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

bigboss1986 · 10-01-2014 5:43pm

Applied on 28th November,licence issue date 7th Jan.Arrived today.4-5 weeks backlog.

collie74 · 11-01-2014 9:21am

Applied 2nd December, have sent several emails, only reply I got was to my very first one which asked me to forward my DOB, PPS Number and drivers number despite me including there own reference number which doesn't seem to mean much when tracing applications. Phoned the first week of January and was told in process and will be with me the following week. Still nothing and still no response to yet another email. This is holding up obtaining employment, when I mentioned this on the phone was told what my driving licence number was and the categories I'm licence to drive, all of which I know but employers want proof, physically having maybe a plastic legal drivers licence card in my hand would be the best proof but alas I wait .... Getting seriously frustrated now, what can I do ?

el pasco · 11-01-2014 3:40pm

Waiting over 2 months for my learner permit but got it this week went to do my lesson and they instructor said sorry cant take you as leaner permit isn't valid permit but they didn't make it valid for 2 weeks ahead and it is valid for 2 years and 17 days so have to sent it back to them to see what I should do

When I went down to NDLS centre at 12.25 pm they said that they were closing as it was busy!! and that they had to get home by 2pm for dinner!!
They close at 2 pm on a Saturday there was only a few people waiting The man there wanted for people to make an appointment and to make back later but no-one wanted to do that and a lady who came from a good journey away said that she had been here on 2 previous occasions and wasn't coming back a forth time
I asked the man and he said with a grin that he'd have to send it back to Cork and I would wait probably 3-4 weeks for it to come back So I will be waiting 3 months for a learner permit!!

I also emailed them on many occasions and they never got back to me once nor never even gave me a proper letter of accreditation

The NDLS is a disgrace quite frankly and everything they blame is on IT failure
Well who designed the IT system and decided to roll out the NDLS??
It wasn't me
I wish that they could just set up proper agencies in this country for once

irishrver · 11-01-2014 11:48pm

I was diagnosed with MS and they demanded I change my licence from paper to plastic which I did at the start of December still waiting, my jeep is booked in for a doe on Thursday and I must bring my licence with me under the new rules, it will be interesting to see what they say in the test center

Fred Swanson · 11-01-2014 11:50pm

This post has been deleted.

rovoagho · 12-01-2014 2:42am

irishrver wrote: »

I was diagnosed with MS and they demanded I change my licence from paper to plastic [...]

Eh?

donkey balls · 12-01-2014 1:27pm

Thankfully I renewed my licence last year before this NDLS crowd came together,The RSA like the HSE has become a monster loff an organisation with no proper mgmt structure in place.
There was no need to out source this to a private company it should have remained with the local motor tax offices,After all these people have been doing the job for years with no problems.
In all my years dealing with the motor tax office on a a personal & work basis I never had a problem with them,I am dreading having to deal with these mickey mouse organisations in the future.
Also I noticed that the price of the driver entitlement cert has gone from €6 (old motor tax office) to €16 off the NDLS how can that price be justified.

irishrver · 12-01-2014 3:19pm

Yeah I could not understand it either, it is because I am on a long term illness drug payment thing my driving licence and prsi number must all be linked together there is no restrictions being put on my licence I can still drive trucks cars and motorbikes I think it is the start of big brother and the first stage of an identity card system as there was 8 years left on my licence

d1234 · 13-01-2014 1:41am

10 weeks waiting today. Absolute disgrace. The service is desporate, the staff are cheeky and unprofessional. For instance, I arrived at my local centre one day at 4.19pm and it was closed. I knocked and waited for 2 mins and was answered with: 'should have arrived in proper time'. If that's the case, why don't they advertise to close at 5pm? That for a start is a breach of the Consumer Information Act. And secondly, there isn't an actual phone number, instead you have to ring some call centre and wait for 8 mins on average to get an answer. He then went on with some bulls**t about 'oh I'll face a 25000 fine if we don't have these forms finished by the end of today'. Hello - I'm not a 10 year old child? What really raged me was that I was talking to him for 10 minutes and instead of having dealt with me directly - he wasted 10 mins of my time and his time!

I contacted the Minister's office to make a complaint about the service and I was advised to e-mail him (Leo Varadkar). So perhaps everyone should send him a nice e-mail outlining the great experiences which we all have had with the NDLS.

Another of the governments plans for jobs - just like BER assessors, driving instructors and other very useful services.

ABajaninCork · 13-01-2014 1:57am

d1234 wrote: »

Another of the governments plans for jobs - just like BER assessors, driving instructors and other very useful services.

Sorry, but Driving Instructors ARE a useful service. How can you say that teaching a life skill -i.e handling at least a ton of steel which has the capacity to kill or maim safely is NOT useful??

