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

selectamatic · 19-02-2020 4:05pm

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

FishOnABike · 19-02-2020 4:12pm

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 2:21pm

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 3:39pm

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 1:39pm

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.

beauf · 21-02-2020 1:45pm

FishOnABike wrote: »

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.

Where did you see or hear that?

FishOnABike · 21-02-2020 2:09pm

beauf wrote: »

Where did you see or hear that?

https://www.ncts.ie/1115

Expand the "Temporary Suspension Of Vehicle Inspection Lift In NCTS - Update" heading. It's under the Update 14th February 2020.

beauf · 21-02-2020 3:14pm

FishOnABike wrote: »

https://www.ncts.ie/1115

Expand the "Temporary Suspension Of Vehicle Inspection Lift In NCTS - Update" heading. It's under the Update 14th February 2020.

Theres a few bits of new info in that....

....NCTS is planning on recruiting additional Vehicle Inspectors and increasing the operating hours of test centres...

...Where customers are waiting to undergo an underbody retest inspection only,
....we ask that they refrain from making any further retest bookings until NCTS confirm that you should do so.
.......We will contact customers regarding the completion of their test.

....motorists who have completed a partial test and are waiting to complete the underbody inspection are being advised to keep a copy of their Vehicle Inspection Report with them in order to present it to a member of An Garda Síochána, if required. ....This report has been amended to clearly show that the status of the test is ‘Incomplete’ (previously this had indicated a ‘Fail’).

...

Minime2.5 · 21-02-2020 7:08pm

Any update on Waterford

BamesJond · 21-02-2020 9:20pm

Car went through the NCT a few weeks ago and failed dangerous on something I needed to then repair. No issue with this.
As I needed the car running I went back to get a partial pass (without the lift) and there were no issues.

Looks like Waterford NCT center cannot be booked until March 30th currently even though my NCT runs out before this.

From the latest update:
"Where customers are waiting to undergo an underbody retest inspection only, we ask that they refrain from making any further retest bookings until NCTS confirm that you should do so. We will contact customers regarding the completion of their test."

From reading the latest update it appears I have nothing to do but wait until I'm contacted about my retest, even though I suspect I will be well out if date by the time that happens.

I've emailed them anyway to see if they can accommodate but this whole fiasco had been handled in the most Irish way possible. Something should have been done from the get-go where an official extension was placed on all cars out of test for X amount of time. Even a month or two. Instead we have a chaotic situation where cars are half tested and then waiting over a month+ to have the test completed.

Has anyone who had not initiated contact with NCT received any correspondence in relation to having the lift inspection completed?

Apparently Waterford had a lift replacement in early Feb but I have not been contacted to schedule the lift inspection.

It's all pure nonsense. They haven't got a notion what to do and how to ensure the tests are completed. The one thing we don't need is this kind of bull****tery. They are telling us they are contacting people but I would be interested to know if anyone here has been contacted by them.

A2LUE42 · 21-02-2020 10:02pm

I just rang them and they booked me a test in an alternative centre where the lift was working.

kippy · 21-02-2020 10:21pm

A2LUE42 wrote: »

I just rang them and they booked me a test in an alternative centre where the lift was working.

What number did you ring as a matter of interest?

A2LUE42 · 21-02-2020 10:32pm

kippy wrote: »

What number did you ring as a matter of interest?

(01) 413 5982

fed_u · 21-02-2020 11:42pm

I have an incomplete test but per the letter this has to be done by some date in March. There has been no update on my local NCT centre so is the latest that we try contact a centre with working lift and get the lift part done by the date they gave?

moonage · 22-02-2020 3:52am

"Where customers are waiting to undergo an underbody retest inspection only, we ask that they refrain from making any further retest bookings until NCTS confirm that you should do so. We will contact customers regarding the completion of their test."

This statement from the NCT is a bit confusing. The first sentence seems to apply to people who failed the underbody inspection and are awating a retest. The second sentence seems to apply to those who only got the non-lift part of the test done and are awating its completion.

Are they using the word "retest" to refer to completion of the test? There can only be a retest for a failure during a test. I wish they were a bit more precise with their language.

Minime2.5 · 22-02-2020 3:30pm

do you have to make a booking online for the reinspection. Im due back on March 5th but cant get an available date until march 25th

User1998 · 22-02-2020 10:12pm

NCT fully completed in Northpoint 2 tonight

Duke O Smiley · 22-02-2020 11:13pm

User1998 wrote: »

NCT fully completed in Northpoint 2 tonight

Did you notice how many lifts were in use up there? Have 2 cars going up there during the week and it'd be nice to have full tests carried out!

