free NCT after a 4 week wait !!!

manta mad · 11-04-2010 08:36PM #1

anybody here know anything about this ?

seems that if you had to wait over 4 weeks for your nct , you get it free or you can reclaim your fee back if you did !!

thats what was in the sunday indo today .............

quenching · 11-04-2010 09:19PM

Always been the case, if they can't give you a suitable test time within 28 days then the test is free. I don't think you can claim it back if you've paid it though, and I seem to remember that if you accept a test time offered to you then you can't invoke the 28 day clause, even if its outside the 28 day limit or at an unsuitable time or test centre.

I've used the 28 day rule in the past to good effect, they always manage to find a suitable test date, and had to quote the 28 day rule on Friday to them for my wifes car as they said they were booked out until after the end of May, at which point they "would get back to me". They promised to phone me on Monday so we'll see who rings who!

Abelloid · 11-04-2010 09:21PM

manta mad wrote: »

anybody here know anything about this ?

seems that if you had to wait over 4 weeks for your nct , you get it free or you can reclaim your fee back if you did !!

thats what was in the sunday indo today .............

They probably read it on here.

carchaeologist · 11-04-2010 09:40PM

JustinOval wrote: »

They probably read it on here.

Ha..do we have such an influence over the national papers?:p

unkel · 11-04-2010 11:38PM

carchaeologist wrote: »

Ha..do we have such an influence over the national papers?:p

Yep. Seriously, we do on occasion.

carchaeologist · 11-04-2010 11:47PM

unkel wrote: »

Yep. Seriously, we do on occasion.

Good thing all of our musings are accurate and unbiased so.....:P

spooky donkey · 12-04-2010 10:48AM

Bloody NCT should be free anyway.

atlantean · 12-04-2010 09:05PM

quenching wrote: »

I've used the 28 day rule in the past to good effect, they always manage to find a suitable test date, and had to quote the 28 day rule on Friday to them for my wifes car as they said they were booked out until after the end of May, at which point they "would get back to me". They promised to phone me on Monday so we'll see who rings who!

Did they get back to you? I rang last Tuesday looking for a test date — I was told they could not provide we with a date for approximately 3 weeks when they would then notify me by post. I would then probably have to wait another month for the test! :rolleyes:

quenching · 15-04-2010 08:04PM

atlantean wrote: »

Did they get back to you? I rang last Tuesday looking for a test date — I was told they could not provide we with a date for approximately 3 weeks when they would then notify me by post. I would then probably have to wait another month for the test! :rolleyes:

Naturally they didn't ring me, but when I rang them they said they had sent me out a letter offering a test on 26th April, I've since changed this to the 24th as it suited me better. I saw and article somewhere during the week, maybe The Irish Times, about the NCT backlog and the spokesman for the company running it said they only release abut a third of the test slots on their website and to phone staff, they rest are held back for retests, the motor trade, and taxis, and of course those who know to quote the 28 day rule!

bugsntinas · 01-05-2010 10:19PM

someone my wife knows just phoned for a test and was offered 6 weeks time:eek: should she have quote the 28 day rule then or will she get the test free when she goes?

kleefarr · 01-05-2010 10:30PM

Interesting.

Is this free after 28 days just for Classic cars?

My NCT was due at the beginning of April. I phoned up mid March, but they didn't have any available dates for two months and told me, if I wanted they could put me on a Priority List and I would get a letter informing me of the time and date. It's not classic car though.

What are my chances?

Basq · 01-05-2010 10:33PM

Interested to know the outcome of this too.

Mine is due this month but no date available until early-mid June.

alpina · 01-05-2010 11:14PM

Called up last week & was given June 8th, quoted 4 week rule hoping I might get a freebie:rolleyes: Moved me to May 5th...

macplaxton · 01-05-2010 11:16PM

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

point 4

kleefarr · 01-05-2010 11:27PM

alpina wrote: »

Called up last week & was given June 8th, quoted 4 week rule hoping I might get a freebie:rolleyes: Moved me to May 5th...

