NCT discontinue lift inspections (now with places with working lifts)

Speak Now · 17-02-2020 10:14PM

RioM wrote: »

Phoned NCT and they cancelled my retest as Kilkenny is not back up and running. Nearest ones are Athlone or Enniscorthy..

Did you try Waterford?

Fann Linn · 17-02-2020 10:15PM

maestroamado wrote: »

I have kinda lost track of this.
Personally i believe what is happening likely ILLEGAL?
We are being asked to present our cars for a test and being told in advance we will "fail"
Imagine presenting for job interview/exam and be told before you start you cannot get job/pass.
I doubt if anyone will be prosecuted on this one...

I don't know how true this is but I heard of a lad today who passed the first part of the test ok in Carrick on Shannon but has been advised to try Athlone if he wants to complete the test and get the cert. If true, this is really daft and wrong.

maestroamado · 17-02-2020 10:32PM

Fann Linn wrote: »

I don't know how true this is but I heard of a lad today who passed the first part of the test ok in Carrick on Shannon but has been advised to try Athlone if he wants to complete the test and get the cert. If true, this is really daft and wrong.

The whole situation is crazy, personally i think the Gardai, road safety and insurance companies are "winging it"

I am not sure that any insurance companies ask for NCT when applying for car insurance.
As far as i know if a car is involved in an incident the Garda have it examined as to the road-worthiness at that given time, i may be wrong but i do not think NCTcert anything to do with this.

I do know that insurance is "void" on commercial if not in test, i think insurance companies may have access to this data but not sure.
I remember a neighbor telling me he got insurance cancelled automatically when he was found out.
What happened is he bought a jeep and transferred insurance and in s few days his insurance cancelled.
He is a bit of a chancer.

The Rape of Lucretia · 17-02-2020 10:41PM

maestroamado wrote: »

I have kinda lost track of this.
Personally i believe what is happening likely ILLEGAL?
We are being asked to present our cars for a test and being told in advance we will "fail"
Imagine presenting for job interview/exam and be told before you start you cannot get job/pass.
I doubt if anyone will be prosecuted on this one...

You arent though. You are told that the test will be 'incomplete'. So test still in progress, even if that is for some months. Its neither a pass nor a fail.
Apart from the annoyance of an additional visit to the centre (and for some this wont even be the case as they may fail something in the first part of the test that would have them returning anyway) nobody is going to get any grief out of this.
The hysteria is way off the scale.

kippy · 17-02-2020 11:00PM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

You arent though. You are told that the test will be 'incomplete'. So test still in progress, even if that is for some months. Its neither a pass nor a fail.
Apart from the annoyance of an additional visit to the centre (and for some this wont even be the case as they may fail something in the first part of the test that would have them returning anyway) nobody is going to get any grief out of this.
The hysteria is way off the scale.

I had been defending the handling of the situation initially but a couple of weeks later with very little clarification or communication is farcical.
There is plenty grief involved for people who fail something on the early part of the test. Go back for a retest and underbody test, then fail something on the underbody test and have to return again. 4 trips to the centre and a potential 55+28+28 euros in charges. Maybe not a big deal for some but.a bigger deal for those that do not live within a 15 minute spin of a centre.

RioM · 17-02-2020 11:01PM

Speak Now wrote: »

Did you try Waterford?

Nope. Is it running?

maestroamado · 17-02-2020 11:12PM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

You arent though. You are told that the test will be 'incomplete'. So test still in progress, even if that is for some months. Its neither a pass nor a fail.
Apart from the annoyance of an additional visit to the centre (and for some this wont even be the case as they may fail something in the first part of the test that would have them returning anyway) nobody is going to get any grief out of this.
The hysteria is way off the scale.

This is definition of test.

take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of (something), especially before putting it into widespread use or practice.

If this is the case it is certainly not a test, ( incomplete test is just that?)

The hysteria you mention is because of lack of clarity on this whole thing.
It is now two weeks and surely a small percent of these lifts are not fit for purpose.
I expect a few people will be resigning as this is a mess.

