N.C.T Center, Staff lack of Communication skill's.

Tail Wagger

I have visited our local N.C.T Center to day, and I returned very disgruntled.
Oh not on the result of the car, that passed. I feel very bad about the guy whom I dealt with in the office.

On the form you are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment time, I did and I was left waiting for about 10 minutes. guy arrived to the hatch
Next!
I walked over and handed in my papers, wished him a good day!
No reply! as he walked away,
He came back, [Keys!] I handed him the keys,[€50] and not another word.
What time will I come back at?, I requested.
reply [half hour]
the total conversation was, Next! €50! half hour!
So there you are where do these guys get their communication skills ?
How do they get these jobs?
Are they really that bored?

I thing maybe a little chit chat about the day and the weather wouldn't go astray, or is it to much to ask? Or does it bother your when you find this treatment in your N.C.T Center?

Yakult

No job motivation probably

Zubeneschamali

Tail Wagger wrote: »

Or does it bother your when you find this treatment in your N.C.T Center?

It suits me fine. The less oxygen I have to expend on dealing with these guys the better.

MagicMarker

I hate it when people try and make small talk, just leave me the fúck alone and let me do my job!

Cookie_Monster

it's not their job to make pointless small talk with annoying customers you know

mickdw

Some of them are ok although uninterested. Seems like you got a right ass though.

Bearcat

as we are all aware the nct stations now are mainly staffed by our eastern european fellow europeans. From my muliple visits thereon an on- going basis, they (a) don't possess the abilityto converse beyond two words and (b) their job is not to discuss the changes of weather etc so in reality their job function is to check and have the use of four words in english being "keys,50 euro, pass and fail". I don't even Thank them any more as they have never shown me an ounce of courtesy. Sorry I'm so negative but I'm telling it as it is.

TheColl

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

it's not their job to make pointless small talk with annoying customers you know

Of course it's not their job, but it's courteous and not exactly difficult to do.

daveharnett

The joys of dealing with a monopoly I suppose.

That said, it's not all bad - I found both guys I dealt with during my last NCT in Limerick (test and retest) to be perfectly pleasant.

After the first (failed) test, the engineer (Sean afair) was happy to briefly discuss the points of failure, and a couple of minor problems he noticed which were outside of the test parameters.

ART6

TheColl wrote: »

Of course it's not their job, but it's courteous and not exactly difficult to do.

Pure ignorance is never excusable. If they are immigrants, then learn our customs and try a little civility. Personally I don't need a discussion on the weather or whether Ireland will win the Six Nations (whatever that is), but a "Hi. How can I help", and "Fine, let's have the docs and a fifty note and we're in business" said with a smile might help.

peasant

ART6 wrote: »

"Fine, let's have the docs and a fifty note and we're in business" said with a smile might help.

"Have a nice day!"


I'd smack him, tbh

Chat will cost extra

enviro

Hello, thank you and goodbye is the norm when dealing with paying customers. Poor management is what it comes down to.

P.C.

Tail Wagger wrote: »

I have visited our local N.C.T Center to day, and I returned very disgruntled.
Oh not on the result of the car, that passed. I feel very bad about the guy whom I dealt with in the office.

On the form you are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment time, I did and I was left waiting for about 10 minutes. guy arrived to the hatch
Next!
I walked over and handed in my papers, wished him a good day!
No reply! as he walked away,
He came back, [Keys!] I handed him the keys,[€50] and not another word.
What time will I come back at?, I requested.
reply [half hour]
the total conversation was, Next! €50! half hour!
So there you are where do these guys get their communication skills ?
How do they get these jobs?
Are they really that bored?

I thing maybe a little chit chat about the day and the weather wouldn't go astray, or is it to much to ask? Or does it bother your when you find this treatment in your N.C.T Center?

OP - what you have described here is a simple lack of any customer service.

There are far too many people who say or think - I don't work in a shop, there is no customer service in my job.
WRONG

Customer service is all about being polite, saying hallo with a smile, treating the 'customer' with respect.

When I take my car to the N.C.T. Centre, I am the customer - treat me as such.

