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Original poster

Terrible public services

34 replies

Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 12:47

I’ve been trying to book a driving test for ages and the best that I can come up with is a test centre 235 miles away in August. And that’s after many, any times of looking at different hours of different days. Is the driving test system the worst public service currently, or are others even worse? Keen to hear of worse public services to make me feel better.

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VickyEadieofThigh · 09/03/2026 17:48

LoveItaly · 09/03/2026 13:58

We pay plenty already, much is being wasted and going who knows where, that’s part of the problem.

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What evidence do you have for your claim that "much" taxation is "wasted"?

Orchidgrower · 09/03/2026 17:09

Completely different public service but the average wait for a Rape trial is 417 days from charge, 499 days if the offender is not kept in prison ahead of the trial. (Figures from Rape Crisis).

If part of the issue with driving tests is that examiners are not paid enough to attract driving Instructors to become examiners then it maybe that the fees need to increase to fund pay rises for the examiners. (I say this as a parent of a teen who will soon start learning to drive).

MsGreying · 09/03/2026 15:08

LoveItaly · 09/03/2026 13:56

Along with the state of the roads, it’s almost as if the government is trying to stop us driving….

Our car needs a new wheel bearing. The pot holes are slowly killing cars.

Catza · 09/03/2026 14:41

EmmaStone · 09/03/2026 13:58

Yes re driving tests. DS passed his theory test in Jan 25, couldn't get a practical test within 20 miles of Bristol (3 test centres) until 27 November 2025, by which time he'd started Uni and not had much practice. Failed that, and we've now got a test booked in Cardiff (1.5hrs drive away) in July 2026. Ideally we'll change it to one in Bristol, but they never seem to come up. DD did her test in 2023, and wasn't even as bad them (it wasn't great, but at least she could get a cancellation).

Have you tried Newport? Their test center seemed to be permanently empty just a few years ago. When everything around Bristol was booked up, Newport had whole weeks of availability. Might have changed now but worth checking.

InveterateWineDrinker · 09/03/2026 14:31

Happyjoe · 09/03/2026 14:18

We were granted probate in 2 weeks. I presume you have some sort of issue with the estate/will?
We were also informed by estate agent when had property valued for probate to apply ourselves and not use a solicitor. Going through a solicitor was much slower.

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I am doing it myself - no solicitor.

I'd love to be able to tell you whether or not there is a problem, but when you ring the helpine all you get is "I'll escalate this for you" and then they hang up. They don't reply to emails. I've made a formal complaint; on the last day of the two weeks they gave themselves to respond they said they'd need to investigate further and have granted themselves an open-ended timetable to do so.

I've had to involve my MP.

Original poster
Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 14:29

I tried this this morning but forgot to set an alarm and have 3 under 5 who slept in so I did too. Logged on at a bit after 7 to be 42,000 in the queue.

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metalbottle · 09/03/2026 14:27

Go onto the site at exactly 6am on a Monday morning - that's when they get released. I got a local test about 5 months after the date of booking and there were lots of options.

Amberlynnswashcloth · 09/03/2026 14:26

ComtesseDeSpair · 09/03/2026 14:07

Is signing up for a week-long crash course with pre-arranged test at the end a way of gaining quicker access? If so, in your position I’d be considering that.

They all have miserable reviews with the wait for a test being the same as for everyone else.

Happyjoe · 09/03/2026 14:18

InveterateWineDrinker · 09/03/2026 13:46

I've got nearly a million quid sitting in a late relative's bank account that I can't do anything with because the Probate section at His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has been sitting on a probate application for over a year.

We were granted probate in 2 weeks. I presume you have some sort of issue with the estate/will?
We were also informed by estate agent when had property valued for probate to apply ourselves and not use a solicitor. Going through a solicitor was much slower.

EmmaStone · 09/03/2026 14:15

We're considering the intensive course, but not sure they'll be able to book tests from March. 4 July doesn't work for us at all - DS is hoping to be doing Camp America, but he could do the end of the summer, just no idea if a test date will become available.

