Autumn 2013 round of VTS council meetings

Hmmm.

I've done 50 tests this week, plus 2 refusals and two aborted. And we have been turning them away as well. They're asking if we can start 90 minutes earlier and work through to 8:30pm with two testers doing 9 tests each, (two shifts) but we don't have any volunteers. And we all go to church on Sundays so that's out!

OK, so I've landed £100 bonus, but I am knackered, and if somebody opened a new site next door I wouldn't worry too much. We consider it a very quiet day if we only get six tests.

I was led to believe that the average number of tests per centre per day was low because there are garages which focus on sales or servicing, and may only do a couple of tests a month. I've not heard of anybody local to me having days with no tests.

of course. IF we charged the proper price we might give other garages a chance.

There are a lot of truths in that letter.

A lot of it, but what I hadn't thought of before is what he said in the first paragraph and he's right, if the national average is 3 tests a day then more consideration should be applied when authorisation applications are presented.

Data is readily available to such an extent that a limit per postcode wouldn't be too much trouble to implement - I don't believe that kind of thing would ever happen though. It's not in vosa's interests to limit the opening of testing stations, for a number of reasons.

The foundation of the scheme is based around vehicle safety - Indirectly vosa are helping the opposite to happen.

Thanks for the input gents

Or it could be that your doing a good job gaz

Can't remember ever having a confrontation with any vosa. Staff in all the years I've been testing.
When they come to our place they cant wait to get out.
Moving back to the subject of meetings,
When and where, I'd like to meet some of you guys if that's ok.

Dear MTAETA

Can you raise the issue of fixing the fee to stop the ridiculous level of discounting which is impacting independent testing station profitability. It is being driven primarily by Halfords and Kwik Fit with cheap MOT's to pull in customers.Through heavy advertising they set a benchmark £35 in consumers minds (even though they charge for retests but don’t say it of course) which makes life difficult for independents, particularly in the south east where rents and wages are high.
I have no fear of competition but we should all have a level playing field, given the product is fixed, so customer choice is made on quality of testing & service not price. With the number of test stations at saturation point, no chance of VOSA creating a cull of poor ones, no fee increase for nearly 4 years and longer tests we are working harder than ever for decreasing profit.
VOSA have a responsibility to ensure test stations do a good job for a fair return. They cannot shrug their shoulders and say 'not us mate - its down to the politicians'. They have ducked this issue for too long.

Regards
Moonstone