People want the person behind the till at their local shop to smile and be polite when they go and buy bread and milk - after all, I am spending my hard earned cash there - but when they are at work, it is a different story. :mad:

mail4liam

It can be hard to deal with the public in general, but it doesn't cost anything to be polite & pleasant. People who work with the public should be trained whether it be the N.C.T office or a book shop,and while dealing with people you need to be tolerant and experienced.

I worked in shops from time to time over the years and to say hi and a bit of chat with a customer goes a long way. customers can be fun to deal with, but you can come across some difficult ones, but it's all in the training and a days work.!

In the last year or so I had a car for NCT at Blarney in Cok, NCT centre in Limerick and one in Galway. All cars required a retest and I found the staff courteous, knowledgable and very helpful.

DannyBuoy

OP, its like every other retail outlet, there are good staff and poor staff. I've brought a lot of cars for tests and I've come across 1 or 2 that I'd be embarrased to have working for me, but most are fine.
I agree with others here though, good manners cost nothing.

fonecrusher1

Bad manners really. Not saying the guy should try to engage in an in-depth conversation about the meaning of life but simple communication pleasantries such as hello, please, all the best don't take too much effort.

Its one thing to avoid meaningless small talk & another thing to just be an ignorant pr!ck.

mondeo

The last time I went to the Nct centre was in january 19th @ fonthill and I was amused by two of the testers in particular spending more time looking up at the customers peering down at them then testing the actual cars. Typical body language of a paranoid person was written all over them....Facial expressions on them was amusing lol. I'm not sure if thats ignorance though but perhaps incompetent behaviour in front of the public.

Yawns

Last two times I was in my local NCT and the same Irish guy twice. not even a next, just stares out the window at whoever happens to be there. Only words ya get is fifty & keys.

God help ya if you have a fail.
She's failed. Come back before 12.30.
But the sign says your open til later.
I won't here, it'll have to be on monday then.
So someone else can't check it?
suppose so.
Ok. * checks lists - a seat belt buckle wasn't out fully to be buckled in. it was halfway down the back of the seat. Go out, get buckle out the last few cm. back into him before he even gets back into the office to get him to walk out again, quick look, ok that's a pass.

delly

I had my NCT today and happened to be browsing boards at the time and saw this thread. The guy who dealt with me didn't make any chit chat, but was perfectly fine asking for keys and payment etc. There was two other guys waiting on there cars and when there testers came out they spent a few minutes explaining why they failed and what would have to be done to sort it which I thought was sound enough. All three were non nationals, but I didn't feel this hampered the communications process at all.

Oh, and my little Punto was the only one that passed, w00t!

kravmaga

Tail Wagger wrote: »

I have visited our local N.C.T Center to day, and I returned very disgruntled.
Oh not on the result of the car, that passed. I feel very bad about the guy whom I dealt with in the office.

On the form you are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment time, I did and I was left waiting for about 10 minutes. guy arrived to the hatch
Next!
I walked over and handed in my papers, wished him a good day!
No reply! as he walked away,
He came back, [Keys!] I handed him the keys,[€50] and not another word.
What time will I come back at?, I requested.
reply [half hour]
the total conversation was, Next! €50! half hour!
So there you are where do these guys get their communication skills ?
How do they get these jobs?
Are they really that bored?

I thing maybe a little chit chat about the day and the weather wouldn't go astray, or is it to much to ask? Or does it bother your when you find this treatment in your N.C.T Center?

May I ask if the guy was Irish or a johnny foreigner??

I find the foreign guys dont want or like small talk and thats fair enough, he is just doing his job. irish guy might keep you too long talking about weather, sh1te talk, etc

What do you want a conversation or get the business done and dusted.

Maybe he is under strict supervision from Superiors to get the cars through on time.

I believe there is a 7 week waiting list in Dublin alone.......plus I would imagine morale may not be great as the salary is low and the hours are long.

You gotta put yourself in his position.......

daveharnett

blueeyedboy wrote: »

What do you want a conversation or get the business done and dusted.

Maybe he is under strict supervision from Superiors to get the cars through on time.

I believe there is a 7 week waiting list in Dublin alone.......plus I would imagine morale may not be great as the salary is low and the hours are long.

You gotta put yourself in his position.......

Come on, people can be efficient and polite all at the same time. Not liking your job is no excuse for acting like a dick either.

Tail Wagger

blueeyedboy wrote: »

May I ask if the guy was Irish or a johnny foreigner??

