My farcical attempt just to book a simple MOT in Northern Ireland
A letter from David Smyth:
Could someone please explain what is going on with reference to MOT testing in Northern Ireland?
My car MOT is up on the 22nd of May this year.
On the 1st of February I tried online to make an appointment to have my car tested.
After being in a queue for a while I eventually got through to apply only to be informed that I could not book more than three months in advance, and that I should apply from 22nd February onwards.
Yesterday morning, at 8am, I again applied online, trying to book my car in for the test at my local test centre in Newtownards.
Nothing available anywhere near the 22nd of May. Not even in June.
After trying to get an appointment near to me – at Balmoral, Belfast, and Downpatrick – the only appointment available was at 8.25am on the 18th of May at Downpatrick.
When it was stated to me that I could not book more than three months in advance, why is it that when I applied on Tuesday of this week that everything was already booked up?
David Smyth, Bangor
More letters and opinion:
——— ———
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
With the coronavirus lockdowns having had a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.
Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.
Visit
now to sign up.
Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.
Ben Lowry, Editor