A reason given for the lenght of the list is the high number of no-shows. Why would someone fail to turn up? and more importanty if they did actually know they couldn’t make it why didn’t they cancel?
Well today I learned that the driving test fee is non-refundable regardless of the notice given
to cancel! A candidate who cancels 10 days in advance will be allowed to reschedule without payment of an additional fee, however this means going to the end of the list as if he just applied.
So imagine you have received a letter, after 10 months of waiting you have your test date, unfortunately because tests are only run on weekdays, during office hours, you have to be at work on that particular day, you knew you would get a date and take time off, but due to a rush job you can’t do it on that day. Well, you’re not going to cancel because that would mean another 10 month wait for sure, so you say nothing and hope, just hope, to get off work for the crucial hour, ultimately you can’t.
You lose your fee, the Department of Transport is happy as it doesn’t have to process refunds and employ more staff, the tester is happy as he still gets paid. Only the candidate loses.
What always surprises me is the governments short sightedness. Most candidates are aged 17-22, and were born in Ireland. On reaching this age they want to drive, this is not a surprise, it is predictable, years in advance. Schools know about predicting and look at birthrate in their catchment areas and think ahead, but alas…
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