Nearest NCT date online is 24th Sept - will I get away with that??

Masala

Hi

My NCT runs out end of May.

Went on-line and the next available is 24th Sept so I took it.

However... will I get away with this if stopped???

copeyhagen

as long as you have the email printed i have never had a problem with a future date.

L1011

Seeing as the website tells you to call them if the first date is that far out, probably not.

You will get one within a week if you call. If its delayed that long they need to do it for free, which clearly they don't like doing; but you need to have given them the opportunity to get you a closer date.

_Kaiser_

Just give them a call and ask for a cancellation and you'll probably get sorted in a week or two

(EDIT: Damn.. beaten to it! )

Cheensbo

Hard to tell, depends on the situation, discretion of the Guard in question, and the state of repair of your car.

Best to phone up tbh, dates are far shorter when you do.






On another note, I think we need an nct sticky..

And a tax one...

Masala

Do u need the NCT Cert for a Tax Disc renewal?? Cost tax is also out end of May (talk about bad timing all round.....!)

Cheensbo

Masala wrote: »

Do u need the NCT Cert for a Tax Disc renewal?? Cost tax is also out end of May (talk about bad timing all round.....!)

Nope..

That section on the form is for d.o.e. on commercials really

djimi

copeyhagen wrote: »

as long as you have the email printed i have never had a problem with a future date.

Theres a future date as in a few weeks, and then theres future date as in four months, which might be a different matter entirely. Whatever about a few weeks, I wouldnt risk it for that long.

OP there is no way you will be waiting that long if you actually ring them rather than using the frankly ridiculous online system.

eirator

MYOB wrote: »

Seeing as the website tells you to call them if the first date is that far out, probably not.

You will get one within a week if you call. If its delayed that long they need to do it for free, which clearly they don't like doing; but you need to have given them the opportunity to get you a closer date.

Depends on area, I'm waiting 12 days for a call back for a cancellation date and not a word yet, will leave it till Friday and get on to them again, when I called they promised me a date within 4 weeks - Waterford.

ShadowHearth

Booked last week and the best I could get is 3rd of August And that's booking in advance almost a month. ( not much, I know, but still )

Generally you can't drive car with no nct, but most yards are okay with that as long as you got it booked. Its like illegal, but most garda are people too a d understand it.

Thing that annoys me though, they did the whole yearly nct bull****, but it looks like you will need soon to book nct every 6 months at this stage due to queue...

bazz26

A lot of people don't seem to realize that you can book your NCT up to 6 months in advance of it's due date if it's the car's first NCT or up to 3 months in advance for any subsequent NCTs which in conjunction with a cancellation should give you some leeway before your current test expires.

snaps

the online booking has become a farse now. Is it a premium number to call them too? Are they still testing for free if there is no date within 28 days?

Captain Chaos

snaps wrote: »

the online booking has become a farse now. Is it a premium number to call them too? Are they still testing for free if there is no date within 28 days?

Called yesterday and the best they could do was 8 weeks away. That's just crazy and they laughed when I said it should be free then and they said no otherwise hundreds of people would be getting free NCTs.

corktina

it's only for free if you don't accept the offered date....once you've accepted it, they have no obligation to do it for free (I think that's the case, never done it myself)

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

djimi

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Called yesterday and the best they could do was 8 weeks away. That's just crazy and they laughed when I said it should be free then and they said no otherwise hundreds of people would be getting free NCTs.

Ring them back and tell them to read their own charter.

ironclaw

bazz26 wrote: »

A lot of people don't seem to realize that you can book your NCT up to 6 months in advance of it's due date if it's the car's first NCT or up to 3 months in advance for any subsequent NCTs which in conjunction with a cancellation should give you some leeway before your current test expires.

Why? I'd rather make them wait as long as possible for my money. No Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked.

The bigger issue here is apparently the average wait is 12 days. Which is utter nonsense:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/motorists-in-galway-and-donegal-face-longest-waits-for-nct-appointments-595361.html

snaps

djimi wrote: »

Ring them back and tell them to read their own charter.

is it time the government stepped in to do something about it?

mb1725

Sounds like the HSE are running the NCT!

snaps

ironclaw wrote: »

Why? I'd rather make them wait as long as possible for my money. No Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked.

