MOT Comp 2 meltdown: One year on

Last year's MOT switchover caused widespread chaos but has the DVSA improved it's service?

MOT Comp 2 meltdown: One year on
12 months has passed since test stations started experiencing widespread flaws in the new MOT testing service. Share your thoughts and experiences of the new system with GW.

August 2015 marked the start of what turned out to be a chaotic number of weeks for an ever increasing number of MOT test stations as the new MOT testing service went into turmoil.

The system, which the DVSA say is 50 per cent cheaper to run, replaced the old computer service after the ATOS contract came to end.

Major problems with the transfer of vehicle data to the new system caused a multitude of issues including duplicates, retests, historic mileages and expiry date preservation all of which have now been fixed according to the DVSA.

Contingency testing slot payment issues, system speed, error messages and prolonged period of downtime were just some of the other problems testers reported to GW, slamming the system as ‘unfit for purpose’.

Despite these major problems, the DVSA has recently been awarded for its MOT modernisation “success”.

Loss of business

GW reader, Ivan Evans commented: “The garages involved in the initial modernisation roll out suffered undue hardship and should have been recompensed for the loss of business incurred by their incompetence.”

Charlotte Jones added: “Unbelievable the amount of arrogance this incompetent department has.

“Never mind award, give us all an apology.

“The stress caused during the switchover was unbearable with customers in tears because they could not tax vehicles because the MOTs were not logged, shame on you DVSA.”

‘Once widely respected’

The MOT switchover process saw some lose all faith in the agency, which a number of technicians have quoted to be “once widely respected” as an authoritative force.

Jim Walker of Nanpean Garage in Cornwall said: “The continued mess [the] DVSA are making of the MOT system, training etc. has regrettably forced my hand and I’m sure the DVSA will be so very pleased to know I’m throwing in the towel at the end of the year.

“I would urge all small garage owners to consider if they have sufficient funds to call it quits and retire.

“After all we know from experience it is only going to get worse.”

The DVSA’s head of MOT modernisation, Neil Barlow, has since apologised for the early disruption saying: “The early days of the new MOT testing service haven’t gone as well as planned and we apologise for that.”

How are you finding the new service one year later? Are you concerned about the DVSA or do you believe the agency has been unfairly subjected to criticism? Share your comments below or email [email protected].

28 Comments

  1. The amount of anger and stress caused by the Dvsa is unbelievable as can be seen by the feedback left on the matters of testing pages, but as usual we are all being ignored . I agree with the above comments and am seriously having to consider closing our Mot bay. The Dvsa are now introducing smart cards to wide condemnation and I can guarantee when these fail , which they will , we will again be left on our own with Dvsa staff not even able to answer the phone or respond to any technical questions.

    Reply
  2. The amount of anger and stress caused by the Dvsa is unbelievable as can be seen by the feedback left on the matters of testing pages, but as usual we are all being ignored . I agree with the above comments and am seriously having to consider closing our Mot bay. The Dvsa are now introducing smart cards to wide condemnation and I can guarantee when these fail , which they will , we will again be left on our own with Dvsa staff not even able to answer the phone or respond to any technical questions.

    Reply
  3. The proposed new smart card is going to be designed by the same dumb people at the dvsa im dreading it.

    Reply
  4. The proposed new smart card is going to be designed by the same dumb people at the dvsa im dreading it.

    Reply
  5. These award winning people are not fit for purpose. I do not think that they are capable of getting the system sorted, their task has been to put all the costs of the scheme onto us and bring out Ill thought out new ways to waste more off our time. These people get paid regardless of the problems and lost revenue they cause us. Could go on for hours so keep smiling and retire.

    Reply
  6. These award winning people are not fit for purpose. I do not think that they are capable of getting the system sorted, their task has been to put all the costs of the scheme onto us and bring out Ill thought out new ways to waste more off our time. These people get paid regardless of the problems and lost revenue they cause us. Could go on for hours so keep smiling and retire.

    Reply
  7. So we are still having major issues, our MOT tester was asked to update his password two weeks ago, he is now locked out of the system and even after a new account they still cannot unlock his account. We are now back on contingency testing but when you explain to your customers that they will only get a piece of hand written paper that they can take to the post office and their direct debit they have setup for road tax will not work or if they get picked up on a camera for not having a valid MOT they they will have to justify this. They tend to go somewhere else. So it does beg the question if this is a computer system that the Government body got an award for then how good are the rest of their systems? It’s also fair to say that you tend to get what you pay for, fit cheap parts and don’t be too surprised when the customer comes back complaining, pay half price for a computer system, you will probably get half a computer system, one day they may pay to get the other half working too!

