NDLS waiting times - Limerick

davo2001

So, didn't really know where to put this so I'll leave it here (mods move if necessary)

How long are you guys waiting for your NDLS driving license?

Went to the Limerick branch at the beginning of November, was told initially it would be 5-10 working days.
Currently I'm waiting 6 weeks (for a provisional) :-/

The NDLS "helpline" is a joke, cannot give an estimation or even let me know if its been processed. Same on their email support, told them I have been waiting 6 weeks and they responded that it may take 3-5 weeks........ no figure!

Now i realize there is a backlog but it is getting beyond a joke at this stage!

sconhome

I was in there this morning and a big poster states clearly '8 days'. When the girl told me 4-6 weeks I was stunned. The whole operation ran smoothly, in, forms filled, checked, up to counter, picture, pay, done.

As I was leaving an elderly man was querying why after 6 weeks he's still waiting and now can't get his car NCT'd as he doesn't have his licence (didn't know this was important for NCT)

But anyway, seems a bit long to be dealing with ongoing renewals.

bazz26

AKW wrote: »

I was in there this morning and a big poster states clearly '8 days'. When the girl told me 4-6 weeks I was stunned. The whole operation ran smoothly, in, forms filled, checked, up to counter, picture, pay, done.

As I was leaving an elderly man was querying why after 6 weeks he's still waiting and now can't get his car NCT'd as he doesn't have his licence (didn't know this was important for NCT)

But anyway, seems a bit long to be dealing with ongoing renewals.

He can, he can either produce his passport at the centre or get someone else with a driver's license/passport bring the car to the NCT centre for him.

lollsangel

I applied almost 5 weeks ago in tralee. I have a photocopy of my insurance as we changed companies and they wanted to see my renewdd license before releasing my proper disc. Its gone beyond a joke now, no proper organisation, I just know its being processed, they dont know even a ballpark of when I could get it. The rsa dont seem to care either

davo2001

Well slap me sideways, after exactly 6 weeks of waiting i finally got it today, FYI: the date of the license is only from the 10th Dec even though i applied at the beginning of November.

Maybe someone from the NDLS was reading boards.ie :-P

steveon

My gf is waiting over 8weeks for hers and as a result she had to postphone her driving test till January a complete joke, should be quicker than the old procedure that took no longer than 3 to 4 days.

mrsoundie

Why are the licences, which happen to be a credit card type not created on site, as is normal for most other "developed" countries. I have an ID for work (Government) and it was done on the spot. Does anyone know why this is?

steveon

mrsoundie wrote: »

Why are the licences, which happen to be a credit card type not created on site, as is normal for most other "developed" countries. I have an ID for work (Government) and it was done on the spot. Does anyone know why this is?

Exactly they are introducing something that exsists already and still make an arse of it.

mrsoundie

steveon wrote: »

Exactly they are introducing something that exsists already and still make an arse of it.

Exactly another off shot of Government, with the mentality built in from the start. What about all the people previously employed in the Councils doing this already?

thesimpsons

ffs, I got credit card style one on the spot over 20 years ago in Oz. its hardly new technology

steveon

thesimpsons wrote: »

ffs, I got credit card style one on the spot over 20 years ago in Oz. its hardly new technology

Thats exactly my point they are bringing in technology thats already in place and it still takes them weeks to do any Even from day 1 people had to wait.

lollsangel

steveon wrote: »

Thats exactly my point they are bringing in technology thats already in place and it still takes them weeks to do any Even from day 1 people had to wait.

Ha funniest thing is the gnib card given out in the garda stations here are instantaneous too..

Vinz Mesrine

I applied in Ennis on November 14th. I was told I would have it in 5-8 working days. I'm still waiting, I rang them the other day to query it and I was told it was still in the processing stage and they didn't know when it would be sent out, complete joke.

donegal_man

Not sure if this is true but I've heard that part of the problem is there are two separate companies involved. One running the NDLS, handling verification etc while the actual production is handled by a company based in England.
All I do know for sure is my sister has been waiting since mid November and has been told it will probably be next year before she receives it.

thesimpsons

theres massive amount of places that can produce these type cards on demand - colleges, secondary schools, etc. show your proof of ID, show your proof of passing the test, etc and BINGO.

whats laughable too is that the receipt you get from NDLS to show you have applied for your licence doesn't give your name or any details about you. could be anyone driving around.

bennyl10

lollsangel wrote: »

Ha funniest thing is the gnib card given out in the garda stations here are instantaneous too..

