Free NCT clause?

gooner99

A friend mentioned to me that if the NCT can't provide you with a test in your local center within one month then you are entitled to it for free.I had a look on their website and didn't come across anything, but if it's true I'm sure they wouldn't be broadcasting it with the long delays there can be at times. Is there any truth in this and if so how does it work?

colm_mcm

I think its if they can't get you a booking (for any date in the future) within a month of your enquiry rather than an actual test within a month of your enquiry.

Seve OB

I think he is pulling your leg

I had to wait about 10 weeks last year

gooner99

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think its if they can't get you a booking (for any date in the future) within a month of your enquiry rather than an actual test within a month of your enquiry.

Ok, so I went on there now. Car is due for test May, but you can test early. The earliest date showing up is for May. So if I go by what you are saying then if I ring up Tomorrow and they can't offer a test one month from Tomorrows date, even though the renewal falls in May then I am entitled to get it free. Is that correct?

readytosnap

From the NCT Customer charter:

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.

nerraw1111

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

"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."

gooner99

Thanks guys,so looks like my friend was correct. So whats the story, how exactly do you avail of it. How do they know in the center not to charge you?

nerraw1111

gooner99 wrote: »

Thanks guys,so looks like my friend was correct. So whats the story, how exactly do you avail of it. How do they know in the center not to charge you?

They give you a date initially. You then say no, I want it within four weeks. Either they'll find a place for you within four weeks or give you a refund and a date outside the four weeks. Providing you haven't accepted it already or turned down appointments twice.

CiniO

gooner99 wrote: »

A friend mentioned to me that if the NCT can't provide you with a test in your local center within one month then you are entitled to it for free.I had a look on their website and didn't come across anything, but if it's true I'm sure they wouldn't be broadcasting it with the long delays there can be at times. Is there any truth in this and if so how does it work?

That's true, but there are some conditions.
Firstly you need to request a test within 28 days.
Secondly you can not accept any test they offer you for later than 28 days.
And thirdly I think you can't refuse more than 1 or two appointments they give you within 28 days.

CiniO

gooner99 wrote: »

Ok, so I went on there now. Car is due for test May, but you can test early. The earliest date showing up is for May. So if I go by what you are saying then if I ring up Tomorrow and they can't offer a test one month from Tomorrows date, even though the renewal falls in May then I am entitled to get it free. Is that correct?

If you request it (test within 28 days), then most likely you will get it.
Free tests happen very seldom, if at all.

gooner99

nerraw1111 wrote: »

They give you a date initially. You then say no, I want it within four weeks. Either they'll find a place for you within four weeks or give you a refund and a date outside the four weeks. Providing you haven't accepted it already or turned down appointments twice.[/QUOTE


That answers it perfectly.one final question. When you ring and they can't offer one within the four week time frame and you remind them of the claus, do they have to offer you a sooner one there and then or do they have a window where they can go away and come back to you and offer you one sooner?

CiniO

gooner99 wrote: »

That answers it perfectly.one final question. When you ring and they can't offer one within the four week time frame and you remind them of the claus, do they have to offer you a sooner one there and then or do they have a window where they can go away and come back to you and offer you one sooner?

Example.

You ring them on 1st April and request a test withing 28 days.
They can't provide you with one at the moment, but they say they will contact you.
If they contact you in anytime in the future offering you to have your test before 29th April, you won't get this test for free.
If they can't arrange you a test before 29th April, it will have to be a free test then. But I assume this doesn't really happen.

From my experience, once you request a booking within 28 days, they usually don't give it straight away, but they say they will contact you once they have it. And usually they contact you within few days offering you a test in a week or two.

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think its if they can't get you a booking (for any date in the future) within a month of your enquiry rather than an actual test within a month of your enquiry.

No.
It must be a test within 28 days.
Otherwise it's for free.

gooner99

CiniO wrote: »

Example.

You ring them on 1st April and request a test withing 28 days.
They can't provide you with one at the moment, but they say they will contact you.
If they contact you in anytime in the future offering you to have your test before 29th April, you won't get this test for free.
If they can't arrange you a test before 29th April, it will have to be a free test then. But I assume this doesn't really happen.

From my experience, once you request a booking within 28 days, they usually don't give it straight away, but they say they will contact you once they have it. And usually they contact you within few days offering you a test in a week or two.

Thanks again. I'm not really after a freebe.More interested in getting one pretty soon.

HungryFish

gooner99 wrote: »

A friend mentioned to me that if the NCT can't provide you with a test in your local center within one month then you are entitled to it for free.I had a look on their website and didn't come across anything, but if it's true I'm sure they wouldn't be broadcasting it with the long delays there can be at times. Is there any truth in this and if so how does it work?

It's written in their charter on the website but I don't think they make it as easy or straight forward as the charter implies

Dangel4x4

HungryFish wrote: »

It's written in their charter on the website but I don't think they make it as easy or straight forward as the charter implies

I rang last week for an appointment in my local centre and was told the first available appointment was Aug 28.

"So that's free then, seeing as that more than 4 weeks away?"

"Oh em, we'll put you on our priority list. What's your contact number?"

So it looks to me they try to get around the free test thing by not giving you a date when you call. Don't call us, we'll call you...

And btw they haven't called me back yet. Some priority list.

skyhighflyer

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

I rang last week for an appointment in my local centre and was told the first available appointment was Aug 28.

"So that's free then, seeing as that more than 4 weeks away?"

"Oh em, we'll put you on our priority list. What's your contact number?"

So it looks to me they try to get around the free test thing by not giving you a date when you call. Don't call us, we'll call you...

And btw they haven't called me back yet. Some priority list.

I wonder how much notice they give you when they call? Not much good if they call you on the morning a slot becomes available?

my3cents

If you don't give them a mobile number when you ring up (say you have no coverage at your home address) then they will post out a date to you that gives you at least a weeks notice but still within the 28 days.

djimi

skyhighflyer wrote: »

I wonder how much notice they give you when they call? Not much good if they call you on the morning a slot becomes available?

I think thats pretty much exactly how it works. Slots become available as cancellations happen, so youre not likely to get a weeks notice. Their obligation is to offer you a test within 28 days; it doesnt have to be at your convenience...

my3cents

djimi wrote: »

I think thats pretty much exactly how it works. Slots become available as cancellations happen, so youre not likely to get a weeks notice. Their obligation is to offer you a test within 28 days; it doesnt have to be at your convenience...

No, if you don't let them use your mobile number then they will post out a date with a bit more notice.

Dangel4x4

My worry would be that if you agree to let them write to you with an appointment, you'll never hear from them again.

my3cents

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

My worry would be that if you agree to let them write to you with an appointment, you'll never hear from them again.

I had that worry but have had 4 tests sent out that way now. Mobile coverage is genuinely bad where I live so I explain each time they ask for a mobile number that there's a good chance I won't get the call and offer my home number instead (someones always here) but they've always posted out a date.