It beggars belief some of the attitudes to learning to drive I've seen on here. If you're moaning about the cost, then you can't afford to drive. Driving is a privilege and NOT a right as some people seem to think.

d1234 · 13-01-2014 5:27pm

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Sorry, but Driving Instructors ARE a useful service. How can you say that teaching a life skill -i.e handling at least a ton of steel which has the capacity to kill or maim safely is NOT useful??

It beggars belief some of the attitudes to learning to drive I've seen on here. If you're moaning about the cost, then you can't afford to drive. Driving is a privilege and NOT a right as some people seem to think.

A lot of people in this country assume that when you have successfully competed your 12 driving lessons and passed your test that you're fit for the road. Even including the government.

WRONG - driving is a lifelong skill which takes time and differs from person to person. How is 12 lessons and passing some test which depends on a lot of luck the key to 'being an experienced driver?'

And I have no problem paying for a professional service which has rewards. However, a relative of mine is an approved instructor in the UK and his parting words on this conversation was 'there's a lot of cowboys in the trade' and that was in reference to instructors here in Ireland, which I, myself had the utmost pleasure in experiencing.

ABajaninCork · 13-01-2014 5:45pm

d1234 wrote: »

A lot of people in this country assume that when you have successfully competed your 12 driving lessons and passed your test that you're fit for the road. Even including the government.

WRONG - driving is a lifelong skill which takes time and differs from person to person. How is 12 lessons and passing some test which depends on a lot of luck the key to 'being an experienced driver?'

And I have no problem paying for a professional service which has rewards. However, a relative of mine is an approved instructor in the UK and his parting words on this conversation was 'there's a lot of cowboys in the trade' and that was in reference to instructors here in Ireland, which I, myself had the utmost pleasure in experiencing.

So what? There are cowboys EVERYWHERE!! Not just the driving instructor game. What's wrong with doing your research and checking credentials?
That's what I did when I learnt to drive in London. The cheapest isn't always the best...

Do your research, check credentials, pay for lessons with a suitable instructor, practice and pass your test. It's not rocket science.

I've taken this O/T enough, so I'll leave it there...

d1234 · 13-01-2014 6:09pm

ABajaninCork wrote: »

So what? There are cowboys EVERYWHERE!! Not just the driving instructor game. What's wrong with doing your research and checking credentials?
That's what I did when I learnt to drive in London. The cheapest isn't always the best...

Do your research, check credentials, pay for lessons with a suitable instructor, practice and pass your test. It's not rocket science.

I've taken this O/T enough, so I'll leave it there...

So what? - so when you pay 40 euro per lesson and receive terrible tuition is it acceptable? And when you read online recommendations that are positive - in fact that instructor had a 90% pass rate is that not convincing enough? But that again is misleading - doesn't actually say first or second.. time round - which they don't actually have to tell you.

I do on the other hand appreciate that there are some good instructors out there, but from my experience and many others, the bad overtakes the good. But what I'm more interested in hearing from and what is more so my point is - 'why does one have to do 12 lessons?' It's a money spinner - especially when some instructors wont sign off on them - sorry - can smell more cash coming their way... My father is a very experienced and safe driver who has been driving since his late teens and why can't he teach me how to drive and sign off my log book? There are many others in a similar position and the government see this as a good little employment tactic. On average, it would cost around 420 euro to get a person through driving lessons. And secondly - how did people survive when they didn't have to take lessons a few years back - answer - as good as the people taking them presently.

ShawB · 16-01-2014 1:31pm

applied for my new driving licence on the 26th of November ... still waiting. Cheers NDLS for your 'teething' problems.

Old diesel · 16-01-2014 2:45pm

Fathers licence arrived yesterday - or the day before - can't remember.

Still its here at last

nd · 16-01-2014 5:17pm

Heard leo varadkar on the readio today saying any new applications will be done within 8 days and the backlog will be resolved by mid feb.

He's a politician so it must be true!

restive · 17-01-2014 9:14pm

Applied today for provisional. They said six weeks.

advertsfox · 17-01-2014 9:33pm

Applied on the 7th of December, arrived Wednesday the 15th - they look quite good, nice having it in the wallet.

restive · 18-01-2014 12:31am

advertsfox wrote: »

Applied on the 7th of December, arrived Wednesday the 15th - they look quite good, nice having it in the wallet.

Was that Wednesday the 15th of January or December?

Fandango · 18-01-2014 12:36am

I went in at the start of Dec and got mine yesterday so basically had about 6-7 week wait. Had no queue at the place at all but took ages to get the card.

advertsfox · 18-01-2014 12:45am

restive wrote: »

Was that Wednesday the 15th of January or December?

Ah this week mate.