Mean the age card?
Thetes a ten day wait on these. far from instantaneous

lollsangel

bennyl10 wrote: »

Mean the age card?
Thetes a ten day wait on these. far from instantaneous

Gnib cards are cards given to non eu nationals to show they are registered in the country. They pay 300 euro for the privilege. I was in with my partner in november, and we left the garda station with h7s card. They have their details and from what I gather fingerprints on them. If they have the technology in place there, why not in the ndls centres

McSween

Applied 5 weeks ago today. What an absolutely shocking service.

Is it delivered by the post office or a courier?

Vinz Mesrine

Received mine today, at last.

McSween

Got it on Monday. 6 weeks exactly.

lollsangel

Got mine 24th, 6 weeks 1 day

Limerick west

I applied with my wife on the same day and she had her after one week. three weeks later I called to check mine and they told me there is a backlog and it will take another two weeks. After 5 weeks I called again and the answer was the same. Next day I saked for the supervisor and they put me on hold for ages until they gave me the worst news ever that my paper is missing a document and I need to send it. WHAT? Yes, the staff during the processing forget to include this missing document and the bad think is that no one contact me to tell me about this. In the same day i received email from them about the missing paper and without even considering to include any appology. I had the card two weeks later. Guys I though Saudi was very bureaucratic before coming to Ireland. But now I believe Ireland is far more relaxed.

jbkenn

Typical clusterf#@k, they will tell you it's rocket science, but as usual it is just incompotence.
Have a look here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVIY6bROl48

ajmahersp

I applied for an exchange license, full UK, on 4th November and am still waiting!!
I deliberately went into the NDLS office to check what was required for
the application and returned with all the information, which they double-checked
and confirmed all was in order.
The service, if it can be called such, is disgraceful.
How dare they.

gruffler91

This is my 7th week since applying and still waiting.... Absolutely pitiful service.

jelliebellie

my partner is currently into week 9 waiting for his. its a joke :mad::mad:

fi314

Just rang, 9 weeks waiting and all I got was that its still in process!!

pk10216

9th week too. Rang NDLS today was told a specialist team was looking into it and it is being processed, asked to speak to a supervisor was told none available. Not happy

handofdog

I've just rang to query the status of my 2nd November application.

Two previous phone calls (early and mid December) gave a status of "processing".

Now, they say that I need proof of my change of address. This is horsesh1t based on

1. There is no documentation which specifies that it is a requirement to provide proof of change of address

2. At the time of application the NDLS person requested my proof of address. I told her that there was no written requirement for this but that luckily I had proof of address with me and she accepted this.

Here's another gripe - the NDLS phone message states a delay of "3-5" weeks. Given that the initial estimate is 2 weeks (in fact it's 8 working days according to NDLS material) then that would mean (to me anyway) a maximum processing time of 7 weeks - i.e. I should have been processed (and received any requests for further info) by 20 Dec. At this stage (9 Jan) I have not been processed and I have received nothing. This is almost 9 weeks (allowing 1 week off for Christmas)

I wonder will the civil servants who are working for the NDLS receive a positive performance review?

donegal_man

handofdog wrote: »

................................ I wonder will the civil servants who are working for the NDLS receive a positive performance review?

As far as I know the NDLS is run by a private company who won it in a competitive tender.

handofdog

For the benefit of others:

If your address has changed at the time of renewal then apparently this is classed as a license upgrade. This means that you will have to provide proof of your new address.

See http://www.ndls.ie/en/Driving-Licence/adding-a-category-to-your-licence.html

I was caught out by this - I thought that I was "renewing" my license and it never occurred to me that a change of address would merit an upgrade.

I expect that this may affect many people - I suspect that quite a few people will change their address during the 10 year period of a standard license. Be warned and take along some proof of address documentation.