    Reply
  8. So we are still having major issues, our MOT tester was asked to update his password two weeks ago, he is now locked out of the system and even after a new account they still cannot unlock his account. We are now back on contingency testing but when you explain to your customers that they will only get a piece of hand written paper that they can take to the post office and their direct debit they have setup for road tax will not work or if they get picked up on a camera for not having a valid MOT they they will have to justify this. They tend to go somewhere else. So it does beg the question if this is a computer system that the Government body got an award for then how good are the rest of their systems? It’s also fair to say that you tend to get what you pay for, fit cheap parts and don’t be too surprised when the customer comes back complaining, pay half price for a computer system, you will probably get half a computer system, one day they may pay to get the other half working too!

    Reply
  9. All the bad comments raised above are fully justified.I must stress,with disappointment and sadness,that the garages are financially losing viz supply our own papers,computers and paying for refreshers and telephone expenses and so on.DVSA do not give a damn about the AE.

    Reply
  10. All the bad comments raised above are fully justified.I must stress,with disappointment and sadness,that the garages are financially losing viz supply our own papers,computers and paying for refreshers and telephone expenses and so on.DVSA do not give a damn about the AE.

    Reply
  11. I agree with all the above we the AEs have been left open to getting it wrong we are left in the dark and why has VSI Still not been put back. Keep it simple stupid do not over complicate it.

    Reply
  12. I agree with all the above we the AEs have been left open to getting it wrong we are left in the dark and why has VSI Still not been put back. Keep it simple stupid do not over complicate it.

    Reply
  13. Further to my previous comments and those above I would add, I have been given a gipsy’s warning that my previous comments could be construed as to be “bringing the scheme into disrepute and may lead to disciplinary action being taken” Mmmmm Really! me thinks I’m being, how can I put it, leaned on to keep quiet. DVSA don’t need my help to do that, they are doing that exceedingly well on their own. As for the new training arrangements, to be provided by IMI and collages, south Devon collage cannot even provide a prospectus for their first training module starting in September! it’s looking like computerisation all over again, if this is replicated nationally, how are we going to train every NT and AE by April 17. How many AE’s and NT’s are going to loose their testing status in April, How many more small test stations are going to close, how many more small garage owners are going to suffer mental breakdowns or financial hardship because of the arbitrary nature of DVSA methods. I have nothing but praise for DVSA area staff, they have always been polite, helpful, knowledgeable and courteous but the current problems are the result of the maderins in Whitehall experimenting with things they know nothing about, it’ a bit like brexit, the government, Whitehall and those based in London just didn’t believe that the country would vote out, perhaps AE’s and NT’s should have a voice or union like the fire brigade’s, then the dog might be able to wag it’s own tail instead of the tail wagging the dog!

    Reply
  14. Further to my previous comments and those above I would add, I have been given a gipsy’s warning that my previous comments could be construed as to be “bringing the scheme into disrepute and may lead to disciplinary action being taken” Mmmmm Really! me thinks I’m being, how can I put it, leaned on to keep quiet. DVSA don’t need my help to do that, they are doing that exceedingly well on their own. As for the new training arrangements, to be provided by IMI and collages, south Devon collage cannot even provide a prospectus for their first training module starting in September! it’s looking like computerisation all over again, if this is replicated nationally, how are we going to train every NT and AE by April 17. How many AE’s and NT’s are going to loose their testing status in April, How many more small test stations are going to close, how many more small garage owners are going to suffer mental breakdowns or financial hardship because of the arbitrary nature of DVSA methods. I have nothing but praise for DVSA area staff, they have always been polite, helpful, knowledgeable and courteous but the current problems are the result of the maderins in Whitehall experimenting with things they know nothing about, it’ a bit like brexit, the government, Whitehall and those based in London just didn’t believe that the country would vote out, perhaps AE’s and NT’s should have a voice or union like the fire brigade’s, then the dog might be able to wag it’s own tail instead of the tail wagging the dog!

    Reply
  15. I agree with most of the above although, we have not been as badly affected as some. We do of course like everyone else have to endure the increasing costs of running an MOT bay. How many people on here agree with me that the MOT test fee should be standardised throughout the country? If the fee was not allowed to be discounted, maybe some confidence could be restored. I appreciate there will always be ways around this but, how is the small operation supposed to compete with major players offering an MOT test for £10?

    Reply
    • Agree 100% test should be fixed fee but they never do it and if they did they would put each slot price up . The problem is that the industry is run by a few companies that dictate everything including input in to what the DVSA decide. its all money driven , doesn’t anybody else think it strange that the day it was announced we had to have yearly training and testing that a few big companies already had courses and training programs in place ! How can that be unless they were consulted during the planning ? How did they know what training to provide ? And if they were consulted then its wrong plain and simple because these companies are now dictating how cars are tested in the UK. The Mot is no longer a safety inspection and has now become an exercise in IT capability and hitting your averages. .