Thanks for the heads up!!
Every little Euro saved helps at the moment.

hi5 · 02-05-2010 11:51AM

At least you guys are getting test dates,I phoned the end of Feb and was told there are no dates available at all in Kilkenny test centre for the forseeable future,I am still waiting for a date 2 months later.
As of from yesterday it is illegal for me to drive my car as the test was due May 1st and I dont even have proof of having applied:mad:

Update;

Well,just went into their website to see if there was any of their elusive green boxes available(available test dates).when I entered my details heres what came up .Does this mean Im getting a freebee,I havent had the letter yet?

To proceed, select an option and click continue. Registration ID : 90KK3517
Make: MAZDA
Model: MX-5
Year : 1990
Registration Date :
Test Centre : Kilkenny
Booking Status : Confirmation Letter Sent
Appointment Date : 16 June 2010
Appointment Time : 08:00
Appointment Email :
Service Type : Free Periodic Inspection
New Service Type : Free Periodic Inspection

I agree to the terms and conditions.

kleefarr · 02-05-2010 03:52PM

hi5 wrote: »

At least you guys are getting test dates,I phoned the end of Feb and was told there are no dates available at all in Kilkenny test centre for the forseeable future,I am still waiting for a date 2 months later.
As of from yesterday it is illegal for me to drive my car as the test was due May 1st and I dont even have proof of having applied:mad:

Same here legality wise, as mine expired 4th April. If questioned I'll tell them I have spoken to HQ and the best they could do is put me on a priority list. Not my fault I can't get it done when I wanted.

mgbgt1978 · 02-05-2010 10:22PM

Hi5 , If you have accepted the appointment (i.e. if you booked it ) they offered you on the website then you are not entitled to a free test.
This will only apply if you ring them and they can't offer you (there and then) a test date within the 4 weeks.
The NCT operators will NOT offer you a free test-you will have to insist on it.......then they will probably find you a slot within 4 weeks.

Ali Babba · 02-05-2010 11:43PM

Ah this is a farce surely, why don't they employ more people? On the one hand you have the cops doling out penalty points for not having a test and when you apply you can't even get a test date. This country never lot it when it comes to inefficiency, bringing in laws that can't either be policed or implemented, it really is a joke isn't it, sorry to say though the joke's on us as usual.

Jumpy · 02-05-2010 11:45PM

Ali Babba wrote: »

Ah this is a farce surely, why don't they employ more people? On the one hand you have the cops doling out penalty points for not having a test and when you apply you can't even get a test date. This country never lot it when it comes to inefficiency, bringing in laws that can't either be policed or implemented, it really is a joke isn't it, sorry to say though the joke's on us as usual.

A lot of the backlog was the rush to sign up to get NCTs done when it became a points offense. Part of the blame lies on those that felt they didnt need to get it done until they were forced. Hiring more will not help as they will just be cut back when the backlog is cleared.

Ali Babba · 02-05-2010 11:59PM

Jumpy wrote: »

A lot of the backlog was the rush to sign up to get NCTs done when it became a points offense. Part of the blame lies on those that felt they didnt need to get it done until they were forced. Hiring more will not help as they will just be cut back when the backlog is cleared.

Backlogs have been a feature of the NCT for years, not just in recent times. Trying to get cars tested as a dealer is a nightmare, people won't buy the car if it's not tested and when you do get a date it could be weeks away. I for one have lost many a sale due to situations like this. Car dealers don't get preferential treatment for dates either.

[AK47][JONNYNEW · 04-05-2010 06:47PM

wouldnt be bother about saving a few bob,
If It just gets you tested quiker all the better.

Had a 3 month wait in my RS Turbo.

kleefarr · 06-05-2010 10:02AM

Got the letter yesterday. 6th August.

Do I just take it in and tell the tester I'm entitled to a free test?

Mr Velo · 27-05-2010 09:07AM

So let me get this clear - my car is due for NCT at the end of May - i phone up last month and was given a date in AUGUST - i've received the confirmation letter etc... They did tell me to check regularly for cancellations etc.

