Can I complain about Daughter's Driving Test?

Wig

Well that's good news, but didn't your statement/complaint initially tell everything as it had happened? That she had asked in the test centre prior to test to be met with "computer says no" attitude, and that in the car she had told the examiner who was not interested...... ?

i.e. did they initially ignore your statement? If this is the case, I would be asking them now why they had ignored your statement of events.

Once you have the refund I would strongly suggest making a formal complaint against that examiner.

Errata

If you want to make sure - write to the manager of the test centre and send it by special delivery.

The_Undercover_ADI

Or knock on the door and ask to speak to the TC manager - it's cheaper than special delivery.

Stephb1986_2

yay congratulations!!!

I hope she passes this time!

Steph xx

photome

congratulations, I hope she gets the test she has asked for next time. I hope all the posters on here who gave you a hard time, come back and congratulate you as well

iB1

An excellent result - congratulations

beachbeth

Wig wrote: »

Well that's good news, but didn't your statement/complaint initially tell everything as it had happened? That she had asked in the test centre prior to test to be met with "computer says no" attitude, and that in the car she had told the examiner who was not interested...... ?

This was in my original email to the DSA:

However, on arrival at the test centre yesterday they knew nothing of this and when she tried to explain to 'Mary'(name changed), the examiner, that she was special needs and needed these sorts of instructions, Mary interrupted her and wouldn't really listen. As a result she was a bit confused between which way the examiner wanted her to turn and found that Mary was leaving it really late before telling her which way she wanted her to turn at junctions/roundabouts etc. As a result she began to drive more slowly as she was waiting for the instructions and, of course, it affected her whole driving test and caused her to fail.

Their email in reply to this 2 days ago was:

I apologise that your daughter found it difficult to understand the instructions given and feels that this had a negative effect on her driving. I can confirm that our notes for that test say: “Candidate has speech problems and trouble understanding words”. Unfortunately this explains the problem but not the solution that the examiner needed to take. The examiner will see the notes for each candidate but cannot make assumptions.

The notes for the test in December 2008 are similar. Please be aware that when booking tests for your daughter you need to explain each time exactly what the examiner will need to do.

I have now amended the notes for the December test, so that they now read: “Candidate has speech problems and trouble understanding words. Examiner needs to give clear instructions in plenty of time, and point out the direction as well as verbalising it, as candidate gets confused between left and right”.

If this is not accurate or not detailed enough, please let us know by ringing the contact centre (0300 200 1122) or replying to this email in plenty of time so that we can amend what the examiner will see.

I can confirm that *******'s test is booked for (date)December 2008 at (time) at *********** Road test centre.

Unfortunately I am unable to waive the test fee for this test as it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the examiner has all relevant information in advance.

I trust this explanation is helpful to you and may I take this opportunity to wish ********* every success on her next driving test.

Their reply suggests that they didn't read my email properly which is why we rang yesterday. My daughter explained everything to the person on the phone who said someone would ring back. They must have passed on what my daughter said and we were really surprised when the chap at the DSA rang back saying he was giving us a refund! My daughter didn't have to argue with him! He didn't really give her a chance to ask who had made the original mistake and he didn't talk about the attitude of the examiner. I don't know whether to continue with my complaint about her or not.

Wig

I would also check that the confirmation of the test booking with special needs that you were presumably sent by DSA states:

"It is your responsibility to inform the examiner the nature of the required special needs before the test begins"

If it says nothing like that, I would question them on this aswell, and ask them to ensure that all future booking confirmations say this. Because I think their excuse for no refund is ridiculous. It would be so much more ridiculous if no such statement was in the booking confirmation you recieved.

beachbeth

The booking confirmation doesn't mention special needs at all, let alone say that it is the candidate's responsibility to make sure they are taken heed of!

beachbeth

My daughter has had her test with special needs requirements taken into account. (She was simply given her instructions in plenty of time for her to digest them.)

She has PASSED!!!!:T :j

with 6 minors.