The bigger issue here is apparently the average wait is 12 days. Which is utter nonsense:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/motorists-in-galway-and-donegal-face-longest-waits-for-nct-appointments-595361.html

where do they get that from? Westport is double that, there's 3 months for nearest appointment, we got one in 25 days as a cancellation

Cheensbo

ironclaw wrote: »

Why? I'd rather make them wait as long as possible for my money. No Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked.

While I'm totally on your side re the nct, the offence is for not having a valid test so you can be done, (that being said, you'd really want to pee off the Garda dealing with you in order to be).......

:

RSA wrote:

The offences are the following:

Using a vehicle (car) without a test certificate
Driving a vehicle before remedying a dangerous defect
Driving a dangerously defective vehicle
Using a vehicle without a certificate of roadworthiness

L1011

snaps wrote: »

is it time the government stepped in to do something about it?

The charter is legally enforced, the 28-day-or-free is part of their contract with the RSA.

djimi

Cheensbo wrote: »

While I'm totally on your side re the nct, the offence is for not having a valid test so you can be done, (that being said, you'd really want to pee off the Garda dealing with you in order to be).......

:

1 and 4 are the same thing, and not having an NCT does not necessarily mean that 2 and 3 are valid!

I agree though; saying that no Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked is just plain wrong. While there is a fair chance that the wont make an issue of it if you can show them the booking, there is no guarantee that they wont.

Cheensbo

djimi wrote: »

1 and 4 are the same thing, and not having an NCT does not necessarily mean that 2 and 3 are valid!

I agree though; saying that no Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked is just plain wrong. While there is a fair chance that the wont make an issue of it if you can show them the booking, there is no guarantee that they wont.

Well a crw is a DOE, after it has been presented to the tax office, (you hand in a doe - get back a crw) but essentially the same thing, this was brought in due to the ability to drive for 9 months while taxed, but with an expired d.o.e./crw

Correct re: 2 & 3, but it puts it into clear terms that a vehicle can be classified as dangerously defective with or without nct, and with or without nct inspection.. if you get me.

carzony

If they seized the car you can simply get it back by proving you have a test booked so it's a bit of a waste taking you car off you if you have a test booked already. I'v been driving the last few weeks with no nct and tax is just out, Been through a few checkpoints and the guards don't seem to care about the nct, All I get is 'get that ol tax sorted there'

Traffic stopped me and all I did was show them the text and they said it was grand I'm not saying they won't make an issue but i'm just saying from my experience they tend not to make a fuss of it

heartofwhite

djimi wrote: »

1 and 4 are the same thing, and not having an NCT does not necessarily mean that 2 and 3 are valid!

I agree though; saying that no Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked is just plain wrong. While there is a fair chance that the wont make an issue of it if you can show them the booking, there is no guarantee that they wont.

I was stopped two weeks ago in Terenure for not wearing a seatbelt and my NCT was out by one week. I had the test booked and I had the proof in the glove box. Well, I am not joking you, the guard went through me for not having a valid NCT. Along the lines of - you should not be on the road without a valid NCT cert and I can take this car from you right now if I feel the need to do so. I told him that I had it booked and he did not care and told me that if he saw me again and I did not have a valid cert, he would seize the car.

So, according to the law, no valid NCT displayed then you should not be driving the car on the road, end of.

Cheensbo

Cheensbo wrote: »

While I'm totally on your side re the nct, the offence is for not having a valid test so you can be done, (that being said, you'd really want to pee off the Garda dealing with you in order to be).......

:

See the bolded bits above & below

heartofwhite wrote: »

I was stopped two weeks ago in Terenure for not wearing a seatbelt and my NCT was out by one week. I had the test booked and I had the proof in the glove box. Well, I am not joking you, the guard went through me for not having a valid NCT. Along the lines of - you should not be on the road without a valid NCT cert and I can take this car from you right now if I feel the need to do so. I told him that I had it booked and he did not care and told me that if he saw me again and I did not have a valid cert, he would seize the car.

So, according to the law, no valid NCT displayed then you should not be driving the car on the road, end of.

