RSA nightmare

Simon Jester

I sent in a driving test application 6 1/2 weeks ago, with an employee note requesting a quick test date and specifically noting that I would be willing to take a test at a days notice. About 5 days after I post it, I call them to check its in the system and theyve got the letter. Apparently everything is ok and I should have a test within 3 weeks.

2 weeks ago I call them to ask why I have not been offered a test and they say I will have one within two weeks.

I call them again on friday and they tell me that I will have a test within a few days if I am willing to take a test at 24 hours notice, completely oblivious to the fact I had put the same on my application form, almost word for word.

What really annoys is that they think my prospective employer has infinite patience and that they can sit on their hands and do sweet FA and I will walk out of it with a job

Alanstrainor

Warning given.
OP you are not the only applicant wanting a test asap. The RSA testers are being put under tremendous pressure due to cut backs these days. It has only been 6 1/2 weeks! employers letters make little to no difference these days.

timmywex

Not me but a firend was to have a test today, arrived at the place it said, no one there, rang rsa but they said it was too late to do the test now, has another one coming up next week now though

Not sure of the exact circumstances but they basically told him one location and it most of changed but they never told him! Thats fairly bad tbh!

Simon Jester

Someone is paid to do a job, in this case enter applications into the computer system and you expect them to do it, competently, especially when the application is urgent.

You dont expect to have to call them 7 weeks later and get them to do the job that they should have done 7 weeks ago, when you called them to ensure that the application was in order.

To AlanStrainor: I apologise for the language, but the fees you pay to take a test should be more than enough to cover the RSA's costs so the cutbacks argument is nt applicable

brian076

Simon Jester wrote: »

the fees you pay to take a test should be more than enough to cover the RSA's costs so the cutbacks argument is nt applicable

It's obviously your first dealing with the RSA if you're surprised at their inefficiency. In fairness though the cost of a test at €38 comes nowhere near covering the full cost of sitting a test, which is nearer to €120.

mikemac

It's a real pity there isn't an online calender and you can log on and select a time slot.
And maybe a backup slot too.

Now it might not speed up the waiting times but it'd be user friendly if they got the right system.
We have IT workers working for the state, go on lads, give it a go!

OP, just about everybody writes in with a letter requesting a speedy test date. Heard the story about if you stand up in a theatre you get a great view but if everybody does you get no advantage? Same thing

Simon Jester wrote: »

Someone is paid to do a job, in this case enter applications into the computer system and you expect them to do it, competently, especially when the application is urgent.

You paid the same fee as everyone else, your test date is no more urgent then anybody elses.

Simon Jester

It's a real pity there isn't an online calender and you can log on and select a time slot.
And maybe a backup slot too.

Now it might not speed up the waiting times but it'd be user friendly if they got the right system.
We have IT workers working for the state, go on lads, give it a go!

OP, just about everybody writes in with a letter requesting a speedy test date. Heard the story about if you stand up in a theatre you get a great view but if everybody does you get no advantage? Same thing

Which is exactly what SGS had.

What has happened here is that the govt have reduced the waiting list for a few months to make the new provisional license policies politically tenable and now that the legislation has been passed have fired the most productive testers (SGS) and are letting the waiting list go back up to 6 months or a year.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Jester View Post
Someone is paid to do a job, in this case enter applications into the computer system and you expect them to do it, competently, especially when the application is urgent.
You paid the same fee as everyone else, your test date is no more urgent then anybody elses.

From the RSA website:
Q. Can I look for an early test for employment purposes?

A. An early test can be arranged in such cases; you must however provide written confirmation from your employer (prospective employer) that you are being offered employment, which requires a full driving licence. The confirmation should be on the employers headed paper and must include the employers RSI number. In such cases the candidate may get short notice of a test appointment.

mikemac

I didn't know SGS had an online calender, very interesting and it's definitly the way forward for the RSA.

Getting offtopic though

NOTSURE

rsa are installing new system at the moment which will allow online booking,this system also means you must use your drivers licence number which stays with you for life,this stops double booking with a two week delay between tests so same tester doesnt get you on same day.they are having loads of hiccups getting it up and running but should be very soon.

Alanstrainor

Simon Jester wrote: »

From the RSA website:
Q. Can I look for an early test for employment purposes?

A. An early test can be arranged in such cases; you must however provide written confirmation from your employer (prospective employer) that you are being offered employment, which requires a full driving licence. The confirmation should be on the employers headed paper and must include the employers RSI number. In such cases the candidate may get short notice of a test appointment.

There are no guarantees.
That was more applicable when waiting times were 6+ months, from experience on this forum letters from employers tend not to help all that much (if at all) in 90% of cases these days.

