Free NCT if wait is greater than 4 weeks

packas

Hi All,

Took my NCT test today. Read the customer charter on the wall & it states that if you have to wait more than 4 weeks for your test it's free. Did anyone avail of this??

regards,
Pat.

mickdw

This was covered here before. I think they (NCT people) felt they were within their rights to withdraw from that guarantee due to the unusual circumstances involved. Its worth a challenge though imo

Guy:Incognito

It's if they cant give you a date for your test within 4 weeks then its free. ie, if you ring tomorrow and they cant give you a date some time in the future then its free (if they dont supply you with the date within 4 weeks) the test doesnt have to to be within 4 weeks, it can be anytime.

Thats it iirc.

Run_to_da_hills

In other words its like trying to get compensation from Ryanair for a delayed flight.

Seth Brundle

They will give you a date within 4 weeks (in fact they will probably give it to you when you call) - the test date will be months away though! The difference is in the reading!

packas

Hi All,

:DI have been promised a refund from NCT :D:D:D

Got a reply from NCT. This is what they said:-
Thank you for your recent enquiry. As you accepted the appointment
that was offered to you and did not request a sooner date, unfortunately I
cannot accede to your request of a refund of the test fee

My reply was:-
When I made the booking I had no choice but accept the date of
26/6/09 as I was informed that that was the earliest a test was
available. I did express my concern at the delay as my NCT has
expired since January 2009. It was only on 26/6/09 that I
discovered NCTS had a customer charter of refunds if a test date
wait was longer than 4 weeks. Please note I have also contacted the National Consumer Agency regarding this.


& finally their reply was (minutes after the reply above)
Further to your recent enquiry. As the agent you spoke with is
currently out of the office and I cannot investigate the matter
any further. I would like to offer you a refund of the test fee as
a gesture of good will. A cheque for €50.00 will be issued from our accounts department shortly.

mickdw

Really?
I think you are having us on!

packas

Not messing.

Will hold off celebrating until the cheque arrives. If it doesn't at least I've got my complaint now grinding through the National Consumer Agency.

Hear me roar. NCTS will feel my wrath lol

mickdw

Well I see a flood of free tests coming and NCTS going bust

packas

I can see them quickly ammending their customer charter !!!

L-M

LOL, a 1000 gallon tank of worms just opened there.

Is there any solid proof you can give us?

Santa Claus

Limerick man wrote: »

LOL, a 1000 gallon tank of worms just opened there.

Is there any solid proof you can give us?

A camera phone photo of the customer charter is all we need. I've been on to the Road Safety Authority as their vehicle standards department monitor NCTS on behalf of department of transport and the lady there said that "promising to not wait 4 weeks before giving you a test date" is a ludricious interpretation of their charter and that she'll query it with them.


Well done OP for reading the small print !!!

Guy:Incognito

Limerick man wrote: »

LOL, a 1000 gallon tank of worms just opened there.

Is there any solid proof you can give us?

TBH it sounds like "give him €50 to make him go away" rather than a policy decision.

Victor

That you waited 6 months to do the test should have voided this.

http://www.ncts.ie/customer_charter.html

STANDARDS OF SERVICE
We aim to:

...

4. Ensure that the average lead-time for an appointment at an individual Test Centre is less than 3 weeks with a free test if this is greater than four weeks.

...

Seth Brundle

Victor wrote: »

STANDARDS OF SERVICE
We aim to:

...

4. Ensure that the average lead-time for an appointment at an individual Test Centre is less than 3 weeks with a free test if this is greater than four weeks.

...

Victor - an aim is not a commitment!

Santa Claus

kbannon wrote: »

Victor - an aim is not a commitment!

They aim to "Ensure that the average lead-time for an appointment at an individual Test Centre is less than 3 weeks"

but you can't aim "with a free test if this is greater than four weeks."

Therefore they've hung themselves as it clearly states if you wait more than 4 weeks it's free !

