Should I get a new test date?

gark

So I cancelled my driving test and I was surprised to receive an email from RSA saying that this was my 3rd cancellation and the fee is forfeited.

When I asked RSA about it they sent me a list of my cancellations:

"

1. Appointment date 05th November 2010 – This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 28thSeptember 2010.

2. Appointment date 20th December 2010 – This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 07thDecember 2010.

3. Appointment date 11th March 2011 - This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 28thFebruary 2011. As this was your third cancellation we requested medical evidence to be forwarded in order to schedule you for another driving test free of charge.

Appointment date 11th May 2011 – This appointment was cancelled by the Road Safety Authority.
4. Appointment date 14th June 2011 – This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 04th June 2011.

"

So as you can see this was actually my 4th cancellation, but two of them shouldn't count, because

No1 - This date was in the unavailability interval I specified on the form when booking

No3 - I cancelled this for medical reasons and I had sent in the certificate



So if you don't count No1 and No3 I only had 2 cancellations, however I am unable to convince RSA about it and we have been emailing a lot about it.

So do you think RSA is right here or should I be able to get a new test date?

Below is the emails we exchanged, sorry it might be a bit long:

Hi Peter,

Please see a list of the cancellation history on your driving test application received on the 24th August 2010:

1. Appointment date 05th November 2010 – This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 28th September 2010.

2. Appointment date 20th December 2010 – This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 07th December 2010.

3. Appointment date 11th March 2011 - This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 28th February 2011. As this was your third cancellation we requested medical evidence to be forwarded in order to schedule you for another driving test free of charge.

Appointment date 11th May 2011 – This appointment was cancelled by the Road Safety Authority.
4. Appointment date 14th June 2011 – This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 04th June 2011.


As you have previously cancelled appointments issued on foot of this application, on two or more occasions, your fee is now forfeited. If you want to take another driving test, you must submit a further application accompanied by the appropriate fee. You can apply for your driving test online by visiting our website at www.rsa.ie.


Thank you for your email.

Regards,

Customer Service Unit,
Driver Testing Section.

---

Hi there,

When I cancelled for the very first time in the below list, I sent an email saying:

"I would like to cancel the test with the reference number above. It is in the unavailability interval I specified previously."

It was because when I booked online, there was an option to specify unavailability dates, and so I did and still received an appointment that was in that interval.

As I don't have a copy of that form, can you please check the exact dates I specified there? If I put in the wrong date, that would be of course my fault.
So can you send me on what I put into that form?
Thank you.

Regards,

---

Péter,

Thank you for your email.

On your application you requested not to be scheduled for an appointment from 22.10.2010 – 06.12.2011. We did schedule an appointment for you between that inteval – namely 05.11.2011. However, the other dates that were scheduled for you were outside your period of unavailabity. As you still had 3 cancellations, you fee is still forfeit and you must re-apply again.

I apologise that this news could not be better.

Regards,

Customer Service Unit,
Driver Testing Section.

---

Hi there,

I'm only arguing, that my first cancellation (05th Nov. 2010) should not count, as the given date was in the unavailability interval.

If you ignore that date, I only had 2 cancellation
( 20th De 2010 and 14th June 2011).
, so I should be able to get a new date.

Regards,

---

Hi Peter,

As I have previously numbered your cancellations on your driving test application, you have cancelled 4 appointments. Without counting the cancellation of your appointment scheduled for 05th November 2011 you have 3 cancellations. When you cancel 3 appointments you forfeit your driving test fee.

Thank you for your email.

Regards,

Customer Service Unit,
Driver Testing Section.

---

Hi there,

Yes without counting the 05Nov one, I have 3 cancellations, but the one on 11th March shouldn't count either, as I had sent in the requested medical evidence. So there is 2 out of 4 cancellations that shouldn't count, so doesn't that mean that I had made 2 cancellations only?

Thank you,

---

Péter,

Thank you for your email.

Eventhough, you forwarded medical evidence to support you cancellation, it was still your 3rd cancellation. Therfore, you must re-apply again.

Regards,

Customer Service Unit,
Driver Testing Section.

Alanstrainor

I think you're fighting a losing battle tbh. Cancelling due to a medical reason is still cancelling, I don't see why it wouldn't count towards your number of cancellations.

gark

Ok, but if cancelling for medical reasons is still cancelling, then why did they ask for a medical certificate?
Look at this part of their response:
"3. Appointment date 11th March 2011 - This appointment was cancelled by you as per email received 28th February 2011. As this was your third cancellation we requested medical evidence to be forwarded in order to schedule you for another driving test free of charge."

So they are basically saying that even though it was my 3rd cancellation(they count the initial one here as well), they will give me a new date if I send in the med. cert.

Mountjoy Mugger

I'd reckon they took the view "enough is enough". Four cancellations is a bit of a pi$$ take to be fair; even if you claim it's only two, technically.

Buffman

It might be best to ring them OP as your situation is a bit complicated.

Cancelling your test

The most important thing is that you let us know as soon as possible.
Someone else may well be able to take your time slot.
You will not lose your fee if you:

• have not previously cancelled more than two appointments and you give at least 10 days notice.

You will lose your fee if you:

• give less than 10 days notice
  OR
• have already cancelled two test appointments