      Reply
    • You think you have it bad. We have a clown doing mots at £9.00 through Groupon in our area!

      Reply
  16. I agree with most of the above although, we have not been as badly affected as some. We do of course like everyone else have to endure the increasing costs of running an MOT bay. How many people on here agree with me that the MOT test fee should be standardised throughout the country? If the fee was not allowed to be discounted, maybe some confidence could be restored. I appreciate there will always be ways around this but, how is the small operation supposed to compete with major players offering an MOT test for £10?

    Reply
    • Agree 100% test should be fixed fee but they never do it and if they did they would put each slot price up . The problem is that the industry is run by a few companies that dictate everything including input in to what the DVSA decide. its all money driven , doesn’t anybody else think it strange that the day it was announced we had to have yearly training and testing that a few big companies already had courses and training programs in place ! How can that be unless they were consulted during the planning ? How did they know what training to provide ? And if they were consulted then its wrong plain and simple because these companies are now dictating how cars are tested in the UK. The Mot is no longer a safety inspection and has now become an exercise in IT capability and hitting your averages. .

      Reply
    • You think you have it bad. We have a clown doing mots at £9.00 through Groupon in our area!

      Reply
  17. I don’t see why they can’t standardise the price, the line about anti-competition laws doesn’t really fly, unless of course you know where to buy first and second class stamps any cheaper than the face price, because i’ve never seen any, so are all the post offices and shops that sell stamps breaking the law I wonder?

    Reply
  18. I don’t see why they can’t standardise the price, the line about anti-competition laws doesn’t really fly, unless of course you know where to buy first and second class stamps any cheaper than the face price, because i’ve never seen any, so are all the post offices and shops that sell stamps breaking the law I wonder?

    Reply
  19. ONE YEAR ON AND STILL CRASHING,CANT ORDER SLOT,UNABLE TO DO SOME DUPLICATES,THEY DESERVE AN AWARD FOR STILL KEEPING THERE JOBS,PRIVATE SECTOR YOUR FIRED, GOVEMENTAL JOB REWARDED.JUST SHOWS YOU HOW OUT OF TOUCH DVSA REALY ARE

    Reply
    • Well we must be charmed in the west country because we as a garage not had any downtime due to the new system, not 1 crash not a password fail.Ordered slots in good time so we never ran out.
      the system is crap but it does work.

      Reply
  20. ONE YEAR ON AND STILL CRASHING,CANT ORDER SLOT,UNABLE TO DO SOME DUPLICATES,THEY DESERVE AN AWARD FOR STILL KEEPING THERE JOBS,PRIVATE SECTOR YOUR FIRED, GOVEMENTAL JOB REWARDED.JUST SHOWS YOU HOW OUT OF TOUCH DVSA REALY ARE

    Reply
    • Well we must be charmed in the west country because we as a garage not had any downtime due to the new system, not 1 crash not a password fail.Ordered slots in good time so we never ran out.
      the system is crap but it does work.

      Reply
  21. agree with all the comments so far, as for fixed price across the board, it could be done but would require an act of parliament or similar. the only way to ensure compliance would be to make test stations fully independent of repair centres, ie similar to the old HGV test centres, vehicle presented for test, fails, then has to go to another repair centre or else wear for repair then is re presented for re test (even a bulb would be a fail) and make it an offence for a director/owner of the test centre to be a director or owner of the repair centre repairing the vehicle they tested, DONT all jump up and down saying it would cost business, it wouldn’t, what goes round comes round, seriously think about it! this would lift testing standards across the board and more importantly would lift repair standards, it would encourage owners of vehicles to check lights, tyres and wipers etc before presenting their vehicle ( which they should do before using the car on the road) highway code! you could then FIX the MOT FEE, the mot station or bay would be a cost centre in its own right.
    Who in DVSA/government has the balls to do it. don’t hold your breath.

    Reply
  22. agree with all the comments so far, as for fixed price across the board, it could be done but would require an act of parliament or similar. the only way to ensure compliance would be to make test stations fully independent of repair centres, ie similar to the old HGV test centres, vehicle presented for test, fails, then has to go to another repair centre or else wear for repair then is re presented for re test (even a bulb would be a fail) and make it an offence for a director/owner of the test centre to be a director or owner of the repair centre repairing the vehicle they tested, DONT all jump up and down saying it would cost business, it wouldn’t, what goes round comes round, seriously think about it! this would lift testing standards across the board and more importantly would lift repair standards, it would encourage owners of vehicles to check lights, tyres and wipers etc before presenting their vehicle ( which they should do before using the car on the road) highway code! you could then FIX the MOT FEE, the mot station or bay would be a cost centre in its own right.
    Who in DVSA/government has the balls to do it. don’t hold your breath.

    Reply

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