A---I'm embarrassed to say he's Irish!

I find the foreign guys dont want or like small talk and thats fair enough, he is just doing his job. irish guy might keep you too long talking about weather, sh1te talk, etc
A---Most foreign guys are nice people and are very helpful, if it was a foreign National I'd understand there might be a language barrier.

What do you want a conversation or get the business done and dusted.

A-- just for him to be polite and civil would be nice.

Maybe he is under strict supervision from Superiors to get the cars through on time.

A-- Absolutely no pressure he was letting everyone know he was the man, if you looked at him you'd be afraid he fail your car.

I believe there is a 7 week waiting list in Dublin alone.......plus I would imagine morale may not be great as the salary is low and the hours are long.

A-- there is a waiting list for several weeks, but thats nothing got to do with his treatment or non treatment of customers.

You gotta put yourself in his position.......

A-- I work for myself and I certainly wouldn't treat a customer like he does...

Stinicker

You should have firstly declared, You speakey the English? I swear I find myself having to say this more now than even when I am in Europe! :mad:

Yawns

why are you not in Europe now?

Stinicker

Yawns wrote: »

why are you not in Europe now?

Not on the Continent no!

Yawns

Still a part of Europe tho

Yawns

Sorry wasn't getting personal, I just couldn't resist

I used to do it in the bar if we were real busy and some guy got a slightly larger head, if he complained I would quickly explain it was a european pint.

and usually you'd hear a "But we're not in europe" cue the laughter from ppl around him while looking away from him

if he looked like he knew he said something stupid I would knock the head off his pint and give him a proper one, if he didn't well he'd be told to examine the advertisements them pints have big heads lol.

section4

when my car went through there was a minor problem but the guy could not good enough english to explain to me exactly what the problem was, apart from the fact that he was as friendly as a hungry polar bear

Mc Love

Just been to NCT today and they were fine! Mine passed though

alexmcred

you forgot the :cool: icon McLove or maybe that should be a :eek: considering its a French car and we all know its a miracle it passed :rolleyes:

Mc Love

Crap - never thought of the cool smily. Yer man said its in great working condition

alexmcred

Happy days so should make it a bit easier to sell on

Mc Love

I hope so Alex! Its slow going at the moment

alexmcred

Have you put it on done deal? Have heard great reports first hand of how good it is.

Mc Love

Yep - I have. Maybe my price is too high?

voxpop

Got mine (523i) done yesterday at Deansgrange and they were fine. German guy tested the car, which failed on a worn bush - the german guy then goes on to blame irish roads for my worn bushes and how roads through fields in Germany are in better condition than most of our primary routes

Stinicker

voxpop wrote: »

Got mine (523i) done yesterday at Deansgrange and they were fine. German guy tested the car, which failed on a worn bush - the german guy then goes on to blame irish roads for my worn bushes and how roads through fields in Germany are in better condition than most of our primary routes

Well I wouldn't go as far as the fields but your average german local/regional road is on a par with our main N Primary roads. Its our secondary and regional roads that are terrible.

intbn

voxpop wrote: »

Got mine (523i) done yesterday at Deansgrange and they were fine. German guy tested the car, which failed on a worn bush - the german guy then goes on to blame irish roads for my worn bushes and how roads through fields in Germany are in better condition than most of our primary routes

A worn brush? I don't even know where brushes on a car are, is there a list of what they check on your car on the nct website? can't seem to find one, i'll post it up if i do

intbn

Got one:
http://www.nolanscars.ie/nct_checklist.htm

I don't see anything about brushes, but then again, i'm certainly no mechanic!:p

end a eknny

Stinicker wrote: »

Well I wouldn't go as far as the fields but your average german local/regional road is on a par with our main N Primary roads. Its our secondary and regional roads that are terrible.

autobahn is now showing its age and road works and roads in need of repair means no joy driving there

end a eknny

the nct staff are muppets, no consistency they are failing cars to generate overtime. you are their customers and are entitled to some curtesy but the fact that you dont have a choice means they can get away with showing you nothing but contempt

Please and thank you are not "small talk"

Big Nasty

section4 wrote: »

the guy could not good enough english to explain

His problem or yours?