User1998 · 22-02-2020 11:48pm

I think I saw two different lifts working at the same time. You should have both cars tested fully, you might just have to wait a few minutes extra I believe. Someone on here said they have 3 working lifts

Minime2.5 · 24-02-2020 4:30pm

Minime2.5 wrote: »

do you have to make a booking online for the reinspection. Im due back on March 5th but cant get an available date until march 25th

anyone

beauf · 24-02-2020 4:31pm

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Did you notice how many lifts were in use up there? Have 2 cars going up there during the week and it'd be nice to have full tests carried out!

Seemed to be 3 when I was there. I could be wrong, maybe it was 2. More than one anyway.

beauf · 24-02-2020 4:41pm

Minime2.5 wrote: »

do you have to make a booking online for the reinspection. Im due back on March 5th but cant get an available date until march 25th

Ring and they get one sooner.

I'm the same couldn't get a date.
Rang, got a date I couldn't do.
Got a second date.
A about 2 days before my date they stopped using the lifts.
Passed except the lift part, so a fail.
Couldn't get a lift working or an appointment.
Got a date on a center that the website has a working lift.
Center does not have a working lift.
Rescheduled to a different center.
Did the lift part, failed. Given 7 days to resit.
(I laughed when he handed me that)
Can't get a mechanic in that time,
Can't get a appointment in that time.

So I'll to ring, and do another spin the wheel on dates and guessing which centers have lifts in action.

dkd21 · 24-02-2020 5:36pm

beauf wrote: »

Ring and they get one sooner.

I'm the same couldn't get a date.
Rang, got a date I couldn't do.
Got a second date.
A about 2 days before my date they stopped using the lifts.
Passed except the lift part, so a fail.
Couldn't get a lift working or an appointment.
Got a date on a center that the website has a working lift.
Center does not have a working lift.
Rescheduled to a different center.
Did the lift part, failed. Given 7 days to resit.
(I laughed when he handed me that)
Can't get a mechanic in that time,
Can't get a appointment in that time.

So I'll to ring, and do another spin the wheel on dates and guessing which centers have lifts in action.

Something not quite correct about that . 30 days should be given for rectification of any ''major'' failures from inspection date . I would say a call to the head office would clarify that quickly

beauf · 24-02-2020 5:45pm

The software is probably working of the original dates. Not factoring the delays due the lifts issues.

In theory I shouldn't do the lift part until they contact me (according to their website).

Minime2.5 · 24-02-2020 7:13pm

I had an initial inspection on the 4th in waterford. Few jobs to be done . Had to reschedule a driving test in feb because of the underbody fiasco. Was planning to get the jobs done this week. my reinspection date is march 5th. rang nct . They cant give me a reinspection before that date. No available dates yet in march or april. absolute joke.Does this mean I have to pay for the full nct again out of my pocket . my rescheduled test date is march 6th . will have to cancel again

Tea drinker · 24-02-2020 8:27pm

beauf wrote: »

Ring and they get one sooner.

I'm the same couldn't get a date.
Rang, got a date I couldn't do.
Got a second date.
A about 2 days before my date they stopped using the lifts.
Passed except the lift part, so a fail.
Couldn't get a lift working or an appointment.
Got a date on a center that the website has a working lift.
Center does not have a working lift.
Rescheduled to a different center.
Did the lift part, failed. Given 7 days to resit.
(I laughed when he handed me that)
Can't get a mechanic in that time,
Can't get a appointment in that time.

So I'll to ring, and do another spin the wheel on dates and guessing which centers have lifts in action.

Nice how they can make their problem into your problem

RandomViewer · 25-02-2020 12:56am

Drove past the one near me last week, door was up but no cars,normally busy so I suspect the half tests aren't being done anymore.

tippingpoint · 25-02-2020 11:06am

Got the full test done in Ballina on Saturday. They still have the signs up in relation to the lifts being out of order but they completed the full test. NCT cert sorted til April 2022

bladespin · 25-02-2020 12:30pm

bladespin wrote: »

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

Quick update:

Ok, called them yesterday (their main number seemed to be disconnected??? so called on the number that had called me back):

They had no idea when Kells might be operating again but apparently the lifts in Fonthill are working but the centre is at capacity so I was offered Deansgrange, said ok, what's the first available: came back with the 10th of April!!!

I questioned the legality as this was pushing me way out and was told once the first (non lift test) was completed they weren't bothered about the incomplete - now I'm not so sure who the 'They' is in this case: gardai or insurance?

Our financial controller is a bit concerned about how insurance could be affected by this but couldn't get any answers.

elfy4eva · 25-02-2020 12:35pm

I've a pain in my hole with this aswell. My missus is due to sit her Driving test on 18 Mar have the incomplete test done in our local centre. The RSA won't let you sit the test without complete NCT cert. Can't get a new booking in a centre that can do the lift test before her driving test date. Have called them up and they're going to see what they can do but it's an absolute clusterfcuk.