FishOnABike · 17-02-2020 11:53PM

maestroamado wrote: »

The whole situation is crazy, personally i think the Gardai, road safety and insurance companies are "winging it"

I am not sure that any insurance companies ask for NCT when applying for car insurance.
As far as i know if a car is involved in an incident the Garda have it examined as to the road-worthiness at that given time, i may be wrong but i do not think NCTcert anything to do with this.

I do know that insurance is "void" on commercial if not in test, i think insurance companies may have access to this data but not sure.
I remember a neighbor telling me he got insurance cancelled automatically when he was found out.
What happened is he bought a jeep and transferred insurance and in s few days his insurance cancelled.
He is a bit of a chancer.

Definitely all winging it. Minister for transport should have put a statutory instrument in place to either extend current test certificates (as in Northern Ireland) or issue temporary test certificates for partially completed tests.

Despite reassurances from insurance industry representatives that it wouldn't be a problem , not being able to present a current test certificate is a problem for the OP in this thread https://touch.boards.ie/thread/post/112570148

Cowboys Ted! They're a bunch of cowboys!

beauf · 18-02-2020 01:05AM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

You arent though. You are told that the test will be 'incomplete'. So test still in progress, even if that is for some months. Its neither a pass nor a fail.

Hate to be pedantic but it's says fail on it.

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Apart from the annoyance of an additional visit to the centre (and for some this wont even be the case as they may fail something in the first part of the test that would have them returning anyway) nobody is going to get any grief out of this.
The hysteria is way off the scale.

Hyperbole much? There is no hysteria.

It's simply very unprofessional to have zero communication or clarification about something that is a legal requirement. Both the NCT and Insurance.

That people can rebook a retest and be turned away on the day shows its mismanaged. All they have to do is match the centers with working lifts to those requiring that part of the test. Those that have passed the lift part but need to retest on something else send them to the centers with no working lifts.

This is shape sorting test that you give babies.

If anyone criticises this farce, they are accused of hysteria.

beauf · 18-02-2020 01:08AM

maestroamado wrote: »

...
I expect a few people will be resigning as this is a mess.

...or promoted with a bonus.

coffeepls · 18-02-2020 05:32AM

I did my NCT last Friday (Feb 14) in Naas - no lift.
I passed everything that could be passed.
The test read out was titled ‘NCT Report: TEST INCOMPLETE’
Just below that header is
‘a retest must be completed by 15/03/2020 if not then a full test will be required’

See attached for the accompanying ‘explanatory’ leaflet to the test. I dunno. It concerns me that there’s a specific date to be retested by on one official page and then the words ‘later date’ on the attached sheet. Surely they could’ve left that retest date out.
Anyway - I’m really just posting this if anybody is interested in reading the attached.

Macdarack · 18-02-2020 09:22AM

This situation is unacceptable, they've taken full amount for a half test (with 28 days to retest) and best case scenario expect you to finish the test in another centre which could be hours away.its bloody crazy. The retest time limit should be open until these centres are fully operational.

FishOnABike · 18-02-2020 09:51AM

Macdarack wrote: »

This situation is unacceptable, they've taken full amount for a half test (with 28 days to retest) and best case scenario expect you to finish the test in another centre which could be hours away.its bloody crazy. The retest time limit should be open until these centres are fully operational.

If I was charged more to complete the test, whether just the underbody inspection or full retest if it's needed if the underbody inspection cannot be given within 28 days, I'd be claiming a SEPA charge back for the original test fee as they didn't provide the service paid for.

bladespin · 18-02-2020 10:43AM

I called them yesterday to arrange the lift inspection, was told no date for Kells to be operational yet (I suggested another centre but nothing was forthcoming), was told to call back to check progress, am I being a bit tetchy or should they be the ones chasing and calling not us????

robfowler78 · 18-02-2020 11:29AM

bladespin wrote: »

I called them yesterday to arrange the lift inspection, was told no date for Kells to be operational yet (I suggested another centre but nothing was forthcoming), was told to call back to check progress, am I being a bit tetchy or should they be the ones chasing and calling not us????