I've been to Deansgrange centre twice last month and found the testers nothing but excellent and helpful. However there's a blonde (non numbers matching) ex-bloc woman who takes the dollars would put the fear of God in ya! :eek:

'You Must Have Document!!!'

dharn

intbn wrote: »

A worn brush? I don't even know where brushes on a car are, is there a list of what they check on your car on the nct website? can't seem to find one, i'll post it up if i do

you should have gone to specsavers ...:(he said worn bush

!MAVERICK!

OP Rephrase the title to a lack of social skills. He/she obviously did not want to make conversation with you.

In my humble opinion anyone you deal with that is working as a civil servant is not quite the 'Charmer' when you are dealing with them.

The rudest of them are in the motor tax office so you haven't seen the worst yet.

coylemj

Tail Wagger wrote: »

I thing maybe a little chit chat about the day and the weather wouldn't go astray, or is it to much to ask? Or does it bother your when you find this treatment in your N.C.T Center?

Visiting an NCT centre is something like getting your car unclamped, it is a process which leaves you with less money but no tangible benefit so why would you want to discuss the weather or engage in any smalltalk?

I went to the Deansgrange centre in March, I was about 10 minutes late. I arrived at the counter at 2:10 p.m., the guy asked me what time my appointment was for, I said 2 p.m. - expecting to get a bollicking for being late but he just asked me for my ID and credit card, then told me to go outside and wait for someone to collect my car to be driven into the test centre.

Was I disappointed that he didn't discus the weather? No.

Was I glad that he didn't tell me that I was late? Yes.

yellowcrayon

Just stumbled across this thread and i know its been a while since anyone posted. But my dad works in the NCT centre and i think whats been said here is crazy.

There is a day shift 7 - 4 (i think) and a night shift (4 - 10) so when the NCT inspector says he wont be there to retest your car later, he actually wont, and you may have to wait until the next workin week if its just before the weekend.

I know all the guys that work there as i pop in and have been present whilst they are dealing with customers.
Yes, a lot of them dont talk to you about the weather or your plans for the weekend plainly because they are not interested and have work to do. Im sure if they were just a receptionist and thats all, then you would get endless conversations. But because they have car after car to test, thats all they're worried about; getting you in and out quickly so that you dont complain about waiting too long.

The inspectors are given a set amount of time they are allowed to spend on each vehicle, so if they start chattin to you, its eating into the testing time,, and after all, you want your car to be tested properly, dont you?
They do say please and thanks, even the foreign nationals; which are just as nice as the Irish guys.

And as for calling them muppets, as one poster has refered to them as, they are far from it. You have to remember that the people that are testing your cars are fully qualified mechanics with a minimum of 10 years experience and with countless training provided by Aplus and they also have to pass exams. And they are not failing cars to generate overtime, they have a waiting list so they always have plenty of work. And with cars being tested every 2 years, and now every year for cars over 10 years old they have a constant cycle of work as the same cars will be comin back, more or less. So you, end a eknny, are an absolute fool to say that and obviously one of those idiots they come across that they have to try and deal with everyday.

Which brings me to my next point.. Im sure, once upon a time, the lads in the NCT centre chatted to the customers, but jusy gave up. There's not a day that goes by that I dont hear at least 2 or 3 stories from my dad tellin me of the sh1t he's had to put up with.; people swearing at him, threatening him, coughin in his face.. all sorts... how do you expect them to want to talk to people when this is the reception they get. I think people need to start seeing the other side of the coin.

johnos1984

yellowcrayon wrote: »

people swearing at him, threatening him, coughin in his face.. all sorts... how do you expect them to want to talk to people when this is the reception they get.

I'm a teacher and in previous jobs that's been what I've gotten from some day in day out.

You put up with it, keep a straight face and most of all BE PROFESSIONAL............the same as every other job.......and I can guarantee you one thing, it happens far more often in other professions........try be a car salesperson for instance

aujopimur

I dealt with a polite and efficient Irish guy in Blarney NCT centre yesterday, please, thank sir etc..
I find in general that most Irish people do not know how to serve people, a lot has to do with their upbringing with regard to manners politeness and basic interaction with people and customers in gereral.
One has only to compare the pleasent attitude of our continental workers here to realise how rude and unpleasent some of own people are when dealing with customers.