Yes, if its put in black and white terms, but laws must be worded clearly and precisely in order to be written into legislature, that being said, discretion & common sense is pretty standard... unless, of course.. you pee them off..

brownej

I saw this thread and as my NCT is up in July I said I'd check the website to book a test.
In my local testing centre there is availability only during 1 week at the end of August. The calendar goes all the way out to the end of December but there are only appointments available in that one week in August.

Is this some sort of joke?

ironclaw

heartofwhite wrote: »

So, according to the law, no valid NCT displayed then you should not be driving the car on the road, end of.

Granted its law, no denying that, but somewhat unenforceable.

Any judge would throw that out as long as you had it booked at the time of the seizure. You made a reasonable effort to have your NCT booked (And your can prove thus) and it was not your failing that you could not have a valid cert to display. No Garda would want to stand in front of a judge as a result. I find most Garda adopt the hard man act when they want to make a point. Its a well known complex of those in positions of power.

mgbgt1978

This has been done to death here.
They must test your car within 28 days of you contacting them (by phone).
If not then the test is free.
This is part of Applus+'s contract with our beloved government.
If the call-centre person gets smart, abusive, mocks you, or generally tells you that this is not the case ask to speak to their supervisor.....this request will probably be denied.
As the recorded voice tells you before you speak to a human "calls may be recorded for quality & training purposes". You can take this as permission to record the call yourself (as they fail to mention who "may" record the call).
Any hassle with them just let them know that you are recording this call..

Explain that you will be decent enough to give them 24 hours to text you back with a date.....or you will not be paying for the test.

@NCT Tester (poster on here), none of this is aimed at you. you have been more than helpful on this forum, this relates to the booking procedure only.

bazz26

ironclaw wrote: »

Why? I'd rather make them wait as long as possible for my money. No Garda can make an issue of it if you have it booked.

The bigger issue here is apparently the average wait is 12 days. Which is utter nonsense:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/motorists-in-galway-and-donegal-face-longest-waits-for-nct-appointments-595361.html

Because I just like being well organized by nature. :pac:

I know there are long waiting times for appointments so see no point in scrambling just before the due date for an appointment when I can book it 3 or 6 months before hand even if that appointment is over a month away. As for letting them wait for their money, well whether they get from you today or next month they still get it from you. It's a bit like getting angry at the rain, it's still going to rain.

Supergurrier

I had a date for the 20th of July from booking on the 10th of may, was bricking itas NCT out since 2nd january

Rang them for the craic monday morning around 10 past 9, got 9.35 morning appointment the following day in a centre 45 minutes away from me, happy days.

Online booking is total crap ring them between 9-9.30 am and be willing to travel abit

Stinicker

My father had his car for the NCT in Killarney yesterday, it an absolute farce he was talking to a woman who brought her car down from Cork City as it was the nearest date she could get. The new system of testing cars over 10 years of age every year will either have to be abandoned or they will have to open new centres and expand the testing network.

snaps

Stinicker wrote: »

My father had his car for the NCT in Killarney yesterday, it an absolute farce he was talking to a woman who brought her car down from Cork City as it was the nearest date she could get. The new system of testing cars over 10 years of age every year will either have to be abandoned or they will have to open new centres and expand the testing network.

It does seem to be after the 10 year rule this has happened.

ofcork

heartofwhite wrote: »

I was stopped two weeks ago in Terenure for not wearing a seatbelt and my NCT was out by one week. I had the test booked and I had the proof in the glove box. Well, I am not joking you, the guard went through me for not having a valid NCT. Along the lines of - you should not be on the road without a valid NCT cert and I can take this car from you right now if I feel the need to do so. I told him that I had it booked and he did not care and told me that if he saw me again and I did not have a valid cert, he would seize the car.

So, according to the law, no valid NCT displayed then you should not be driving the car on the road, end of.

Id say because of no seatbelt he went to town on you.

HappieChappie

Any friends in dealerships/ trade they seem to get first call on cancelations. may leave the car up to the NCT and if a slot becomes availible its taken. Might help

mgbgt1978

Supergurrier wrote: »

Online booking is total crap ring them between 9-9.30 am and be willing to travel abit

The point is that you shouldn't have to travel;

From their Customer Charter....

