Helping neighbour with NCT booking

the watchman · 09-06-2020 12:08pm #1

My neighbour is in his late 70s and wants to get his car NCT’d. He has no computer/internet experience and only has a very old mobile phone (not smart phone). He used to just call and make appointment and received confirmation text no problem. But currently there are only online bookings available which he obviously can’t do. He called the NCT office but they can’t help him.

I was thinking I could use my email but that could cause problems or even be illegal. I don’t know what advice to give him other than give up driving which seems a bit extreme to me.

filbert the fox · 09-06-2020 12:18pm

Since we now live in an uncompromising world - if this came before the courts it might force a change in the procedure due to adverse publicity for the NCTS.

bladespin · 09-06-2020 12:24pm

I would recommend seeking advice from the gardai on this, they're essentially making compliance difficult (if not impossible) for a significant number of people with this, there is no requirement to even have a phone here and they must accommodate as such.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 09-06-2020 12:31pm

the watchman wrote: »

I was thinking I could use my email but that could cause problems or even be illegal.

Why would it be?

bladespin · 09-06-2020 12:33pm

Adelyn Millions Bifocal wrote: »

Why would it be?

Data protection I'd imagine - on both sides, OP may have their neighbours consent but doubt the NCT would give theirs.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 09-06-2020 12:41pm

bladespin wrote: »

Data protection I'd imagine - on both sides, OP may have their neighbours consent but doubt the NCT would give theirs.

Ah yes, this old chestnut. Consent for what? Article 1.1 of GDPR states the applicability of the regulation, i.e. not to companies - "This Regulation lays down rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and rules relating to the free movement of personal data."

hoodie6029 · 09-06-2020 12:43pm

Create a new email address for him. Who is to know that he isn't using it.
Book the appointment for him and print out the email.

bladespin · 09-06-2020 12:43pm

Adelyn Millions Bifocal wrote: »

Ah yes, this old chestnut. Consent for what? Article 1.1 of GDPR states the applicability of the regulation, i.e. not to companies - "This Regulation lays down rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and rules relating to the free movement of personal data."

NCTS holds personal information on the car owner, they can't share his/her details.

hoodie6029 · 09-06-2020 12:56pm

Also, from NCTS.ie
'Customers of those vehicles that had a test due date prior to 28 March 2020 are now invited to make a booking for one of the centres reopening'
When is his NCT expiry? This might be what is stopping him booking over the phone.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 09-06-2020 7:27pm

bladespin wrote: »

NCTS holds personal information on the car owner, they can't share his/her details.

They don’t have to. Anyone can bring a car for NCT as long as they hold the VLC.

User1998 · 09-06-2020 9:10pm

Illegal ?? Just book the NCT with your email.

Oral Surgeon · 10-06-2020 10:12am

You are overthinking this OP, just book the nct with your email and get on with it....
I have booked nct's for my wife's car on my email......

biko · 10-06-2020 11:53am

The NCT won't worry about who books the car.
You can even NCT it for him. The owner of a car doesn't have to be the person that NCT it.

JustAThought · 10-06-2020 12:11pm

OP - I had a similar problem and rang the number on the website and explained - you must have got on to one of those underpaid instruction nazis - just call again, let in you are yerman or GDPR might give you issues as they will only talk to the car owner typically - have the reg handy - and make the booking for him. I have a few elderly people who din’t have iphones or mobiles or use email and it boils my blood the disinterested script responses they get from jaded call centre minions. I think last time we followed up and complained ( with a bank) we got e200 per incident. Took the sting off it as they legally have to not provide a service for all who need to avail of it and facilitate them.The NCT fixed line phone girls are usually very helpful - try them again for him. Fair dues for trying to help. I specify with everyone I deal with all correspondence by post - gets over a multitude of spam and virus nonsense and makes them make an effort for their salaries.

the watchman · 12-06-2020 11:40am

So booking has been made. I used my credit card and hope that I get paid back. What happens next year I wonder. Interestingly I note that according their T&Cs the email address is accepted as personal data and that “Additionally you warrant to us that all data provided by you to us is accurate, complete and up-to-date.”. It just gets more interesting doesn’t it.