Yeah I'm the same have a retest in Kells and need to use a lane booked in for the end of the month. Still no lift and no sign of it been fixed. I was told Ill have to comeback for a third time but to keep ringing to check lift progress. Madness

beauf · 18-02-2020 12:02PM

bladespin wrote: »

... was told to call back to check progress, am I being a bit tetchy or should they be the ones chasing and calling not us????

They should tell us when it's fixed in what centre on the website.

They could also just email people. They could even ask people what times suit and let the system schedule the appointments as appropriate.

But instead we have zilch.

maestroamado · 18-02-2020 04:02PM

coffeepls wrote: »

I did my NCT last Friday (Feb 14) in Naas - no lift.
I passed everything that could be passed.
The test read out was titled ‘NCT Report: TEST INCOMPLETE’
Just below that header is
‘a retest must be completed by 15/03/2020 if not then a full test will be required’

See attached for the accompanying ‘explanatory’ leaflet to the test. I dunno. It concerns me that there’s a specific date to be retested by on one official page and then the words ‘later date’ on the attached sheet. Surely they could’ve left that retest date out.
Anyway - I’m really just posting this if anybody is interested in reading the attached.

I think you should call NCT head office.

I suspect what happened here is you are given re-test as there usually time frame with this.
It could just that the person hit the wrong entry before printing.
Let us know the result.

Coillte_Bhoy · 19-02-2020 03:39PM

Dropped my car into my local garage 10 days ago, before i went on holidays to get it ready for NCT and he usually brings it in and gets it done for me but told me today he stiull hasnt got a date as there are major back logs over some dispute

Whats the story does anyone know?

colm_mcm · 19-02-2020 03:44PM

The MAHA lifts that they use have a question mark over their safety because the testing service in NI also use MAHA lifts (different model) and there were cracks in the lifts.
The NCT lifts aren’t being used in the meantime until they’ve been inspected.

Coillte_Bhoy · 19-02-2020 04:02PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

The MAHA lifts that they use have a question mark over their safety because the testing service in NI also use MAHA lifts (different model) and there were cracks in the lifts.
The NCT lifts aren’t being used in the meantime until they’ve been inspected.

Ok thanks, mine runs out next week, techincially i could be done for having no valid NCT cert??

selectamatic · 19-02-2020 04:05PM

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058049771/1

FishOnABike · 19-02-2020 04:12PM

Where have you been since the end of January?

Underbody inspections cannot be carried because of faults found in the scissor lifts used for inspection. Cracks were found in the same brand lifts in Northern Ireland test centres.

Same problem was identified in NCT centre lifts at the start of this month and lift use suspended until lifts had been inspected and either deemed fit for use, repaired or replaced.

The inspection of the lifts has been completed and there are a limited number of lifts in use in a limited number of test centres. These are being prioritised for taxis needing a test certificate and people needing a test certificate to sit a driving test.

There's a repair plan to bring the other lifts back into service over the next two months. All should be back in service by the end of April but there could be two to three months of a backlog of cars waiting to complete the underbody inspection by then so it could be into May or June before everything is back to normal.

In the meantime, if the NCT is due, book and sit the test and you will get a test report for what can be done anything that fails will need to be fixed and retested. You won't get a NCT certificate + disc until you pass the underbody inspection too. The advice has been to keep the test report in the car to show what could be tested and passed has been tested and passed.

See here for details https://www.ncts.ie/1115

19-02-2020 11:56PM

Just had my retest in Athlone this evening. Dip beam and brake lines were being retested. The 2 lifts in that centre are in operation and they put my car up no bother. Passed as well so happy out for another 12 months

masit · 20-02-2020 10:22AM

offalyandroid wrote: »

Just had my retest in Athlone this evening. Dip beam and brake lines were being retested. The 2 lifts in that centre are in operation and they put my car up no bother. Passed as well so happy out for another 12 months

Looked at rebooking for a test in Athlone, saying 19th of March is the next available slot. Over heard the the tester talking to a local car dealer and he said they have no idea when the lifts will be fixed in my local NCT centre.

