Booking NCT test online?

dixiedan

My current NCT cert expires in September , so I was trying to schedule the test for early September on the online site. The problem is , no matter what date I pick , the option for picking a time will not show up. I would be having it done in the Drogheda centre.

I even tried a date in August , just to see if that would work, but no joy.

Has anybody else had this problem , either for the Drogheda centre or any centr for that matter?

Do the NCT people send out a reminder, if you don't book online?

mgbgt1978

They send out the very odd reminder.
Don't bother with the online system, ring them up and request a test within 4 weeks.
They are obliged to test your car within 4 weeks of you ringing them or the test is free.
Not a marketing ploy, simply part of their contract with our glorious government.
You can even offer them the opportunity to text you back with a test date in a couple of days.
Make sure you use the word 'request' when you ring them.
If you are on a 'free minutes' contract with your phone provider call the 01 number instead of the 1890 number, or you will be charged for the call.
Numbers on http://www.ncts.ie/contact.html
...or number on 'saynoto1890.com' along with loads more alternatives for other companies.

ps. don't be fobbed off with the 'story' that the 4 weeks is only the time in which they have to give you the date (i.e. the actual test date could be twenty years away but they have given it to you within 4 weeks). This is an excuse sometimes used by some NCT Staff and is BS.

bazz26

Keep checking online frequently too, cancellations always come up and they seem to appear on the system early in the morning but you have to be quick.

Oregano_State

The date will be marked in green if there are appointments available.

No surprise that August is fully booked, it's probably booked well into September at this stage.

If you look in the morning between 9 and 11 usually dates within 1-2 weeks should become available, but they get snapped up quickly so you need to be on the ball. Keep refreshing the booking page and you'll see them appear.

mgbgt1978

bazz26 wrote: »

Keep checking online frequently too, cancellations always come up and they seem to appear on the system early in the morning but you have to be quick.

Or a person could just phone them and let them do the work they're paid for Bazz .
They haven't given out too many free tests yet

dixiedan

Thanks for all the advice. I tried one more time online and voila! Someone must have cancelled and I managed to grab a very suitable slot. Thanks again.

pippip

I booked mine the other day in deansgrange, Dublin and they only have a 7 day wait. I was very surprised. Everyday after that had multiple times available.

Mousewar

Feckin 'ell, just noticed my nct expires next week. Nothing in deansgrange until Oct!! What do I do? Don't you get fined for this now?

SCOOP 64

Mousewar wrote: »

Feckin 'ell, just noticed my nct expires next week. Nothing in deansgrange until Oct!! What do I do? Don't you get fined for this now?

no.not if you booked at next available date, my ran out last week, earliest was 16th sep so booked that, just print off the date you got and keep it in your car.