Seth Brundle

Thats certainly one way of reading that (that was my initial reading). However, I bet thats not they way they are reading it!

quenching

I've had this discussion with the NCT people in the past, even they agree its NOT that they give you a date for your test within 4 weeks, its that the scheduled time for your test is within 4 weeks - car is actually tested within 4 weeks.

They WILL give you your money back is they can't abide by it, their "customer charter" is part of their agreement with the Dept of Transport to run the service.

packas

Santa Claus wrote: »

A camera phone photo of the customer charter is all we need. I've been on to the Road Safety Authority as their vehicle standards department monitor NCTS on behalf of department of transport and the lady there said that "promising to not wait 4 weeks before giving you a test date" is a ludricious interpretation of their charter and that she'll query it with them.


Well done OP for reading the small print !!!

See attached picture I took last Friday

Santa Claus

Spoke to a team leader in the NCT customer services section who admitted that they should be refunding people but "they are choosing not to honour it" at present because of the long delays.

I'm gonna get onto department of Transport to see if this forms part of their contract for the NCT tender than they have to issue refunds if tests are delayed by more than 4 weeks.

The OP must have caught them slightly on the hop but now they have an official line that they won't honour their charter and are sticking to that !

packas

Santa Claus wrote: »

Spoke to a team leader in the NCT customer services section who admitted that they should be refunding people but "they are choosing not to honour it" at present because of the long delays.

I'm gonna get onto department of Transport to see if this forms part of their contract for the NCT tender than they have to issue refunds if tests are delayed by more than 4 weeks.

The OP must have caught them slightly on the hop but now they have an official line that they won't honour their charter and are sticking to that !

Wonder will my refund arrive?? I'll keep you posted

packas

packas wrote: »

Not messing.

Will hold off celebrating until the cheque arrives. If it doesn't at least I've got my complaint now grinding through the National Consumer Agency.

Hear me roar. NCTS will feel my wrath lol

Hi all,

Cheque for 50 Euro arrived on Tuesday from NCT. Seems like they stuck to their customer charter this time. Did anyone else try to get a free test based on this?

Pat.

Our man in Havana

Santa Claus wrote: »

Spoke to a team leader in the NCT customer services section who admitted that they should be refunding people but "they are choosing not to honour it" at present because of the long delays.

I'm gonna get onto department of Transport to see if this forms part of their contract for the NCT tender than they have to issue refunds if tests are delayed by more than 4 weeks.

The OP must have caught them slightly on the hop but now they have an official line that they won't honour their charter and are sticking to that !

A FOI request to the Department of Transport will reveal the truth. I doubt they will tell you without making a FOI request.

mandz

I got a free NCT off them a couple of years ago. I queried their charter one day when I phoned and I was told because I had accepted a later date (they cancelled my original date and my nct then expired) I was not entitled to a free test. The girl in question told me she could send me out a complaints form which she did. I then wrote back an essay querying the situation and I got a letter back with a cheque inside!! My mum had something similar happen but when she went in to the test centre the customer charter was no where to be seen allegedly!!

I was convinced I'd be blacklisted though if I had to NCT that particular car again but my next NCT was on a different car

VolvoMan

I have my Volvo booked in for the 1st of November and it was the earliest I could get it believe it or not.

Our man in Havana

VolvoMan wrote: »

I have my Volvo booked in for the 1st of November and it was the earliest I could get it believe it or not.

I got a test for the 20th of July when I rang them 2 months ago. I thought that was bad.

Yakult

looks like a possible free nct for me, woot.

maidhc

kbannon wrote: »

Thats certainly one way of reading that (that was my initial reading). However, I bet thats not they way they are reading it!

Maybe, but they wrote the thing, and if there is any ambiguity it must be interpreted against them. Simple rule of law all first year contract law students learn!

R.O.R

VolvoMan wrote: »

I have my Volvo booked in for the 1st of November and it was the earliest I could get it believe it or not.

