DSA cancelled practical test the day before theory cert expires! Has to pay!

Middy

My cousin took his driving theory test on July 12th 2010. He was involved in a car accident - as a passenger 6-8 weeks after that and suffered multiple fractures, of which had surgery.

16 months later after much physio etc, he was able to drive and had to learn from scratch. He had his practical booked for 11th July and just had a phone call from the DSA telling him is test is cancelled as one of the test instructors has phoned in sick. He is unable to reschedule to any practicals in the area (there are 4) before Thursday. So he has to re-take the theory test again and forking out £31. He has asked the DSA they temporarily extend the cert for the next practical he can get - if he fails that practical, he will have to pay the £31 or ask them to allow him to do the test for free. Both options, the DSA say no.

He is having to pay £31 for the theory tests and additional money for the book, even though its not his fault. He thinks the DSA cancelled his test, not anyone else taking their practical at the same time - (my colleague who passed 2 weeks ago said there were 5 others taking their practical at the same time when she took hers) so they could get extra money.

Can he challenge this? He was going to take his first practical about a week after the accident.

spiro

If the DSA say no, I'm not sure who you could appeal to.

Mrs_Imp

Did he write to them or phone them?

If he phoned them, then the chances are he got a customer advisor, and their reply would be 'no'. I would suggest writing a nice letter explaining the circumstances, and asking if there would be any way of being given a discount by them as a goodwill gesture. If you can find out the name of the head of customer relations, then send it direct to them.

I hope he manages to get somewhere with them.