L-M · 25-02-2020 8:41pm

I thought they were doing it for those who were due tests?

We’ve just sold my misses car privately that had the half test done. I presume they’ll still contact us even though the change of ownership will be done? Hard to know

beauf · 26-02-2020 6:50pm

beauf wrote: »

Ring and they get one sooner.

I'm the same couldn't get a date.
Rang, got a date I couldn't do.
Got a second date.
A about 2 days before my date they stopped using the lifts.
Passed except the lift part, so a fail.
Couldn't get a lift working or an appointment.
Got a date on a center that the website has a working lift.
Center does not have a working lift.
Rescheduled to a different center.
Did the lift part, failed. Given 7 days to resit.
(I laughed when he handed me that)
Can't get a mechanic in that time,
Can't get a appointment in that time.

So I'll to ring, and do another spin the wheel on dates and guessing which centers have lifts in action.

Well got the car fixed, and can't get a date in any of the centers I think have lifts working. Rang and they just say to ring back.

Others in the office have been ringing for a couple of weeks now. No dates.

So do I gamble on making a new booking and 50/50 if they have a lift, or just ignore it for a few weeks.

LOL such a shambles.

silver2020 · 26-02-2020 7:09pm

beauf wrote: »

Well got the car fixed, and can't get a date in any of the centers I think have lifts working. Rang and they just say to ring back.

Others in the office have been ringing for a couple of weeks now. No dates.

So do I gamble on making a new booking and 50/50 if they have a lift, or just ignore it for a few weeks.

LOL such a shambles.

don't know if they just made an error you, but I had to take mine for a retest and booked it online without any issue whatsoever.

The lift test will be done another time, but any other fail requires the normal re-test within 30 days and can be booked online as normal.

beauf · 26-02-2020 7:16pm

I could go back retest the non lift part, but then I have to go back again for a the lift part. That will be 4 tests.

At a time when they are struggling with demand, and backlog, does that make sense to increase the number of visits/test people have to do.

Not that I can get a non lift test within the allowed time frame anyway. (yes I know, ignore the dates)

Speak Now · 26-02-2020 8:41pm

RioM wrote: »

Nope. Is it running?

1 lane has the lift back.

beauf · 26-02-2020 9:01pm

Speak Now wrote: »

1 lane has the lift back.

What centre is this....

Speak Now · 26-02-2020 9:07pm

beauf wrote: »

What centre is this....

Waterford

sillysocks · 26-02-2020 9:45pm

Speak Now wrote: »

Waterford

So is it just luck if you get this lane or will all cars be funnelled to the one lift?

greasepalm · 26-02-2020 9:52pm

Might be just luck of the draw and how busy test centre is on the day.

sillysocks · 26-02-2020 10:12pm

greasepalm wrote: »

Might be just luck of the draw and how busy test centre is on the day.

Thanks, due in on Saturday morning for a test so will see!

Speak Now · 26-02-2020 11:53pm

sillysocks wrote: »

So is it just luck if you get this lane or will all cars be funnelled to the one lift?

All the free retests are being funnelled through this lane.

nanook5 · 27-02-2020 1:33pm

Got a lift retest done in Limerick today

jprboy · 27-02-2020 3:12pm

This is an excerpt from the update to the NCTS website on Feb 26:

If your test was done in full before the problem with the lifts arose (on or before 29th January), and you are unable to return for a retest within the required 30-days, because there is a problem with the car lifts in your local NCT centre, please note the following; While you normally need to get your retest done within 30-days, you don’t need to do so in the current situation. The NCTS will contact you directly when we are able to retest your car. When we do we will put your car through a FULL test again before we issue you an NCT certificate. We are doing this because your original test has gone past 30 days. You will not be charged for this full test, you will only be charged what you expected to pay, which is, the normal retest cost.

macplaxton · 27-02-2020 3:24pm

Two things of note from NI today about MOTs:

That they're replacing all the 52 of their lifts, not repairing any and that the lifts will be independently inspected. Estimated time-frame in mid-July.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51657703

Xcellor · 27-02-2020 3:28pm

jprboy wrote: »

This is an excerpt from the update to the NCTS website on Feb 26:

If your test was done in full before the problem with the lifts arose (on or before 29th January), and you are unable to return for a retest within the required 30-days, because there is a problem with the car lifts in your local NCT centre, please note the following; While you normally need to get your retest done within 30-days, you don’t need to do so in the current situation. The NCTS will contact you directly when we are able to retest your car. When we do we will put your car through a FULL test again before we issue you an NCT certificate. We are doing this because your original test has gone past 30 days. You will not be charged for this full test, you will only be charged what you expected to pay, which is, the normal retest cost.

They should be just testing what they didn't do the first time around this 30 day rule is nonsense to start with... This is the last thing they should be doing with a backlog.

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

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