To be FURIOUS at the DVSA test booking system - DS test cancelled at last minute after being booked for MONTHS!

[SophieFee]

DS passed his theory beginning of July! Earliest test date was the end of November!

Through blood, sweat and tears, via one of these cancellation apps, we managed to get an earlier test (next week)! This has been booked for months! Despite earlier tests pinging up occasionally I was never ‘fastest finger first’ - (which is something you need to be first to book the cancelled spot)!

DS was ready to take his practical at the end of August but due to this shockingly long wait for tests, we just had to go with it!

Today, less than a week before his test was due an email comes through stating that the examiner is now no longer available on that date - next available date early December!

We’re livid, will continue to use the cancellation app but it’s just so frustrating that there’s nothing we can do! It costs hundreds of pounds to learn and then once you’re ready you can’t get a test until months later!!

AIBU to think that the whole DVSA site requires a complete overhaul, where tests cannot be block booked by companies (BBC article I will try and source) therefore, leaving those who are ready not able to get a test for months!!

When I started learning, I was told pretty much to book my test straight away. It's a nightmare. I did get a cancellation thankfully. Hope he passes soon

The system is rubbish and has been for a number of years

If anyone has lost an exclamation mark, look no further...
But yes, so frustrating for you and your DS!

YABU with your excessive use of exclamation marks!!!

You sound very stressed for something that's tedious but not the end of the world.

YANBU OP, it’s hugely frustrating. I was on one of those ‘fastest finger first’ groups for ages but was never quick enough - ended up paying for a block of lessons just to get the guaranteed test slot! It’s shocking that companies can block book slots. Ideally they’d create more test slots to meet demand but my instructor told me (anecdotally) that they’ve been trying to hire more testers but no-one’s interested. So frustrating!!

It is very annoying and happening to loads of people at the moment. System needs overhauling. For the folk thinking it's no big deal- it's a pain in the backside to plan your last lesson and book your instructors car for the test etc just to find it's all fallen through after you are mentally ready.

And nothing wrong with excessive exclamation mark use.....big fan myself!!

Sorry. I’ll hand them back once I’ve had a gin!

I know it's deeply frustrating but it's certainly possible to get earlier tests, at least in some areas. My son happened to go online on a Wednesday evening and got a test 3 days later. Unfortunately he failed, but through a cancellation app managed to get another date 12 working days after the first.

Oh I'm not saying it's not frustrating, but it's not worth stressing over probably. I say this as someone who got a test easily, passed first time and then immediately got an illness which banned me from driving forever though! Sounds like it needs an overhaul though.

😂😂
I am having a glass of red with my chips and gravy!
Cheers

We're just trying to book a test at any of the 'local' centres. There are no appointments anywhere.
The system is appalling.
Only candidates should be allowed to book.
If they cancel the appointment should just go back in the system - none of these apps should be allowed.
They've shut so many test centres - more need to be re-opened.
Apparently slots are restricted because the eye test can only be carried out in daylight! Surely a better way for that can be found?!

I wouldn’t class it as tedious tbh.

I’m so jealous of your chips and gravy.

Sorry to add to your envy, but they are delicious!!

No? I meant it insofar as looking around for spaces, slots being cancelled. It's a drag and clearly there needs to be a better system so people can take tests. In the same way it's tedious calling the GP at 8am for an appointment.

Please be careful about handing your details over to these cancellation apps or people. It’s a lot of very sensitive personal data and you have no idea what they are doing with it.

I’ve read about this before and how the gov tried to stop bots booking slots.

But what I can not believe is that they allow instructors to book?! So they book out loads of slots. Terrible. They could easily fix the system by making someone enter their driving license number and only one at a time. Why have they made such a simple system so complicated and useless?!

We’re currently using Testi app which is ok but I know what you mean, thank you.

I understand your frustration, I've just passed my test after starting learning 2 years ago. Partly it's taken so long because I'm an over 40 single parent with no car to practice in so only one lesson a week etc. But mostly because of the crap system, I used Testi and occasionally was fastest to get a nearer test but then checked with instructor and he wasn't available so then would lose my original test and have to start again even further away. And now they've changed it I think so you can only rearrange 3 times so then have to go back to the bloody beginning again. Sometimes they'd be nothing in my local area so I'd have to book a test the other side of the country just to get in the system! Been such a frustrating process, I've only kept going because I knew how huge being able to drive would be for my family, I've definitely massively regretted not doing it before covid screwed everything up!

Can the instructor swap with anyone else he's teaching? That's how I managed it in the end, once you get a reasonable-ish cancellation through Testi then instructor might be able to swap with someone else who's not quite ready.

Good luck, it's a bloody pain in the arse!

PS I'm also pregnant so haven't even been able to medicate with gin/wine to take the frustration away :(

SO annoying @SophieFee! The only thing I would say (for someone reading- obviously it's too late for you) is to take the theory and book the practical test soon after they start learning. Don't wait till they're nearly ready to take it.

She really isn't, it cost us hundreds of pounds more than it needed to as DS was ready to take his test way before we could get a test, it was over 6 months wait in our area and we live in an area that has one of the lowest 1st time pass rate .

He got a cancellation, failed (instructor wanted to lodge a complaint as felt it was injust, we said no in case he got the same instructor again) then had to wait a further 2 weeks I think it was to rebook. We had to book 6 months ahead and try to get another cancellation. We had to pay for his slot each week with his instructor in order to use the car for the exam (common practice) which cost a fortune. He ended up having to use his own car as got a cancellation and the instructor had an appointment he couldn't change. Had to then buy an additional mirror etc and had the extra worry of a car he hadn't really practiced manoeuvres in, all at very short notice.

It's a totally shitty system, so unfair on young drivers, especially those who have saved like anything themselves and don't have parents who can fork out for a load of unnecessary lessons.

Not the end of the world no, but a really shitty situation for teens.

Edited as I said 28 days to rebook but I have no idea why i said that, it was maybe 10 days/2 weeks before you're allowed

We actually got the 2nd cancellation on the main website, I randomly went on there in the middle of the day and got a test. 1st time was on one of the apps.

Yanbu. It's a really stressful process these days. You used to be able to book a text a month away.
I know a kid who's test was cancelled with 24hrs notice recently.

You should have to enter your provisional licence number with no way to book without it.

But it isn't the end of the world. If the examiner is sick, for example, there's little can be done.