Original poster
Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 14:12

ComtesseDeSpair · 09/03/2026 14:07

Is signing up for a week-long crash course with pre-arranged test at the end a way of gaining quicker access? If so, in your position I’d be considering that.

I can’t see how these can exist though? Surely they have the same problems with examiners.

I don’t need lessons so this would be an incredibly expensive way to secure a test date (but I might get desperate enough soon…).

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ComtesseDeSpair · 09/03/2026 14:07

Is signing up for a week-long crash course with pre-arranged test at the end a way of gaining quicker access? If so, in your position I’d be considering that.

EmmaStone · 09/03/2026 14:07

I just tried to login to change the date of DS' test (yes I know he should do it, but due to SEND, he's not brilliant at organising himself), first time I've ever tried, and have been blocked by the DVSA for fear that I'm a bot. If only I had the technical nous, DVSA...

Original poster
Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 14:00

I love the ironic ‘do you want me to check for a test in your area within the next 3 days’ button. Hahahahaha! Has anyone EVER found a test date though this?

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InveterateWineDrinker · 09/03/2026 13:58

LoveItaly · 09/03/2026 13:58

We pay plenty already, much is being wasted and going who knows where, that’s part of the problem.

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In my experience, the worst offenders aren't the ones funded from taxation - they're the ones which charge fees and still don't deliver.

Original poster
Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 13:58

The issues with driving tests are threefold:

Government technology being susceptible to bots and their failure to address this (you have to wonder if they were getting backhanders, you really do. Fixing it is basic stuff! And;

You can earn more as an instructor than an examiner so no one wants to be an examiner, and;

High immigration means lots of people want to sit tests. It doesn’t help that we live in a town with lots of wealthy students that all seem to want to have cars these days.

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EmmaStone · 09/03/2026 13:58

Yes re driving tests. DS passed his theory test in Jan 25, couldn't get a practical test within 20 miles of Bristol (3 test centres) until 27 November 2025, by which time he'd started Uni and not had much practice. Failed that, and we've now got a test booked in Cardiff (1.5hrs drive away) in July 2026. Ideally we'll change it to one in Bristol, but they never seem to come up. DD did her test in 2023, and wasn't even as bad them (it wasn't great, but at least she could get a cancellation).

LoveItaly · 09/03/2026 13:58

VickyEadieofThigh · 09/03/2026 13:54

Nobody wants to pay more tax to improve public services.

We pay plenty already, much is being wasted and going who knows where, that’s part of the problem.

LoveItaly · 09/03/2026 13:56

Along with the state of the roads, it’s almost as if the government is trying to stop us driving….

VickyEadieofThigh · 09/03/2026 13:54

Nobody wants to pay more tax to improve public services.

TonTonMacoute · 09/03/2026 13:53

This country is a complete joke. The driving test fiasco has been a problem for years, it could be fixed so easily but they still haven't done it.

For me it's the state of the roads. Shockingly bad, I live rurally and the roads do get damaged by bad winter weather, but they have never been as bad as they are now. Never.

InveterateWineDrinker · 09/03/2026 13:52

Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 13:49

I’ve heard probate is a disaster too. That’s a truly rubbish situation though, with your life on hold like that.

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The really funny thing is that my late relative's biggest creditor is.... HM Treasury.

My MP cannot see the irony in this shitshow.

weareallcats · 09/03/2026 13:51

It was bad when I took my test 18 years ago (I even turned up to a test that they’d cancelled and not informed me…) but this sounds dreadful. It’s especially frustrating if you fail as you have to go through the whole thing again!

They need to make public transport outside of London better if they’re going to make it impossible for people to learn to drive.

Octavia64 · 09/03/2026 13:51

My dd has just given up on the driving test.
she’s getting around by public transport and me giving her lifts.

she did take a test in a centre a long way away a couple of years ago but it’s very hard to pass if you don’t know the area at all.

passports is bloody good though.

Original poster
Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 13:49

InveterateWineDrinker · 09/03/2026 13:46

I've got nearly a million quid sitting in a late relative's bank account that I can't do anything with because the Probate section at His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has been sitting on a probate application for over a year.

I’ve heard probate is a disaster too. That’s a truly rubbish situation though, with your life on hold like that.

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