Am i not now entitled to a free NCT because they have sent me the letter?? (i.e. i accepted that date and didn't mention the 4 week rule on the phone)

Basq · 27-05-2010 09:18AM

I've read some more on this since.. I think the ruling is clarified like follows (*):

If you can't get any available test date by ringing or booking online, and no-one gets back to you with a test date (doesn't matter whether they get back to you with a test date that's over 4 weeks) within 4 weeks, then you're entitled to a free test.

So basically, it doesn't matter if you've gotten a date that is within 4 weeks or 8 weeks or even 12 weeks - if you apply and can't get a date, if you're waiting 4 weeks for the test centre to get back to you with a date, then it's free!

* I could be wrong on this.. this is what I've read numerous times elsewhere though.. and it makes sense in terms of practically every single test centre has a wait time of over 4 weeks for a test

mgbgt1978 · 28-05-2010 10:30PM

Basquille, The nct operators have to TEST your car within 4 weeks of you asking them to. That is part of the contract they have signed.
If you try to book online and there are no slots available within 4 weeks then you will have to phone them to see if they can test your car within the 4 weeks.
What usually happens in my case is I phone them, no slots available, so I tell the operator I am willing to give them 1/2 days to text back with a test date that is within the 4 weeks.....FOUR TIMES this year they have managed to find a test appointment within the 4 weeks.
By the way, the new crowd are slightly better than the last lot. They have scheduled more overtime, etc. but remember they have signed a contract with our beloved government to ensure a test lead-time of no more than 4 weeks.....I'm sure all boardsies would honour all contracts they had signed.

Basq · 28-05-2010 10:36PM

Cheers for clearing that up mgbgt1978.

My NCT is up for renewal at the end of this month (aka Monday) and I never recieved a letter from them asking me to book a test, and last time I tried there was no slots available.

Must give them a call on Monday.

EDIT: Just checked.. still no free dates available on the website up til October. That can't be right!

Although I have heard the website is fairly iffy - will give them a call on Monday. Am away for two weeks in June anyways.

mgbgt1978 · 29-05-2010 11:15AM

You will often find that the website doesn't show any slots, then checking a day or so later there will be 2 or 3 days available. They hold back a certain number of slots for retests, taxis, etc. and then release them if they are not filled.
There will be even more problems from next year when all the 10 years and older cars face a yearly NCT test .:)

By the way, it would be very unusual to receive a reminder letter from them these days.

Basq · 09-06-2010 10:06AM

Got my letter from the NCT this morning.

My NCT test is scheduled for the 8th September. That's 13 WEEKS from today.

Can anyone beat that? Should I phone them up and quote the 4 week thing? Might wait til I get back from my holidays anyways.

8~) · 09-06-2010 11:41AM

Yesterday I got pulled by the traffic corps - I was behind their car and they pulled in, let me past and then followed me and flashed the lights. Reason: their system stated my car has no NCT.

The car isn't tested; I phoned for a date in April, got the letter in May and the test is in September.

I had the NCT booking letter in the car and presented it - grand, carry on. So I wouldn't like to be without any evidence of attempting to book the NCT, which was the case for a few weeks in May when I was on the 'priority list'. And technically, if I met a guard on a bad day I could get points for not having the valid NCT cert.

atlantean · 13-06-2010 03:01PM

8~) wrote: »

Yesterday I got pulled by the traffic corps - I was behind their car and they pulled in, let me past and then followed me and flashed the lights. Reason: their system stated my car has no NCT.

The car isn't tested; I phoned for a date in April, got the letter in May and the test is in September.

I had the NCT booking letter in the car and presented it - grand, carry on. So I wouldn't like to be without any evidence of attempting to book the NCT, which was the case for a few weeks in May when I was on the 'priority list'. And technically, if I met a guard on a bad day I could get points for not having the valid NCT cert.

Something similar happened to me but it was at a checkpoint. The Guard noted that the car I was driving didn't have an NCT. I was lucky as my car was due for testing the following Friday and I had the letter from the NCT with me. I was sent on my way once I produced the letter!

free NCT after a 4 week wait !!!

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