The chairman of the National Tyres Distributors’ Association has hit out at VOSA over problems that continue to plague the rollout of computerized MoT testing.

John Tarbox is urging testing stations to submit claims to VOSA for any costs legitimately incurred due to computerization.

He is particularly scathing about one recent instance, when the system caused problems for around 1,000 testers, including his own high volume station, Pan Autos, in Hertfordshire.

The glitches eventually led the system to shut down and many station operators were unable to get through to Siemens, the system developer. The fallback testing system, designed to overcome minor problems, didn’t help.

“I believe the nett consequences of that single occurrence involved the MoT testing industry in a considerable cost because when the computer fails we have to stop testing,” says Tarbox. He’s already submitted a claim for compensation.

“The current system that has been imposed on our industry is far from perfect, proving unreliable and we are incurring additional costs unfairly.”