Booked mine on Wednesday 8th July for the first available Saturday in Drogheda (work a long way from home so Saturday is the only day I can fit it in). Car is now booked in for...........

10.25am, Saturday 28th NOVEMBER :eek:

Print out in wallet just in case I get stopped.

At the bottom of the mail from NCTS is
"p.s. If it is more convenient for you, you can book your test at www.ncts.ie"
which made me smile. For the Drogheda test centre I think there were 3 (mid week) appointments available in the next 13 weeks, and that's as far as the on-line system goes.

Santa Claus

Sorry for dragging this thread up but I eventually got a FREE NCT for my Dad.
Booked it for him back in April and asked for earliest appointment which was last saturday so took it.

When I initially complained they said I should have asked for an urgent appointment as booking staff have access to a list of un-confirmed appointments they can give which are usually 2 to 3 weeks away and that because of that they couldn't waive the fee for the test.

Anyway I argued the case with them and went as far as speaking to the press officer in SGS (company that run NCTs) with no joy.

I sent a "contact us" email from their website outlining the situation for the helll of it after speaking to press officer and a girl got back to me about 2 days later (won't post her name here) and said that I should have asked for sooner appointment so I rang her (her sig in email had her direct line) and told her that I asked for "soonest they has as fathers NCT was expiring in 2 days when he realised it" and that I'd been told by their press office about this other list but if the staff don't bother mentioning it to you then how are we supposed to know to request it.

She said she'd come back to me following week and I expected an email saying sorry no luck but instead week later the father got a letter saying NCT would be free so he brought this up with booking form to NCT centre and it was on their computer that the test was FREE (he was expecting to have to explain letter to receptionist as she looked for 50 quid off him) !

Didn't want to post this before I got it incase they cancelled it but looks like if you argue long enough and don't lose the rag you might actually get a FREE test...of course a bit of charm helps too

kleefarr

NCT tomorrow. Couple of questions..

1) I have an exterior spare wheel which has a cover on it. Do I need to remove the cover before going for the NCT?

2) How long does the NCT usually take? Can you wait while it's done?

3) Should I chance my arm and mention the free test? Phoned March, Due 4/4/10. Put on priority list. Got letter dated 30th April. Test 6th August.

Sorry about all the questions.

whyulittle

kleefarr wrote: »

3) Should I chance my arm and mention the free test? Phoned March, Due 4/4/10. Put on priority list. Got letter dated 30th April. Test 6th August.

No arm chancing needed. It says on their own documentation that it's free if over 4 weeks. It came on a leaflet with my confirmation letter.

thalia_13

My situation was same as yours rang feb got letter april for test last week! Went in handed in letter drivers licence etc and the girl on counter tells me there is no charge for my test! Kinda disappointed as was all prepared to pull them up on the waiting more than 4 wks!
But obviously they all getting accustomed to people querying the wait as it came up on the system as no charge.

leeroybrown

Mine was the same as thalia_13. They automatically gave me a free test. Originally I had rung, was told that there were no open slots but that they'd send me a letter with a date. Got the letter a week later for an test three months away.

kleefarr

Thanks all.
Have highlighted the section regarding the free test on the included pamphlet.

Also saw that they aim to do the test in 30 minutes. So should be able to hang around then.

Anyone know about the spare wheel cover?

kleefarr

thalia_13 wrote: »

But obviously they all getting accustomed to people querying the wait as it came up on the system as no charge.

I just checked the info on nct.ie and it does not say FREE. Just says Periodic Inspection.

thalia_13

Well it was a friend who works in nct who told me about the no charge if waiting four weeks ... They told me to insist on getting it free if the centre went to charge me. Perhaps its a discretionary situation depending on the centre and staff. Who knows but I didn't have pay and was in and out of there in 28 mins! Shame she failed the test haha!

kleefarr

thalia_13 wrote: »

Shame she failed the test haha!