Oral Surgeon · 12-06-2020 11:47am

the watchman wrote: »

So booking has been made. I used my credit card and hope that I get paid back. What happens next year I wonder. Interestingly I note that according their T&Cs the email address is accepted as personal data and that “Additionally you warrant to us that all data provided by you to us is accurate, complete and up-to-date.”. It just gets more interesting doesn’t it.

Not really....:rolleyes:

Cheensbo · 12-06-2020 12:20pm

the watchman wrote: »

So booking has been made. I used my credit card and hope that I get paid back. What happens next year I wonder. Interestingly I note that according their T&Cs the email address is accepted as personal data and that “Additionally you warrant to us that all data provided by you to us is accurate, complete and up-to-date.”. It just gets more interesting doesn’t it.

The car will probably be due another NCT i'd say, depending on the age of the car it might be 2 years!

mickdw · 12-06-2020 9:16pm

I know it used to be the case that the card used during the booking wouldnt be charged until day of test and they used to say that you should ensure card was still valid until date of test.
You have used your credit card. Will they need you and your card there on the day? I dont know tbh.

emanresu · 12-06-2020 9:44pm

mickdw wrote: »

...You have used your credit card. Will they need you and your card there on the day? I dont know tbh.

The last few times I brought cars for NCT, I had my card ready at the counter but the staff did not ask for it.

hoodie6029 · 12-06-2020 9:52pm

the watchman wrote: »

It just gets more interesting doesn’t it.

Not really. Anyone could own the car next year.

bladespin · 16-06-2020 10:57am

Checked it out:

Thank you for your recent email. Unfortunately, due to restrictions all NCT appointments must be made via the online booking facility at this time.

I can understand they're doing what they can but as this is a requirement for every car they should have a mechanism for every owner.

the watchman · 08-07-2020 9:17am

…….And they keep all your personal information for 9 years!. Whats all that about. More like the East German Stasi collecting intelligence than a business concerned with car safety.

And this…
The Road Safety Authority contacts a sample of customers for the purposes of customer service research. If you do not wish to be contacted to undertake customer service research please send your name and address to: surveyoptout@rsa.ie and you will not be included in any future surveys.

..... why should we have to go to the trouble of opting out of something we never asked for .

..got a call today from DPD delivery services, delivering goods at 3pm? But I never ordered anything…Ah, but you didn’t opt out. LOL.
… sorry couldn’t resist it.

colm_mcm · 08-07-2020 10:20am

The Road Safety Authority contacts a sample of customers for the purposes of customer service research. If you do not wish to be contacted to undertake customer service research please send your name and address to: surveyoptout@rsa.ie and you will not be included in any future surveys.

..... why should we have to go to the trouble of opting out of something we never asked for .

I’d imagine in this case it would be to get an accurate spread of users rather than those who specifically tequest to participate in surveys which would skew the results.

hoodie6029 · 09-07-2020 4:14pm

the watchman wrote: »

The Road Safety Authority contacts a sample of customers for the purposes of customer service research. If you do not wish to be contacted to undertake customer service research please send your name and address to: surveyoptout@rsa.ie and you will not be included in any future surveys.

Where on the website is this from?

10-07-2020 12:39am

I was at the NCT in Ballymun last week. Car was booked in under someone else's name. Their debit card was refused. I had no log book.

I just gave them my debit card, they charged me, and put it through the test. It's not difficult. "Mountain out of a molehill" springs to mind here.

meathstevie · 13-07-2020 9:29pm

bladespin wrote: »

Data protection I'd imagine - on both sides, OP may have their neighbours consent but doubt the NCT would give theirs.

Nowhere in the data protection legislation does it state that you can’t help out an elderly or otherwise unable neighbour with making a booking for an NCT on their car.

If you’re insured to drive it you can even take it to the NCT for them.

Helping neighbour with NCT booking

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