VOSA - ****ing useless

[Eddh]

I have to VIC one of my cars and have been trying to fill out their 'online application' which you then have to email to VOSA. Why they can't just have it so you fill out an online form and then hey presto it arrives in their database I do not know!

The form is in a PDF format which you cannot edit even when you save it onto your hard-drive and go to fill it out.

I rung them 4 times now about this and have been faced with 4 different replies from 4 clueless retards.

1) 'Erm yeah if you click save as and then do it like that then it will be fine.'

'No I have tried that and it doesn't work...'

'Oh right let me put you on hold'

5 minutes later I get cut off!

2) 'Yes you can do it online but I will have to email you the form'

'Ok <gives email address>

'Ok I will send that now'

1 hour passes and no email recieved...

3) 'No there is no online application'

'Why does it say on your website that there is then?'

'Errrr... let me talk to my manager'

10 minutes on hold and click I have been disconnected again.

4) 'Erm you can't do it online you need to apply via post or fax'

'I was told I could email it'

'Erm right yeah errr give me a sec'

'...'

'Right whats youe email address'

'<gives email>'

'Ok I have sent that have you recieved it?'

'No'

'Your email address must be wrong'

For fks sake what an incompetient bunch or retards! How the fk am I supposed to get a VIC on my car when I have to deal with a right bunch of spackers. You can't even contact your station locally because they don't list the phone numbers.

All the test is is a 20 minute check to make sure the VIN number is what it should be.

[F i F]

Eddh said:

You can't even contact your station locally because they don't list the phone numbers.

Bullcrap

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Useful...

[The Black Flash]

Government body in "stty service" shocker
And let's not even get into the SVA "inspector lottery".

[dibbers006]

Sounds a bit like 6 of one... half a dozen of the other. But I know how you feel. Frustrating

[Eddh]

F i F said:

Eddh said:

You can't even contact your station locally because they don't list the phone numbers.

Bullcrap

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Useful...

Try ringing any of those numbers and it tells you to ring 03001239000 which is their main number! Trust me I did try that.

[Buzz word]

F i F said:

Eddh said:

You can't even contact your station locally because they don't list the phone numbers.

Bullcrap

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Useful...

Not necessarily. The list there is the vehicle testing stations. However if it's anything like the SVA that just gets you a response saying you have to book via the office part of VOSA and you cannot book at your local station directly. They have to be sent a booking from swansea. However there are local VOSA office branches that can be contacted locally. For example chelmsford has the test centre on the widford estate and the office part by the Uni. You cant get a direct nuumber for the office. It is routed via the swansea number where you request a call back or you have to go down to the ofice in person which is the best way. The opening hours are rigerously enforced and conveniantly just normal working hours.
OP I feel your pain getting through the SVA was enough for me. Good luck.

[Eddh]

They have now sent me a form and its the WRONG FORM AGHHHHHHHH!!!!

[mrmaggit]

Have a 7/10.

[andy400]

Government agency in 'being st' shocker! No-one surprised.

I've been trying to inform HMRC of something that they need to know. It will undoubtedly involve me paying more tax, and also has the potential to get me in the poo if I don't tell 'em.

Can I get through on the 'phone? Can I fk.

[Clammy]

Buzz word said:

Not necessarily. The list there is the vehicle testing stations. However if it's anything like the SVA that just gets you a response saying you have to book via the office part of VOSA and you cannot book at your local station directly. They have to be sent a booking from swansea. However there are local VOSA office branches that can be contacted locally. For example chelmsford has the test centre on the widford estate and the office part by the Uni. You cant get a direct nuumber for the office. It is routed via the swansea number where you request a call back or you have to go down to the ofice in person which is the best way. The opening hours are rigerously enforced and conveniantly just normal working hours.
OP I feel your pain getting through the SVA was enough for me. Good luck.

God Almighty, who invented that system?

Nate Griffin?

[markmullen]

Here is a proper list of DVLA local office telephone numbers

http://www.regauction.com/vro.htm

[F i F]

Well I hear what yoiu say gents but I speak as I find.

Rung our local testing office which is defined on that list of VIC centres prev posted. Both times a real person answered.

First time they were able to answer the admittedly easy question.

Second time they were not but promised to find someone who could answer a technical trailer /towing regs question. Someone called back that day and the gist of their answer was " Ok the answer to the question asked is bla bla bla, but in my view because of bla bla bla the question you should have asked is bla bla bla, the answer to that being bla bla bla. Which all led to a useful and informative exchange saving me a bundle of time and probably fair bit of money.

So that's a balancing view fwiw.

But hey don't let me stop you, after all...

Pistonheads.com Foul mouthed rants about Govt Agencies Matter.

[2woody]

this is about right for VOSA / DVLA I'm afraid.

I have registered maybe 15 prototype vehicles in the last 12 months. Now, I do admit that this is a little off the beaten track, but in each of these cases, I have been told to make the application out in a fundamentally different way, sometimes completely the reverse of the last "advice".

In one particularly hilarious case, I was told to take a seat while the "officer" consulted with her boss. Then they had to ring the Department for Transport, who in turn got in touch with MoD. Next thing, my phone rang - 'twas the MoD wanting to know what advice they should give......

To be fair, this is a Government organisation, and I wouldn't ever expect them to be efficient or cost-effective. Nor would I expect their staff to be useful or to apply logic. Government just doesn't do that.

The art of Government seems to be "tax the populace just about as much as you can without rioting in the streets and then dream up new and interesting ways to waste the revenue". DVLA and VOSA certainly do do that.

Edited by 2woody on Wednesday 18th March 10:21

[Darkslider]

Have you thought of printing out the PDF form and filling it out with a pen? Or is there some reason I've missed why you can't do that?

[aeropilot]

Darkslider said:

Have you thought of printing out the PDF form and filling it out with a pen? Or is there some reason I've missed why you can't do that?

Indeed.....it's why they have it in PDF format pressumably for this reason.
You can't electronically 'fill-in' a PDF.