DVLA Cancel driving test

cajef

PINGLEIST wrote: »

Whatever spin you put on it if you cancel a test with less than 24hr notice you lose over £40, if they cancel they lose nothing.

Don't get me wrong having seen it happen to some of my pupils I do know how annoying and upsetting it is, but the test has not actually been cancelled just re-arranged for another date.

Pennywise

cajef wrote: »

Not really its a fact of life. Public or private sector there can only be so many qualified examiners and when due to unforeseen circumstances there is no one available you cannot produce someone you do not have or that is not there.

But in the private sector, if a business is to survive against the competition, it has to be flexible. That means either finding another person, or to do their best to make alternative arrangements. If they didn't, they'd go out of business. In the public sector, there is no competition, so they can get away with shoddy service and poor treatment of customers, of which this is a classic case.

I can't imagine I'd have many clients left if I left them a message cancelling an appointment at short notice, made no other attempt to personally contact them, and just send them another appointment (without mutual agreement - i.e. the usual public sector "take it or leave it" attitude) for several weeks hence.

aliheaton

Pennywise wrote: »

But in the private sector, if a business is to survive against the competition, it has to be flexible. That means either finding another person, or to do their best to make alternative arrangements. If they didn't, they'd go out of business. In the public sector, there is no competition, so they can get away with shoddy service and poor treatment of customers, of which this is a classic case.

I can't imagine I'd have many clients left if I left them a message cancelling an appointment at short notice, made no other attempt to personally contact them, and just send them another appointment (without mutual agreement - i.e. the usual public sector "take it or leave it" attitude) for several weeks hence.

I had my test cancelled FIVE MINUTES before I was due to set off. I have bought a car and my instructor was confident I would pass. They call up and tell you the examiner is unavailable - oh and they cannot tell you a date - they will post one out to you. PENNYWISE is right - if market forces were in the equation this would never happen. I DON'T CARE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE INSTRUCTOR - I am paying for a service and it is not being provided. This has messed up my whole MONTH (as I don't expect to see an examiner now 'til February). If I ran my business this way I would not have any customers by now!! They are taking advantage that they have a monopoly and you can't book a test with someone more competent. We should stand up to them as we, the taxpayer, are funding this as well as paying for test! WE SHOULD BE SAYING THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEM - HAPPY CHAPPY!

Clive_Woody

aliheaton wrote: »

I had my test cancelled FIVE MINUTES before I was due to set off. I have bought a car and my instructor was confident I would pass. They call up and tell you the examiner is unavailable - oh and they cannot tell you a date - they will post one out to you. PENNYWISE is right - if market forces were in the equation this would never happen. I DON'T CARE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE INSTRUCTOR - I am paying for a service and it is not being provided. This has messed up my whole MONTH (as I don't expect to see an examiner now 'til February). If I ran my business this way I would not have any customers by now!! They are taking advantage that they have a monopoly and you can't book a test with someone more competent. We should stand up to them as we, the taxpayer, are funding this as well as paying for test! WE SHOULD BE SAYING THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEM - HAPPY CHAPPY!

I think it's a great idea keeping all these new drivers off the road, there's far too much traffic already without some newly qualified drivers released into the chaos that our roads have become.

Please keep cancelling the tests Mr Driving Instructor person.

melancholly

PINGLEIST wrote: »

Well, my daughter is quickly learning the UK,s motorists not only pay through their noses but their ears, eyes and any other orifices. Whatever spin you put on it if you cancel a test with less than 24hr notice you lose over £40, if they cancel they lose nothing.

Thanks for all the contributions.

i was going to say that i understand that sometimes it can't be avoided - especially at the moment when so many people have this vomiting bug (and if everyone who was sick stayed at home rather than infecting the rest of us, it would go away much faster!). however, it does seem very one-sided if a cancellation from one end requires you to pay but cancellation from the other doesn't..... i think that it's one of those things that isn't worth banging anyone's head against a brick wall for though, the chances of them changing their policies is so slim it's practically non-existant!

Clive_Woody

melancholly wrote: »

i was going to say that i understand that sometimes it can't be avoided - especially at the moment when so many people have this vomiting bug (and if everyone who was sick stayed at home rather than infecting the rest of us, it would go away much faster!). however, it does seem very one-sided if a cancellation from one end requires you to pay but cancellation from the other doesn't..... i think that it's one of those things that isn't worth banging anyone's head against a brick wall for though, the chances of them changing their policies is so slim it's practically non-existant!

It's sounds as if the test was re-scheduled and not cancelled.

Now if the DVLA (or whomever) charged a fee if the pupil wished to re-schedule their test then you might be onto something.

katiekittykat

This happened to me, but my test was cancelled 10 mins before! So think yourself lucky you had 24 hours notice!!!

My instrcutor gave me a compensation form to fill in, and i was awarded money for loss of earnings etc. Speak to your daughters driving instructer and see what he/she says with regards to compensation, as i'm not sure what the rules are!

Good luck, BTW i got a new test date within a week!

Sk89_2

Hi ,

could you tell us, how did you manage a booking , so early, i.e. within a week?

I tried phone, not much luck, and online seems to give the same result.

Thanks a lot
Sk 89

kevmcfad

I'm a driving instructor and the DSA just called my pupil 2 1/2 hours before her test to tell her that it had been cancelled. When my pupil pushed her for an explanation all the DSA said was "there was a problem with the test centre".

My pupil has taken an annual leave day and I'm out of pocket for 2 hours work today. I can't afford to lose out on any business. (The money I got from her today was going to be used to buy fuel).

The DSA do not compensate lost earnings to instructors due to their mistakes. This is one of several issues that infuriates driving instructors. The DSA causes a lot of instructors to leave this business.

gems1617

kevmcfad, when the dsa cancelled my driving test at short notice my driving instuctor still charged me for a double lesson. My instructor would have been out of pocket otherwise, i recouped the money i was out with the compensation form they gave me.

In my opinion you still should've charged your pupil for your time and use of car.