Driving test woes.

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:42

Hey guys,

I've had my driving booked for the 22nd of this month since the 24th of August, which was all well and good... Until I checked my emails on Friday evening.

DRIVING TEST CANCELLATION NOTIFICATION
[email protected]
Oct 12 (3 days ago)

Important - your driving test appointment has been changed

Application reference number 27200818

Please quote the above number and your driving licence number or theory test number in all correspondence.

Dear Mr HINTON

We can't conduct your B - Car test on Monday 22/10/2012 at Letchworth. I am sorry for any inconvenience this might cause you.

The email then continues on with it's general information.

Basically, they have cancelled my test on the 22nd which has been booked for 2 months and then decided they'll move it to Saturday 27th. Fair enough. Although - It isn't. I'm never home from Friday evening -> Sunday evening, this isn't that hard to change but it is an inconvenience.
On top of that, my instructor told me that the centre don't test on weekends, which obviously it would seem they do having had my test moved to one.
Finally, which is really confusing me as to where I stand on this, my instructor has told me he cannot to before 10:00 any day. The test was moved to 09:17.

If I indeed can't do this date due to my instructor not being able to do before 10:00, what can I do? I've checked what dates I can move it to, they're all in December, which means I would be paying for lessons up until then coming to nearly another £250 which I may not have needed to spend.

I've really not got any idea what to do. I tried to phone my instructor as soon as I found out on Friday but he didn't answer, nor call me back when I dropped him a text about it. The email didn't include a phone number for general queries, but I can easily find that online I would imagine.

I've got a lesson again tonight, so I'll ask my instructor about it then and see what he suggests.

Clav · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:51

People cancel all the time, ring them up directly and try and get a cancellation spot. You will have to ring early though, as in as soon as the phone line opens.

King Damager · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:57

Just drop back the driving lessons slightly if you have to wait until December?

kd

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:59

Clav said:
People cancel all the time, ring them up directly and try and get a cancellation spot. You will have to ring early though, as in as soon as the phone line opens.

I'll give that a shot, I imagine they're open for today but I'll try anyways, if not then I'll wait till tomorrow.

King Damager said:
Just drop back the driving lessons slightly if you have to wait until December?

kd

That would be all well and good, but I feel I'd have less of a chance of passing if I cut the flow of lessons, I don't have a chance to drive besides on lessons so I'm not sure how viable that would be.

King Damager · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:13

BoonMonkey said:
That would be all well and good, but I feel I'd have less of a chance of passing if I cut the flow of lessons, I don't have a chance to drive besides on lessons so I'm not sure how viable that would be.

I only mentioned it because it's often what people do between first and second test (something that I myself, and a number of friends did to cut the costs).

kd

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:18

King Damager said:
I only mentioned it because it's often what people do between first and second test (something that I myself, and a number of friends did to cut the costs).

kd

Yeah, I understand why you mentioned it, it does make perfect sense to do so. Didn't mean to sound as if I didn't appreciate your suggestion. :x
That has always been the plan if I don't pass my test first time, won't need as many lessons then I guess, just touch up on bits I didn't do great in. But I want to try and keep the flow going until the first test is out the way.

pingwing · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:14

At least you didn't lock you keys in the car on your first test... (or loose all the keys to your car over the course of 2 years and have it left on my drive way for the past month)

Chris-.- · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:24

What makes you think you have to keep paying for driving lessons until your test?

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:44

Chris-.- said:
What makes you think you have to keep paying for driving lessons until your test?

What's the alternative? No one else is going to pay for them for me...
In my mind there isn't a point in stopping having lessons till I've done my test (the first time round) because I want to make sure all my maneuvers are crisp and ensure that I have the best chance at passing first time I could have.

Chris-.- · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:47

BoonMonkey said:
What's the alternative? No one else is going to pay for them for me...
In my mind there isn't a point in stopping having lessons till I've done my test (the first time round) because I want to make sure all my maneuvers are crisp and ensure that I have the best chance at passing first time I could have.

If you feel comfortable you shouldn't need more lessons just to bind time in between your test date, just take a lesson or two before you actually are due to sit and one on the day.

Driving is easy, just don't let nerves win

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:54

Chris-.- said:
If you feel comfortable you shouldn't need more lessons just to bind time in between your test date, just take a lesson or two before you actually are due to sit and one on the day.

Driving is easy, just don't let nerves win

My test is creeping up now anyways, if my instructor can do the 27th they've given me, so that will bring me up to it. But if I do have to wait till December I am contemplating doing what you and kd have said and cut them back till closer to it. The only reason I don't want to cut them back right now is my instructor has just changed his car, so I wanted to get a feel for things and keep them going till my test. But I do see the logic in yours and kd's posts.

Thanks guys

nath247 · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:15

Didn't pass my test first time, had no lessons for a month (had some practice in my own car at the time).

Had a refresher lesson before my 2nd test and passed

. I think a break is a good idea to take your mind off it all.

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:18

nath247 said:
Didn't pass my test first time, had no lessons for a month (had some practice in my own car at the time).

Had a refresher lesson before my 2nd test and passed . I think a break is a good idea to take your mind off it all.

Would you say that if I paid whatever it costs to get put on my mums insurance and do some practice with that would be better than lessons?

That would mean I'm paying out either way, but I can practice more I guess.

nath247 · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:51

BoonMonkey said:
Would you say that if I paid whatever it costs to get put on my mums insurance and do some practice with that would be better than lessons?

That would mean I'm paying out either way, but I can practice more I guess.

Possibly, however it may end up costing too much depending on your age etc, but if you can afford to have some practice then it is worth it, just be careful not to learn any bad habits from other people.

BoonMonkey · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:54

nath247 said:
Possibly, however it may end up costing too much depending on your age etc, but if you can afford to have some practice then it is worth it, just be careful not to learn any bad habits from other people.

I'm 19 so I imagine the insurance will be quite high...

That's a good point, my dad (who would be in the car with me) does have some bad habits, the worst ones I wouldn't do as I don't smoke, but yeah!

I'm hoping I can fix this situation tonight when I speak to my instructor, I really hope he is available that Saturday at that time... :/