twice I've been told it's in the post and most recently as of Jan 24th that it was in the printers.NDLS have ensured me that they have all my relevant docs and nothing except their initial backlog was holding up my application.

I have already made a complaint to the RSA and am waiting to hear back from them but just wanted to see if there's anything else that people have tried and has resulted in them getting their licence?

You are waiting as long as I was. Contacting the RSA solved it for me.

galwaytt · 21-02-2014 1:31am

Colleague at work needed an emergency replacement for work to go to UK next week and was told 'no can do', and has to wait 3 weeks... too late for work though. ....

Not good enough tbh.

Noccy_Mondy · 21-02-2014 2:30am

Was over with a friend getting her first driving license in the Castlebar centre yesterday. Very prompt service, in and out in 10 minutes. She was told the license would be with her i 2 - 3 weeks, but after reading some of the posts on this, i'm getting doubtful!

CiniO · 21-02-2014 4:29am

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Was over with a friend getting her first driving license in the Castlebar centre yesterday. Very prompt service, in and out in 10 minutes. She was told the license would be with her i 2 - 3 weeks, but after reading some of the posts on this, i'm getting doubtful!

I went to Castlebar NDLS centre in mid December for learner permit.
I was actually astonished how good and professional this place was.

I had nothing but horrible memories when dealing before hand with Mayo motortax office in relation to my Licence (I was doing many different licence categories so I dealt with them many times).

But since dealing with licence was moved to NDLS it's nothing but perfect.
My case was complicated, but staff there did everything they could to make it go right with as little hassle for me as possible.

I eventually got my learner permit less than a month after applying.

Noccy_Mondy · 21-02-2014 4:51am

CiniO wrote: »

I went to Castlebar NDLS centre in mid December for learner permit.
I was actually astonished how good and professional this place was.

I had nothing but horrible memories when dealing before hand with Mayo motortax office in relation to my Licence (I was doing many different licence categories so I dealt with them many times).

But since dealing with licence was moved to NDLS it's nothing but perfect.
My case was complicated, but staff there did everything they could to make it go right with as little hassle for me as possible.

I eventually got my learner permit less than a month after applying.

Ya they're sound out and very professional at what they do! Yer wan behind the counter was laughing and saying how did they give you a learners permit, you look so young! She is 22 :pac:

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 21-02-2014 10:55am

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Ya they're sound out and very professional at what they do! Yer wan behind the counter was laughing and saying how did they give you a learners permit, you look so young! She is 22 :pac:

Arra sure if ya can't have the craic with the customers what can ya do!

Sheldons Brain · 22-02-2014 12:29am

CiniO wrote: »

I went to Castlebar NDLS centre in mid December for learner permit.
I was actually astonished how good and professional this place was.

I had nothing but horrible memories when dealing before hand with Mayo motortax office in relation to my Licence (I was doing many different licence categories so I dealt with them many times).

But since dealing with licence was moved to NDLS it's nothing but perfect.
My case was complicated, but staff there did everything they could to make it go right with as little hassle for me as possible.

I eventually got my learner permit less than a month after applying.

So friendly staff but crap system, it took 3 weeks to get a licence, when you should have got it on the spot. Even the passport comes back in 10 days.

CiniO · 22-02-2014 12:58am

Sheldons Brain wrote: »

So friendly staff but crap system, it took 3 weeks to get a licence, when you should have got it on the spot. Even the passport comes back in 10 days.

I have only comparision to time when for driving licences you were dealing with Mayo motor tax office.
This was a nightmare.
NDLS is professional.

IMHO it's a huge improvement.

ian_m · 22-02-2014 9:54am

CiniO wrote: »

I have only comparision to time when for driving licences you were dealing with Mayo motor tax office.
This was a nightmare.
NDLS is professional.

IMHO it's a huge improvement.

Ill take the old system any day.

MarkR · 22-02-2014 10:49am

nd wrote: »

Applied for mine 27th of Jan. Got it in the post today. They seems to be getting better.

Was the queue in the centre bad?

nd · 22-02-2014 11:02am

It was about 11 Monday morning so I though it'd be very quiet. But there were prob. about 6 people ahead of me. And another about 6 came in shortly after.

But the wait wasn't too bad. Maybe half an hour.

ION08 · 24-02-2014 4:57pm

Applied for mine on Saturday 8th of Feb and got it in the post this morning!

2 weeks, not bad.

NDLS - National Driver Licence Service centres (Qs, waiting times, etc)

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