Simon Jester

It frustrates me that they are cancelling SGS contracts and cutting test numbers while paying lip service to "10 weeks". In the past month the waiting time in my local center has more than doubled from 8 to 17, its shambolic.

That was more applicable when waiting times were 6+ months

They almost are in some centers, 17 weeks is after all 4 1/4 months

ztoical

I'm amazed you got anyone at the RSA to answer the phone. There are plenty of people on here who will recount real nightmares of trying to get anyone at the RSA to pick up the phone, sending emails, leaving answering machine messages that they never get replies to and the whole thing dragging on for 8+ months. Prob doesn't feel like improvement to those waiting for the test but it's at least one step in the right direction.

OP I understand your frustrated but the fact is pretty much everyone sends a letter from their job in with their application, the RSA doesn't check how authentic those letters are so people just get some headed paper from work and write their own.

Wishbone Ash

Simon Jester wrote: »

I sent in a driving test application 6 1/2 weeks ago

Simon Jester wrote: »

the waiting time in my local center has more than doubled from 8 to 17.......... 17 weeks is after all 4 1/4 months

It was 18 months when I did it and that was the norm then. An employer's letter may have reduced it to 12 months!

Simon Jester wrote: »

the fees you pay to take a test should be more than enough to cover the RSA's costs

The fee for a category B test is ridiculously low at €38, hence the number of 'no shows'. I can't see how it could cover costs and I think it should be raised immediately to €100.

ztoical

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The fee for a category B test is ridiculously low at €38

isn't it around double the cost in the UK?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Simon Jester

I would quite happily pay that much for a test, if I wasnt going to have to wait 6 months to sit it. I dont think anyone would dispute that, people will happily pay for a decent service.

However at the moment, given the level of service provided 38 euro is too much

As for getting the RSA to answer the phone, I have sometimes been on hold so long the tape has run out and been cut off.

ironclaw

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

At least they give you a choice... :rolleyes:

sunnyside

Simon/OP what makes you certain you are going to pass as soon as you get an appointment? Doing a test and passing are 2 completely different things unfortunately.

Simon Jester

If I finally get a test and I fail I will shut up and go to the back of the queue but, I am fairly confident I will pass. I took a 2 hour mock driving test with a driving instructor, I got 1 red and 5 blues and a smatter of greens.

I got the red for attempting to drive the wrong way up a one way street (missing sign, eroded road markings) but as that is the only one way street in the town where I have applied for the test I am unlikely to make the same mistake.

Dexter2008

simon - with all due respecvt to your confidence about passing the test; i'd like to bring a few things to your notice. i recently had my test in the churchtown center. I got all the oral questions correct; the technical checks correct; all the secondary control checks correct; and drove pretty well - got the reverse round the corner, hill start and 3 point turn spot on. I also indicated whenever necessary, and drove pretty well overall.
i landed up with - 0 reds, 11 blues and 4/5 greens

Know what?- i got four straight blues for reaction to hazards, and another few for speed at cross junctions (most of which had reasonably quiet traffic - and i drove at normal speeds)

the whole point is - even if you drive near perfectly, it all comes down to what kind of mood the tester is in.

Simon Jester wrote: »

If I finally get a test and I fail I will shut up and go to the back of the queue but, I am fairly confident I will pass. I took a 2 hour mock driving test with a driving instructor, I got 1 red and 5 blues and a smatter of greens.

I got the red for attempting to drive the wrong way up a one way street (missing sign, eroded road markings) but as that is the only one way street in the town where I have applied for the test I am unlikely to make the same mistake.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Simon Jester

Driving lesson and then a mock test, should have been clearer. He graded my driving through the whole 2 hrs though.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Wishbone Ash

Dexter2008 wrote: »

and drove pretty well overall....

.......i got four straight blues for reaction to hazards, and another few for speed at cross junctions.....

....it all comes down to what kind of mood the tester is in.

If you were speeding and not reacting appropriately to hazards, you can hardly claim to have driven 'pretty well overall' and has nothing to do with the mood of the tester.

Many learners seem to place undue importance on more minor aspects of the test such as the reversing manoeuvre, hillstart and turnabout yet the majority of those who fail, do so because of their reaction to hazards.

NukaCola

Dexter2008 wrote: »

the whole point is - even if you drive near perfectly, it all comes down to what kind of mood the tester is in.

I dont think so, if you drive near perfect you wouldnt get 11 blues, a tester is looking to see if you can drive, has a qualification and probably done quite a number of test whereas you are a learner driver, i think he is in a better position to judge your driving.

Mmmm_Lemony

BumbleBee123 wrote: »

I dont think so, if you drive near perfect you wouldnt get 11 blues, a tester is looking to see if you can drive, has a qualification and probably done quite a number of test whereas you are a learner driver, i think he is in a better position to judge your driving.

If you drive near perfect I don't imagine you'll get any blues