18-01-2014 9:10am

Put my application in for a bike learner permit on 7th Jan. rang yesterday and they said my application is in the end stages. So I assume I should have it on about 5 weeks based in some of the posts here

Should have just left the tax office doing it.

irishrver · 18-01-2014 11:02am

Got mine back yesterday after a 47 day wait. In that time I needed it for 2 roadside stops and a doe test and I put off a trip to the UK to save a lot of problems of driving there without a licence, hope the system is fixed when it is time for renewal in 2020.

BailMeOut · 18-01-2014 11:19am

sorry if already covered but when you try book a slot in "4 easy steps" and it says "no slots available" for all the test centres near you what do you have to do? Do I just keep checking everyday for a slot (surely not!!)? There does not seem to be a way to look beyond 14 days?

Shane Fitz · 18-01-2014 11:39am

BailMeOut wrote: »

sorry if already covered but when you try book a slot in "4 easy steps" and it says "no slots available" for all the test centres near you what do you have to do? Do I just keep checking everyday for a slot (surely not!!)? There does not seem to be a way to look beyond 14 days?

What slot are you looking to book and where?
Would you not just go up? I walked into city west at 16:45 and was out by 17:10

BailMeOut · 18-01-2014 11:47am

Shane Fitz wrote: »

What slot are you looking to book and where?
Would you not just go up? I walked into city west at 16:45 and was out by 17:10

City West a long way from where I live! The rest of the country has no slots.

nd · 18-01-2014 2:10pm

Yeah only one center has booking available atm as far as I know. All the others you just walk in.

ian_m · 21-01-2014 10:51am

irishrver wrote: »

Got mine back yesterday after a 47 day wait. In that time I needed it for 2 roadside stops and a doe test and I put off a trip to the UK to save a lot of problems of driving there without a licence, hope the system is fixed when it is time for renewal in 2020.

What did they say to you when you were stopped?

irishrver · 21-01-2014 11:43am

The guards were fine asked why my licence was taken and said hope the system gets sorted soon the other asked to see the receipt for the licence which I had on me, the doe test centre took my licence number from the receipt and they were happy with that

renofan · 21-01-2014 12:50pm

advertsfox wrote: »

Applied on the 7th of December, arrived Wednesday the 15th - they look quite good, nice having it in the wallet.

Applying your timeframe to my situation I should have mine the end of next week so. Hopefully!

21-01-2014 2:58pm

Much the same in Galway.

I went in around the 27th of December thinking it would be quiet enough, was actually a decent wait(they had no queuing system which in itself was a farce. ''Im after her, and you're after me'' crap with the people sitting down) on the day.
Nearly a month now without it, not a massive problem in one respect but I'd like to be able to get my insurance down and possibly drive other cars(I'm blocked in the drive by a relation EVERY day and often chance his car to go the 1km to the shop :mad:)

D Trent · 21-01-2014 3:53pm

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Much the same in Galway.

I went in around the 27th of December thinking it would be quiet enough, was actually a decent wait(they had no queuing system which in itself was a farce. ''Im after her, and you're after me'' crap with the people sitting down) on the day.
Nearly a month now without it, not a massive problem in one respect but I'd like to be able to get my insurance down and possibly drive other cars(I'm blocked in the drive by a relation EVERY day and often chance his car to go the 1km to the shop :mad

Ya bould yoke

d1234 · 21-01-2014 5:42pm

78 days today! Absolute joke.

ian_m · 21-01-2014 10:41pm

11 weeks without a licence. They lost my proof of address, after they told me my licence was being processed. My original application wasn't signed (partially my own fault but I thought it had to be signed in front of the NDLS rep. She took it and didn't say a word.) They told me they would send my original application form to me in the post to sign but I never got it. I posted them a new application form. Still no licence.

I have emailed and never got a response. Phone calls always end up down the same route, "being processed".

I have emailed the RSA and the Department of Transport to highlight the NDLS failures.

My main worry is being stopped by the Gardai, plus the worry of my insurance being invalid.

I am completely out of options at this stage. If Leo Varadkar had any sense he would terminate their contract. I don't know how he can continue to let the NDLS operate in such a manner.

Fred Swanson · 21-01-2014 10:48pm

This post has been deleted.

ian_m · 21-01-2014 10:51pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I hope so.

nerrad1983 · 21-01-2014 11:21pm

Applied for mine on the 16th of December in the Wicklow Town office

Arrived in todays post. Quick enough turnaround considering christmas holidays etc

d1234 · 21-01-2014 11:24pm

ian_m wrote: »

11 weeks without a licence. They lost my proof of address, after they told me my licence was being processed. My original application wasn't signed (partially my own fault but I thought it had to be signed in front of the NDLS rep. She took it and didn't say a word.) They told me they would send my original application form to me in the post to sign but I never got it. I posted them a new application form. Still no licence.