1. Ensure that the average lead time for an appointment at an individual test centre is less than three weeks and no greater than four weeks. The customer will be provided with a test free of charge where an appointment cannot be offered within a four week period provided that:

• The Customer has not declined a test appointment (either confirmed or provisional) more than twice, at a centre of their choosing, for the test due at this time
• The Customer has not previously accepted a booking outside of the 4 week period.

edit; also note that the 1890 number provided by the NCT is not included as part of your inclusive minutes on mobiles or landlines. You will be charged for it. Phone 01 4135994 instead to get through to the same dept.

snaps

Supergurrier wrote: »

Online booking is total crap ring them between 9-9.30 am and be willing to travel abit

Agree on the first point, but if you live 10kms from your nearest center why should you have to travel 50 or more km's to another center? Madness.

Have any of the authorities noticed the problems with waiting times, that article in the examiner is total rubbish, if the average waiting time was that, then there would be no problems. But with free slots 2 or 3 months out, surely it shows something is failing somewhere?

mgbgt1978

The problem is that Applus+ are not obliged to test every car within the 28 days (although anything beyond that should be free).
Let's say they turn over €40 million per year and around €6 million of that is profit.
Thay are not going to spend money renting, fitting out ,and staffing any new centres, simply because they are not contracted to do this.
If they have to give out the odd free test (and nobody has ever said here that they got one....a date always appeared within 28 days) then they are not spending money , they are protecting their profits.
This just shows that the contract drawn up by our people in power was flawed and didn't take into account any future changes in demand for an NCT test.

carzony

:P:P

CiniO

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

The point is that you shouldn't have to travel;

From their Customer Charter....

1. Ensure that the average lead time for an appointment at an individual test centre is less than three weeks and no greater than four weeks. The customer will be provided with a test free of charge where an appointment cannot be offered within a four week period provided that:

• The Customer has not declined a test appointment (either confirmed or provisional) more than twice, at a centre of their choosing, for the test due at this time
• The Customer has not previously accepted a booking outside of the 4 week period.

edit; also note that the 1890 number provided by the NCT is not included as part of your inclusive minutes on mobiles or landlines. You will be charged for it. Phone 01 4135994 instead to get through to the same dept.

It took me a good while to find this number when I was trying to rind NCT from abroad.

mgbgt1978

www.saynoto1890.com

Handy site for loads of Irish Companies that think they are doing you a favour by using a LoCall no.;)

Also it's often useful to look up a companies website and see what number they give for "calling from abroad". It will be a landline, not an 1800 or 1890 no.

galwaytt

eirator wrote: »

Depends on area, I'm waiting 12 days for a call back for a cancellation date and not a word yet, will leave it till Friday and get on to them again, when I called they promised me a date within 4 weeks - Waterford.

Correct. I'm waiting a week today for a call for a "priority" date. It seems they have a list going. Earliest date I have is late August.

gurramok

Stinicker wrote: »

The new system of testing cars over 10 years of age every year will either have to be abandoned or they will have to open new centres and expand the testing network.

Exactly. The peak years of car registrations were incidentally before 2003 as well as '06 and '07 which have to have the NCT done as well now.

eirator

Called about a test within "4 weeks or free" last Friday week and called back today as I'd heard nothing, told they have 10 working days from my first call to find me a date and I'll hear on Monday, Hmmmmm will report back Monday.

My case is a bit awkward as I don't have a mobile number that works from home (no coverage) so can't risk using a mobile number for contact so they are emailing me.

eirator

So just got an email with a booking date. For anyone interested here's the process I went through with the time scale.

NCT runs out 12th June
Checked about 3 months in advance and best date was after 12th June
Forgot about it for a bit (cut me some slack this is Ireland after all )
Woke up to needing an NCT and called up on the 16th May and specifically asked for a date within 4 weeks or free.
Told I'd be put on the priority list.
Mentioned mobile was no good for a cancellation as can't guarantee coverage at home. Agreed on email, told I'd get an email on or by next Friday (24th May) with a test date or if not by the Friday after (31st May).
Checked back today (31st May) and told as I'm on the priority list I'll get an email by Monday.
Email arrived a couple of hours later of date for 12th of June
- Only testing centre I specified was Waterford.