So, I got car tested this morning. It failed on the hand brake cable. Thats fine, don't mind that, €28 for a retest. I go back for my retest and pass. Lifts get fixed and I go back for my underbody inspection. What happens if I fail something in the underbody inspection, will that be another €28?

sillysocks · 20-02-2020 11:47AM

If my NCT is up end of Feb and NCT is currently booked for 10 days time do people think it’s worth rescheduling for a few months time and just having it run out of date til then. Or should I go ahead and have to go twice?

dkd21 · 20-02-2020 02:21PM

masit wrote: »

Looked at rebooking for a test in Athlone, saying 19th of March is the next available slot. Over heard the the tester talking to a local car dealer and he said they have no idea when the lifts will be fixed in my local NCT centre.

So, I got car tested this morning. It failed on the hand brake cable. Thats fine, don't mind that, €28 for a retest. I go back for my retest and pass. Lifts get fixed and I go back for my underbody inspection. What happens if I fail something in the underbody inspection, will that be another €28?

There is no additional charge for a ramp inspection failure if you have had an incomplete test carried out

bladespin · 20-02-2020 03:39PM

beauf wrote: »

They should tell us when it's fixed in what centre on the website.

They could also just email people. They could even ask people what times suit and let the system schedule the appointments as appropriate.

But instead we have zilch.

Called them anyway, spoke to a poor call centre guy, gave him a good rant (assuring him I knew it wasn't his fault - be nice), demanded a call back from someone with responsibility.

Actually got one, no apologies etc just telling me there were centres in Dublin (where the car's registered address is) that had operational lifts and to call again to organise a re-test.

I'm in Cork so it'll be Monday before I call, will update with the waiting time for the re-test.

Tea drinker · 20-02-2020 10:18PM

bladespin wrote: »

Called them anyway, spoke to a poor call centre guy, gave him a good rant (assuring him I knew it wasn't his fault - be nice), demanded a call back from someone with responsibility.

Actually got one, no apologies etc just telling me there were centres in Dublin (where the car's registered address is) that had operational lifts and to call again to organise a re-test.

I'm in Cork so it'll be Monday before I call, will update with the waiting time for the re-test.

I'm in Dublin and was given the half test in Deansgrange last weekend. You are getting fobbed off

maestroamado · 20-02-2020 10:52PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

The MAHA lifts that they use have a question mark over their safety because the testing service in NI also use MAHA lifts (different model) and there were cracks in the lifts.
The NCT lifts aren’t being used in the meantime until they’ve been inspected.

I think this may run for awhile as i expect they will all have to be replaced.
I read somewhere that they were coming towards end of life about 10 years.
As well how will Applus be able to purchase these and have them fitted to centres in a reasonable time frame.
My own view is the test should be valid for full year after the said retest as the system says that it is two years or one depending on vehicle age.
I wonder if anyone has being quizzed by Gardai for not having one of these new half tests.

FishOnABike · 21-02-2020 01:39PM

maestroamado wrote: »

I think this may run for awhile as i expect they will all have to be replaced.
I read somewhere that they were coming towards end of life about 10 years.
As well how will Applus be able to purchase these and have them fitted to centres in a reasonable time frame.
My own view is the test should be valid for full year after the said retest as the system says that it is two years or one depending on vehicle age.
I wonder if anyone has being quizzed by Gardai for not having one of these new half tests.

NCTS plan to have 50% of the lifts back in operation by the end of March and 100% by the end if April but there will be a backlog of underbody inspections to be carried out.

They are supposed to be taking on extra staff to help work through the backlog but I guess it will still take a month or two after all the lifts are back in service before the backlog is cleared. I'd say it will be Summer before it's fully sorted.

NCT discontinue lift inspections (now with places with working lifts)

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