NCT Delays - Advice

positivenote

HI All,

NCT is due at end of January, earliest booking I can get is July/Aug... how are we menat to legally drive the cars if the service to NCT them is backlogged for 7-8 months?

Any advice

iwillhtfu

In the same boat ourselves. Only noticed the test was up in Jan and earliest was June.

Have booked earliest appointment and plan to continue as normal. The NCT set up is a joke it should be rolled out to garages to try clear the back log. I could have the jeep in for DOE next week 🤷‍♂️

RoryMurphyJnr

Put yourself down on the cancellation list.

Exact same thing happened to me but if you're fairly flexible with your availability you should get sorted with a booking.

Furze99

Book at next available date, print out out the booking form and stick it in the disc holder.

Same boat here and lots like it around the country, some centres seem to be covering much larger regions than others.

homosapien91

Happened to me last year, NCT was due in July couldn't get an appointment until December so put myself down on the cancellation list and got an appointment within two weeks so thats your best bet

HildaOgdenx

I kept checking online fairly regularly before mine was due in October and a reasonable date showed up after only initially seeing dates for well into 2023.

mct1

From NCT website:

"The available appointments that customers see online only represent approximately 1/3 of the actual appointments available for that time. NCTS will open the full capacity or the remaining 2/3 of appointments two weeks ahead when we finalise our schedules and know what staff are available that week."

Miscreant

As with all the advice on all these NCT threads.... Call them. You could get an earlier appointment that way or be put on a cancellation list.

XsApollo

Also when you call them if they don’t get you an appointment within 30 days then you get the test free of charge.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058278280/nct-delays-advice

Turn up first thing any morning or late evening with your booking and details and ask them to fit you in

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069784#Comment_120069784

Since covid this is no longer true

XsApollo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069982#Comment_120069982

Really?

didn't know that.

it’s still written in the customer charter.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069982#Comment_120069982

I called just at the end of Dec and was told I'd have a test date within 28 days, due in Mar, and their customer charter still has a free test if not offered with 28 days.

We aim to ensure that the average lead time for an appointment at an individual NCT centre is less than or equal to 15 days. You will be provided with a test, free of charge, where an appointment cannot be offered within a 28 day period, unless any of the following apply:

you have previously accepted or requested an appointment outside of the 28 day period.

you have failed to attend an appointment; or

you have declined or rearranged two or more appointments;

you have made specific requests regarding suitable days, times or dates;

an appointment was offered 7 days or more prior to the test due date;

the test is overdue by more than 7 days at the time of contacting us;

https://www.ncts.ie/customer-charter/

COVID excuse are no longer acceptable or valid.

mikeecho

I booked recently, was given a date months and months away

Put in a request to be put on the cancellation list, specified the center I wanted, and that a sat morn only.

Got a mail back, within a few days, had my test at my preferred location on a Saturday morn at 11am.

Bingo, simples.

Now, if you contact them about the 30 day thing... They will find you a test day and time.. it might not suit you, and if you decline that, well, tough titty, get to the back of the line.

Lewis_Benson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058278280/nct-delays-advice

Book your test and drive on.

roosterman71

Rang on Tuesday morning here as it was due on the 3rd. Totally forgot about it. They gave me a slot later that day. No problem getting them when you ring up

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120077888#Comment_120077888

Where are you talking about. I've rung them every year and never get one.

roosterman71

Mullingar on this occasion. Had openings in Athlone within 3 days, and Tullamore within 4 days. I'd say I got a cancellation that hadn't been filled. Rang around 10 on Tuesday morning and test was at 4.50pm then the same day

Flinty997

That's kind of a critical detail to leave out.

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078120#Comment_120078120

Like **** it is. No mention anywhere else on the thread of any location. The whole thread is about delays, not delays in any particular centre. Furthermore, you ring NCT directly and ask for appointments in your preferred location.

Flinty997

That's why it makes no sense. Ye aren't taking about the same queue. But ironically ye are giving estimates for particular centres. Point is there are little to no delays in most rural locations. You can just ring up and get one the next day.

Dublin and anything nearby, and in other cities, have about 6-7 month backlog on their waiting list. Just Russian roulette if you get one from the cancellation list, or priority booking or by phone. These delays have been going back years. Long before even the problem with the lifts COVID or anything.

roosterman71

Well the NCT on my car is next May. I looked up booking in October, nearest date was middle of May. I booked. It's a week or 10 days after the due date. It was the closest date available for the 3 centres I'd mentioned. "Rural" locations have delays of months and months. It's not an urban/rural issue. It's an NCT issue.

What queue was the OP referring to? It's not mentioned. Just NCT queue in general, which we know is per centre. My example was that ringing them could land you with a test on the day you ring. It was pure luck of course but nonetheless, can happen.

The best course of action if you need a test within the next 6 months is to ring them and tell them the score. They are very helpful and will try sort you out.

6541

Just drive on lad !

walterking

If you pass by your local centre pop in and ask when is the ideal time to find a cancellation. In two cases it was suggested to me to call about 12.15-12.30 as a tester may be free for the last slot before lunch.

I'm due a test at the end of the month and hopefully its the same (currently booked for Aug 8th - but I work near the centre)

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078910#Comment_120078910

There was only a 3 week waiting list in Dublin before Covid

Flinty997

I think considering they said 7-8 months, you can make a wild guess.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079031#Comment_120079031

From 7 years ago...

https://www.joe.ie/news/24-hour-nct-tests-to-be-rolled-out-in-selected-centres-in-ireland-487053

and lolz

Issues with the online booking system are also going to be addressed.

2009

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/changes-in-penalty-point-rules-cause-nct-backlogs-26543010.html

One member of staff at an NCT centre confirmed that "there is a major backlog with tests".

Lots of different excuses, but the same poor management. Its been a shambles forever.

glen123

I filled in their form online a week or two ago and got appointment emailed to me for 23rd of Jan while online available appointments were for June-July onwards.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079075#Comment_120079075

Where is that? Maybe I'll try that location.

glen123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079096#Comment_120079096

Limerick.

When I was looking at dates online, it gave me an option to fill out a form if I needed the appointment sooner. Have you tried that for your local center?

When looking at dates, at the bottom of the page it'll say the following and there will be a link to the form to fill in with your details:

"If you are unable to obtain an appointment at your chosen Test Centre then please contact our call centre or  It is your responsibility to ensure your vehicle holds a valid NCT at all times."

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079096#Comment_120079096

Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Cahir, Youghal, Athlone, Mullingar, Castlerea, Tralee, Ennis, Charleville, West port, Tuam and Ballina all have appointments for January 10th