I have emailed and never got a response. Phone calls always end up down the same route, "being processed".

I have emailed the RSA and the Department of Transport to highlight the NDLS failures.

My main worry is being stopped by the Gardai, plus the worry of my insurance being invalid.

I am completely out of options at this stage. If Leo Varadkar had any sense he would terminate their contract. I don't know how he can continue to let the NDLS them operate in such a manner.

I'm pretty much in the same boat only I'm first time round provisional. What happened to me was the staff in the centre didn't take my eyesight report - they never even asked for it and I knew I needed one as it said it on their site, my GP said that and of course the optician. Anyways, I called them on Jan 3rd to see what happened and then they told me - 8 weeks after I applied! The lady on the phone said I needed a new one - asked to speak to management - there was none, asked to leave my details and a manager call me - couldn't do that and asked when they were available - didn't know. I was that mad that I called back 30 mins later and was speaking to someone else who said it was fine even though it was out of date. Got a letter on the 10th of Jan saying I needed a new report! I'm apparently a priority case and it should take 2 weeks, even longer than 8 days than Leo Varadkar said.

I sent Leo Varadkar a letter this morning outlining that and all my other problems (too many to list) with the whole NDLS. I also want 35 euro compensation for the second eyetest and I'm considering going to the Small Claims Court if I don't get it refunded as it clearly wasn't my fault. Rant over!

D Trent · 21-01-2014 11:28pm

d1234 wrote: »

I'm pretty much in the same boat only I'm first time round provisional. What happened to me was the staff in the centre didn't take my eyesight report - they never even asked for it and I knew I needed one as it said it on their site, my GP said that and of course the optician. Anyways, I called them on Jan 3rd to see what happened and then they told me - 8 weeks after I applied! The lady on the phone said I needed a new one - asked to speak to management - there was none, asked to leave my details and a manager call me - couldn't do that and asked when they were available - didn't know. I was that mad that I called back 30 mins later and was speaking to someone else who said it was fine even though it was out of date. Got a letter on the 10th of Jan saying I needed a new report! I'm apparently a priority case and it should take 2 weeks, even longer than 8 days than Leo Varadkar said.

I sent Leo Varadkar a letter this morning outlining that and all my other problems (too many to list) with the whole NDLS. I also want 35 euro compensation for the second eye test and I'm considering going to the Small Claims Court if I don't get it refunded as it clearly wasn't my fault. Rant over!

Good on you I fully support you going to small claims court not enough people do this they just say ah it's not worth it and they cower down to these bullies

renofan · 22-01-2014 10:54am

The postman came before I left for work this morning and in the post was my new driving licence. Applied the 16th Dec so take away christmas hols and it wasn't too long a wait but too long at the same time.

Must say it is a lot better than that embarrassment of a paper licence.

ian_m · 22-01-2014 10:07pm

Got a call today asking if I submitted my driving licence with my application. Looks like they have lost that now aswell.

Fred Swanson · 22-01-2014 10:14pm

This post has been deleted.

ian_m · 22-01-2014 11:12pm

Gota love the gifs. If I had a licence right now I would make a gif out of it.

hegarty147 · 23-01-2014 8:29pm

Applied December 22nd still waiting so four weeks at this stage. Getting worried now as I am living in Canada and applied when I was home at xmas. I need the license to go on a roadtrip ...its just a joke

d1234 · 23-01-2014 9:59pm

Mine finally arrived today (80 days) - call them absolutely every day until you get it. Only way the system works.

boomshakalaka · 23-01-2014 10:21pm

I'm waiting since November 22nd and did an exchange. Ringing,and emailing doesn't help and as far,as the agents,know there's nothing else I can do to speed things up..sigh

Aestivalis · 23-01-2014 10:51pm

Got a call today while working, said I couldnt talk and they gave me a number to ring back. Something about quality and standards? The lad sounded really unsure.

Should I be worried when I ring them tomorrow?

d1234 · 24-01-2014 1:24am

boomshakalaka wrote: »

I'm waiting since November 22nd and did an exchange. Ringing,and emailing doesn't help and as far,as the agents,know there's nothing else I can do to speed things up..sigh

Ask what's their name towards the end followed by 'what is the complaints procedure here?' - sent a shiver up the last lady's spine who I was talking to!

Aestivalis · 24-01-2014 1:09pm

Just gave them a call. No waiting queue to get through to somebody believe it or not. Althought the automated info rants on for at least 3 minutes in english and Irish before you can even select what you want to do :rolleyes:

turns out there was 2 discrepencies with my application.
Both issues should have been discussed in the actual NDLS centre itself, but they obviously hadnt a clue what they were doing.

Both sorted thankfully.

Fred Swanson · 24-01-2014 9:08pm

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

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