Paying for the NCT

jimmyw

Hi, I thought there was a way where you can book a test online, but pay for the test in cash on the day.Is that feature gone? I cant find anything about it on the site.

fannymagee

jimmyw wrote: »

Hi, I thought there was a way where you can book a test online, but pay for the test in cash on the day.Is that feature gone? I cant find anything about it on the site.

Yes, I paid in cash last Sunday. If you can't do it online just phone them. You might get a quicker date that way too

jimmyw

No, I can book the test within a reasonable date, but the payment method only seems to be with a card.I think I can recall before where you can book online, but pay by cash on the day.But maybe its changed.Thanks.

BohsCeltic

I paid by cash a few weeks ago, There was a highlighted 'click here if you wish to pay at centre' or something along those lines.
If you use a card they won't debit it untill the test is done anyway

CiniO

jimmyw wrote: »

No, I can book the test within a reasonable date, but the payment method only seems to be with a card.I think I can recall before where you can book online, but pay by cash on the day.But maybe its changed.Thanks.

Try again and give a good read what it actually says on the website.
Then you will find an option to pay cash at test centre.

rovertom

The option is there but it is not very clear to be fair. I remember booking myself and it wasn't immediately obvious how to avoid paying online.

goz83

The OP is correct. I booked my own nct a few weeks and the pay at centre option was there, but not easily found of course. Today, i tried booking my dads car and the option was gone. Rang the number and told the lady on the phone, but she said you could still pay at centre. I reiterated that the option was gone off the site and she said she would pass on my query :rolleyes:

They have definitely updated the site, because i didn't need the date if first registration to book the car. The reg number brought up the details. They need to sort this out quick, or there will be war

BohsCeltic

goz83 wrote: »

The OP is correct. I booked my own nct a few weeks and the pay at centre option was there, but not easily found of course. Today, i tried booking my dads car and the option was gone. Rang the number and told the lady on the phone, but she said you could still pay at centre. I reiterated that the option was gone off the site and she said she would pass on my query :rolleyes:

They have definitely updated the site, because i didn't need the date if first registration to book the car. The reg number brought up the details. They need to sort this out quick, or there will be war

I just put in a random reg and its letting me make a booking without date of first registration or a booking ID.

goz83

BohsCeltic wrote: »

I just put in a random reg and its letting me make a booking without date of first registration or a booking ID.

How odd. I entered his reg into the system and the make and model just came up. Its an 09 octavia. No need for a booking ID or first reg.

I just entered my own vehicle reg and the details came up. No booking id or date of reg requested.

jimmyw

goz83 wrote: »

The OP is correct. I booked my own nct a few weeks and the pay at centre option was there, but not easily found of course. Today, i tried booking my dads car and the option was gone. Rang the number and told the lady on the phone, but she said you could still pay at centre. I reiterated that the option was gone off the site and she said she would pass on my query :rolleyes:

They have definitely updated the site, because i didn't need the date if first registration to book the car. The reg number brought up the details. They need to sort this out quick, or there will be war

That statement from the NCT does not make sense, you can only pay online.What would be the point of paying again in the centre? It wont let you complete the transaction unless you pay online .......................................or maybe thats what they want us to do:P

Thanks.

goz83

jimmyw wrote: »

That statement from the NCT does not make sense, you can only pay online.What would be the point of paying again in the centre? It wont let you complete the transaction unless you pay online .......................................or maybe thats what they want us to do:P

Thanks.

The day the nct starts to make ense, is the day I wear a ski-coat in hell.

ProudDUB

The option to pay at the test centre on the day is definitely there. I selected it just a couple of weeks ago. If my memory is correct, I think that the payment method is one of the very first things that you are asked to select. It comes up before you select the test centre that you want to go to & the day/time of the test itself. Perhaps you weren't expecting to see it so early in the booking process and just over looked it?

slimjimmc

ProudDUB wrote: »

The option to pay at the test centre on the day is definitely there. I selected it just a couple of weeks ago. If my memory is correct, I think that the payment method is one of the very first things that you are asked to select. It comes up before you select the test centre that you want to go to & the day/time of the test itself. Perhaps you weren't expecting to see it so early in the booking process and just over looked it?

Nope, as goz83 already mentioned the online booking process has changed since then. The booking first step even states

Please note you need a credit/debit card to complete this booking

The last booking step is payment and if you don't enter a credit/debit card details within 15 minutes the booking is cancelled.

goz83

The nct booking system now allows people to book online using the registration number only and does not require the date of first registration, or previous booking ID. A card is required to secure the booking. Presumably, this is to protect people from muppets who might book in someone elses car, which of course woukd not turn up for inspection and then be charged for showing up when a real booking is made.

However, they still allowed me to make a booking for my dad over the phone, without card details, so it's another example of the superb communication and policy implementation of the ncts.

EDIT: As I was only able to get a June 17th booking for my dads car, which is due for May, I decided to take the booking over the phone and change it online when cancellations came through. I found a mid April appointment in northpoint 2 at 6:20am (original was np1) and tried booking it. It then needed card details, because the centre was being changed. The thing is, my dad doesnt have a debit, or credit card, so it couldn't be booked. I had to call him, to call the nct and change it over the phone. The girl told him a card is not needed. What a joke of a system.

