NDLS centre - provisional licence rant

jmlad2020

Having finally got around to take my theory test after it was closed due to Covid, filled in the required forms, had eye examination etc. Go to book appointment at NDLS centre and...

The earliest face to face appointment is in 5 weeks time.😡 By the time my license arrives and the '6th month rule' passes it'll be 8 months before I'm even on the road.

What a f***ing joke. Rant over.

o1s1n

jmlad2020 wrote: »

Having finally got around to take my theory test after it was closed due to Covid, filled in the required forms, had eye examination etc. Go to book appointment at NDLS centre and...

The earliest face to face appointment is in 5 weeks time.😡 By the time my license arrives and the '6th month rule' passes it'll be 8 months before I'm even on the road.

What a f***ing joke. Rant over.

I waited five weeks for an appointment to get one replaced. Got to the centre to be told it's card only transactions at the moment - I only had cash!

Was told I 'had five minutes to get someone to pay with a card'

Lost my appointment and had to make another, earliest I could get was six weeks away.

cherryghost

Isn't the eye examination only valid for 30 days or something under Learner Permit rules?

jmlad2020

cherryghost wrote: »

Isn't the eye examination only valid for 30 days or something under Learner Permit rules?

Yes which adds to the ****ery of the situation.

scrumqueen

OP if the wait is too long for you , you could cancel your appointment and spend some time on the site refreshing and getting a last minute cancellation?

I believe they release these from 8 am in the mornings. I had originally a month wait, I cancelled it in the slim hope of getting something sooner and got (very) lucky with an appointment on the day I was looking.

LorelaiG

Book the earliest appt. Then log on each morning using someone else's details if you see an appt come up log onto yours cancel that and book the new one. check all close by centres.

wonski

The main issue with their booking system is that it doesn't let you reschedule an appointment, only to cancel it.

Something to be looked at in the future, but it only came to light now after covid which was not to be expected.

In real world most will not have an issue with it as it is really once every 2/10 years to renew or apply.

I think the best approach is to give it few days and check at random times without booking to see if early appointments show up on the system.

If they are not, then just pick the earliest date.

If you are really stuck maybe give them a call?

wonski

LorelaiG wrote: »

Book the earliest appt. Then log on each morning using someone else's details if you see an appt come up log onto yours cancel that and book the new one. check all close by centres.

This could work, but could end up badly with losing your spot and the one you were looking at sniped by another internet user

Can you use someone's else details that are not due for renewal to check available dates?

Change of address would be valid reason I guess?

jmlad2020

wonski wrote: »

This could work, but could end up badly with losing your spot and the one you were looking at sniped by another internet user

Can you use someone's else details that are not due for renewal to check available dates?

Change of address would be valid reason I guess?

I was thinking of doing this. Seems like the smartest way to address the issue without losing my spot.

scrumqueen

jmlad2020 wrote: »

I was thinking of doing this. Seems like the smartest way to address the issue without losing my spot.

Yeah this is (in hindsight!) the smarter move, I was fooled by their info saying somewhere on the site you could 'reschedule an appointment' however they fail to mention the only way of doing it is by cancelling the one you have and also that once you hit cancel that's it, boom - gone!

LorelaiG

wonski wrote: »

This could work, but could end up badly with losing your spot and the one you were looking at sniped by another internet user

Can you use someone's else details that are not due for renewal to check available dates?

Change of address would be valid reason I guess?

Yeah. We used my details to check.

messrs

jmlad2020 wrote: »

Having finally got around to take my theory test after it was closed due to Covid, filled in the required forms, had eye examination etc. Go to book appointment at NDLS centre and...

The earliest face to face appointment is in 5 weeks time.�� By the time my license arrives and the '6th month rule' passes it'll be 8 months before I'm even on the road.

What a f***ing joke. Rant over.

Is there any other NDLS centers within reasonable driving distance of the one you booked in? Doesn't necessarily have to be the one closest to you - might be shorter timeframe in other places

jmlad2020

messrs wrote: »

Is there any other NDLS centers within reasonable driving distance of the one you booked in? Doesn't necessarily have to be the one closest to you - might be shorter timeframe in other places

I live very rural. The nearest NDLS centre is an hours drive from me. The 2nd is 2 and a half hours😂 not going to try and leave the county at the moment with Covid doing the rounds. Every centre is heavily booked

punisher5112

Ridiculous the carry on.... The theory test can't be booked at all there is that much trying....

She wants to and nearest was cork from Dublin.

messrs

jmlad2020 wrote: »

I live very rural. The nearest NDLS centre is an hours drive from me. The 2nd is 2 and a half hours�� not going to try and leave the county at the moment with Covid doing the rounds. Every centre is heavily booked

Thats annoying, Im living in Dub and when i was trying to get mine the wait time was so bad so ended up getting quicker appointment up the country where I am from - just thought if there were others close by it might be an option. I get you not wanting to leave your area in current climate though
hopefully something might appear sooner on cancellations