I have now been informed that it will take a further 4-5 weeks for my initial application on November 2nd.

fi314

The Road Safety Authority was tasked by the Government to manage the processing and production of driving licences in Ireland.

Get in touch and express your dissatisfaction

info@nra.ie

thesimpsons

6 weeks in total - not bad I suppose considering the christmas break but still a pitiful delay

ian87

I applied for mine in early December. Got a letter yesterday saying I had not provided proof of address and please send a bill etc on. Surely to goodness if I hadn't provided proof of address, then the person working in the office who took my application would have pointed this out and rejected my app?! Either somebody can't read or the copy of my proof of address got lost along the way somewhere.
This kind of crap makes me embarassed to work in the public service.

naughtysmurf

Leo Varadkar said this morning on the radio that if you apply today it will only take 8 days, great that's all sorted now :rolleyes:

fi314

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Leo Varadkar said this morning on the radio that if you apply today it will only take 8 days, great that's all sorted now :rolleyes:

He must have got my email giving out haaaa

Tigerdogg

My application was filed on Nov. 4. Before Christmas I called them and they told me that it is already shipped and got the license tomorrow or the next day. For the new year, nothing came. I called in early January and they said that they lost my learner permit. I had to fill out form  again, stamp it on garda station and send it to them at my own expense. Registered letter € 5 I still do not have a card ....


It's not even a joke now .....

cee_jay

I applied for my licence on 24th December in Limerick. I had lost my previous one, which had just expired. My new klicence was posted to me on 3rd January.
I thought the queuing system in the office was a shambles, they lift some middle aged bing skip the queue when she kicked up a fuss. At that stage I had been waiting over 40 mins.

sconhome

Mine arrived today 6 weeks to the dot including Christmas.

donegal_man

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Leo Varadkar said this morning on the radio that if you apply today it will only take 8 days, great that's all sorted now :rolleyes:

Took nephew in to Letterkenny to apply today, so we'll see how long it takes before he gets his. Don't know what the offices around the rest of the country are like but the one we were in is a joke, not nearly enough space for the number of people using it.

rorireland

To put it mildly I am screwed due to the hold up!

Renewed my L permit at the beginning of January(Dublin) and was told 6 weeks!
I recently had an interview for a job in Dubai and got it but need to drive over there. They wont give it to me without the license.

so.....6 weeks and I cant even get lessons, then a 8 week wait for the actual test(Tallaght), then a further god knows how many for the actual full license to arrive at the door !!!

Safe to say they're not going to wait around.

Disgraceful.

Poxyshamrock

I'm a fully qualified driver since 2011 and I don't think I'd be capable of driving in Dubai!

I've seen the Sheikh Zayed Road first hand! YIKES! Good luck!

MarkR

Anyone queued in Limerick recently? Was wondering about how long you have to queue up in the office. Are Saturday's busier than week days?

phill106

Yes, wifes brother was there for hours yesterday and still didnt get license. They stopped processing at 445 and told people to come back another day.
Sounds like crap service.

DonnaB14

AKW wrote: »

I was in there this morning and a big poster states clearly '8 days'. When the girl told me 4-6 weeks I was stunned. The whole operation ran smoothly, in, forms filled, checked, up to counter, picture, pay, done.

As I was leaving an elderly man was querying why after 6 weeks he's still waiting and now can't get his car NCT'd as he doesn't have his licence (didn't know this was important for NCT)

But anyway, seems a bit long to be dealing with ongoing renewals.

If they've got a poster up stating that it will be processed within '8 days' and you allow an extra couple of days leeway (for post and such) and still have not received the licence within, say, 14 days or more, isn't this some sort of false advertising or a violation under consumer law? Threaten them with legal action, that might light a fire under 'em.

I'll be applying for my full licence next week (just passed test this week) and if there's any seriously lengthy delay, I'll be considering legal action and a strongly worded letter to both the RSA and Leo Varadkar.

When renewing my L permit last year, I did so through the Motor Tax office, and received new credit card format licence within 10 days. They appear to have completely ballsed up the whole process. While I agree that there were sometimes a bit of a wait while actually IN the motor tax office, issuing of licences was usually quite quick.