I could look out my window and book in any of my neighbours cars now for the nct and they would be hit with a fee the next time they book their car in.

fannymagee

If you want to pay cash, book your NCT over the phone. Simples :-)

BHP

goz83 wrote: »

I could look out my window and book in any of my neighbours cars now for the nct and they would be hit with a fee the next time they book their car in.

But if you make the booking for a neighbours car you will need to provide payment details and if do not show up your card will be charged the no show fee.

Your neighbour will probably never even know.

fannymagee

BHP wrote: »

But if you make the booking for a neighbours car you will need to provide payment details and if do not show up your card will be charged the no show fee.

Your neighbour will probably never even know.

Not if it's booked in over the phone. You just need reg.

BHP

fannymagee wrote: »

Not if it's booked in over the phone. You just need reg.

I believe goz83 was referring to making a booking on the web site for car that wasn't theirs and suggested the owner would be hit with a fee next time they book. I was pointing out that this is not the case.

fannymagee

Haha this is getting confusing. I meant if you wanted to do that to your neighbour, you could easily do it over the phone because there's no payment reuired, it wouldn't make sense to do it online because you'd have to give a card number ;-)

goz83

BHP wrote: »

I believe goz83 was referring to making a booking on the web site for car that wasn't theirs and suggested the owner would be hit with a fee next time they book. I was pointing out that this is not the case.

If you look at my post again, you will see I was finishing off by talking about the phone booking system, which is when I mentioned booking in a neighbours car.

You would only need the reg number, make and model of car maybe (all clearly visible from my window). They ask for the name and address, which any neighbour would know. They ask for a contact number and email (email not needed). Car is booked. Nobody shows for test. Owner of car shows up for nct later in the year and is hit with a no show fee. Trouble in the making. Poor thinking.

goz83

I sent in a complaint about the flawed new system and the poor implementation of it. I await their reply.


To the management,

I noticed there have been changes to the NCTS website, with regards to booking a vehicle in for the nct.

The previous system allowed the user to select an option to pay at the centre, rather than supply credit/debit card details. It required the user to enter the date vehicle registration (from the VLC), or a booking ID.

The new system allows the user to book the nct, using the vehicle registration number to find the correct vehicle. However, it now requires that the user provide their credit/debit card, to confirm the booking.

Considering the NCT is a compulsory test for all private motor vehicles of a certain age, I am strongly opposed to this new measure. Not everyone has a credit/debit card and many who do, do not feel comfortable giving these details over the phone, or online. I tried to book my Fathers car yesterday and was unable to select the pay at the centre option, because, unlike the previous month (when I booked in my own car), the option did not exist.

I rang the NCTS to book his vehicle and there was no problem doing it over the phone, using the vehicle registration number and providing name and address. I informed the lady that I could not book online, as the option to pay at the centre dis not exist. She seemed unaware of the changes, stating that it could still be booked online and paid at the centre and that "no card details are required". This is clearly untrue. My Father rescheduled his appointment from mid June, to mid April this morning, as his nct is up in May. June was the soonest appointment available yesterday at northpoint 1. The lady he spoke to also said he didn't need to give card details.

I believe the new booking system is both a step in the right direction and a step in the wrong direction. Let me explain. The ability to book with vehicle registration is great and makes the process simple for those who don't mind securing an appointment with their card. I understand that it is a security measure (though a failed one, as the booking can be done over the phone with minimal details) requesting card details. My suggestion would be to allow users to book online in the way you have provided, but to also allow users to opt-out of giving card details. The counter measure, would be to request the vehicle registration date for users who do not have, or do not want to provide card details.

I look forward to receiving your correspondence on this matter.

Regards,

(Goz)

camz09

Hi, can I get the definite answer to this? Have an appointment tomorrow but it's my dad who's bringing the car. When I booked, there's no other option but to put in your card details for pre-authorisation (otherwise, you can't book!) My understanding is that when the car is checked in tomorrow, they will debit the card for 55 euros. Does my dad need to bring the debit card/and know the PIN?? If he pays by cash, is it guaranteed my card won't be debited as they already have my card details. So confusing!!

jimmyw

camz09 wrote: »

Does my dad need to bring the debit card/and know the PIN?? If he pays by cash, is it guaranteed my card won't be debited as they already have my card details. So confusing!!

No, no if you book the test online with your card, then thats how the payment is taken.Just your dad needs to have his driving licence and the registration document of the car.Don't pay in cash, that can only be done on the phone.

I booked the test for my sister and the brother brought it in.........:)

Pov06

Seems like they removed this option. I put 2 cars through the NCT in the last couple of weeks. One of them needed a retest. I couldn't pay at the centre for a retest, it was requesting payment online even when I selected "I wish to pay at the test centre".

Also, no booking ID was needed for the renewal :eek:

GL scrappy

This has still not been rectified by NCTS.

I am trying to book a retest and for a start, my browser doesn't like their security certificate, then they've removed the option to pay at centre. That would turn me off using a credit card if I had one.

Phone them? not an option at the weekend.

obezyana

You can book by card and pay by cash at the centre i seen a guy do it the last time i was there and its what i plan on doing friday when mine is due.

Edit; Just to add he told them his card was cancelled so they just took cash payment.