A thought on Comp 2..........

After reading some of the posts by members who are not as happy with the switchover process as they could and should be. I thought I'd try and calm the waters so-to-speak.

I'd just like to ask if you could all be extremely patient please ladies & gents? We're in the middle of a huge switchover to an entirely different system.

We don't have long left until MOT Comp is switched off for good. DVSA have to focus every possible resource on switchover observations done on site. All the little niggles will be sorted out I'm sure in the not too distant future.

My thoughts here could be wide of the mark in terms of correctness too. However, I do know that as I write this, that we the MOT Trade, are slap bang in the middle of one of the largest ever data transfers.

I imagine the priority right now is completing that task and getting every single site in the UK, Live and Functional. More importantly at no or little cost to us. Cost as in revenue lost caused by not being able to test at all.

There are special allowances in place for user issues to be reported. We as testers have the same level of allowances for errors we may cause or discover. Don't be scared to report them to the MOT Service Help Desk when available.

I've been on the new system since early May and I've encountered a few issues along the way. Major bugs were ironed out early on to allow testing at sites to continue in some form during the process. Even DVLA are making allowances for errors during the switchover. Most others were teething problems or procedure slip-ups.

By all means ask questions here or on facebook page, or our twitter page and finally you can relay information to DVSA via your local DVSA VTS Council Member (member list here & here).

Very important that we make a note and report anything we might find to the MOT Help Desk when available.

I feel that user issues like slots aren't the priority. If you lose your slots buy 25 more (min amount about £50 odd), note the fault and/or report it and continue testing. It took me nearly 5 days to get mine back and I'm convinced the old MOT Comp slot data transfer is triggered by a transaction on your new account. I bought 25 and a few hours later I'd regained my own.

We as members of our Trade our obliged to help and assist in this process as much as we can.

I think we actually can do that if we remain patient, take the odd user issue or print error occurs and find out a way around it via the helpline or here.

By doing so, we're all ensuring every MOT Station in the Country is on Comp 2 long before 15 September 2015. We're all ensuring every MOT Station in the Country remains operational. We're all ensuring every MOT Station in the Country does not lose too much business.

Use your mandatory diary/appointment book/on-line service and the likes to trim down MOT's a tad in case of error delays avoiding let down and disgruntled customers.
On switchover day, have a vehicle ready to test when DVSA arrive. Each tester using Comp 2 must demonstrate their ability to DVSA before they leave and move on. The easier their job, the quicker they get it done. Delays could even be caused by longer site visits than recommended thus slowing the process down. All refresher trainers and other spare DVSA staff on this 24/7 trust me.

We must allow DVSA the time to finish the job.

When they have we, everyone single one of us, can become a contributor to Comp 2 and its future development...

When the switchover is complete Comp 2 becomes Our MOT Comp 2.

David