Oh. So they got you on a retest then?

thalia_13

Yeah but only for 28 thank god. Failed on something I expected!

Sorry cant be of any help regarding the wheel cover. Fingers crossed you get it free and pass

kleefarr

thalia_13 wrote: »

Yeah but only for 28 thank god. Failed on something I expected!

Sorry cant be of any help regarding the wheel cover. Fingers crossed you get it free and pass

Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes.
There are a couple of possible failure points. Small things, but fingers crossed. :rolleyes:

kleefarr

:eek:

It passed!!

Had to pay though. Told the woman about the 28 day ruling and she said I'd have to write to Customer Services as she has to charge what is on the screen.

mgbgt1978

You should raise the "4 week issue" when booking the test. If you don't, the Nct will say that you accepted the test date given to you and are therefore not entitled to a refund.
When you phone to book the test and are told there is nothing available for XX weeks (or months) you then offer to give them a couple of days to text you back with a test date that is within 4 weeks or you will be availing of the entitlement to a free test.
They will make a note of your request and usually come back to you with a test date that falls within the 4 week period.
Remember that this 4 week lead time is part of their contract with the government and not some customer service nonsense that they can conveniently ignore whenever they feel like it.
Applus+ ( the crowd who carry out the NCT test) are a major international company and are being well paid to ensure that there isn't a backlog.

Yarnhall

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

You should raise the "4 week issue" when booking the test. If you don't, the Nct will say that you accepted the test date given to you and are therefore not entitled to a refund.
When you phone to book the test and are told there is nothing available for XX weeks (or months) you then offer to give them a couple of days to text you back with a test date that is within 4 weeks or you will be availing of the entitlement to a free test.
They will make a note of your request and usually come back to you with a test date that falls within the 4 week period.
Remember that this 4 week lead time is part of their contract with the government and not some customer service nonsense that they can conveniently ignore whenever they feel like it.
Applus+ ( the crowd who carry out the NCT test) are a major international company and are being well paid to ensure that there isn't a backlog.

Took me about 5 weeks to get the letter with the NCT date, got it for free, no arguing, I'de actually forgotten about the 4 week for letter thing (seen it on here before), it was the guy behind the counter that told me it was free, fair play to him.
When I rang up, I asked to book a test, was told there were none available in the next 6 weeks (Athlone place) and that I'de get a letter in the post with a date some time in the future.

CarMuppet

Just to add another tale of getting the euro50 back:

Simple version:

01 April 2010 - made booking for a car.
18 May 2010 - Test date. Asked for free test on day, was refused.
01 July 2010 - Sent letter to NCT head office complaining.
09 Aug 2010 - Rec'd letter stating cheque for euro50 would be in post.

End of.

kleefarr

CarMuppet wrote: »

Just to add another tale of getting the euro50 back:

Simple version:

01 April 2010 - made booking for a car.
18 May 2010 - Test date. Asked for free test on day, was refused.
01 July 2010 - Sent letter to NCT head office complaining.
09 Aug 2010 - Rec'd letter stating cheque for euro50 would be in post.

End of.

May as well it then I suppose.

DanWall

I am trying to plan ahead because the Skibberine test centre is an hours drive away and I need a Friday, so I am trying to book 6 weeks ahead of my due date online but the site will not give me a time of booking for any day that I bring up, I phoned the booking office and they said they would let me know. According to the NTC site, a booking can be made 3 months in advance, there's something funny going on here.
I would be more worried about a fine (I beleive up to €2000) if I am out of date

JP Liz V1

If test date given is after 4 weeks when you apply is test still free?

quenching

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

If test date given is after 4 weeks when you apply is test still free?

If you accept a date then its not free. You have to decline it and insist on a date within 4 weeks, they'll usually call you back in a day or two with a suitable time. BTW, you don't have to accept a silly time either, my local NCT centre runs 24hrs.