Dealership Confidence

[Count Steer]

All I've needed in recent years is to show them my photo licence. Never heard of this check code or been asked for my NI number. Is this a new thing? Last time was summer 2022.

at least 3-5 years since this came about.

Maybe the dealer has my info on file from when I purchased.

[weeksy]

All I've needed in recent years is to show them my photo licence. Never heard of this check code or been asked for my NI number. Is this a new thing? Last time was summer 2022.

at least 3-5 years since this came about.

Maybe the dealer has my info on file from when I purchased.

The info is day-day. It's a code which shows points on licence, licence validity etc...

So even if they had it last year, it's not valid this year. I think it's valid for 30 days.

[Count Steer]

at least 3-5 years since this came about.

Maybe the dealer has my info on file from when I purchased.

The info is day-day. It's a code which shows points on licence, licence validity etc...

So even if they had it last year, it's not valid this year. I think it's valid for 30 days.

I mean, they may have my NI number on file. There was a lot of form filling when I bought the car...

[MrLongbeard]

IIRC it was touted as something we must do before hiring a car when on one of them foreign holidays to save agro.
AFAIK it isn't compulsory, and I've not been checked when hiring several vans from a couple of different places during covid times

[ChrisW]

It's just 2FA for driving licences isn't it - making it more difficult to take a bike on test with a stolen licence.

[Davie lad]

As a supermarket trucker,we have a licence check every 3 months.
We have to bring in our licence,digi card, CPC card & NI number,clerk in the office then checks it all on the DVLA site.They can't do the check without the NI number.

Yeh another Supermarket driver here, we get the same but ours are every six months, But they can ask at any time to see your licence, so i always carry mine in my work bag…

[Taipan]

It's just 2FA for driving licences isn't it - making it more difficult to take a bike on test with a stolen licence.

When you put it like that, it makes perfect sense. Presumably, it'd also help stop them putting a debt in your name?

[The Spin Doctor]

So as you went in without a check code he was perfectly within his rights to ask for the NI number (or a check code).

Wrong. He was not "perfectly within his rights to ask for the NI number".

The right answer is that he SHOULD have asked for a check code.

As I said, I went in to find out about organising a test ride. I wasn't demanding one there and then.

[The Spin Doctor]

All I've needed in recent years is to show them my photo licence. Never heard of this check code or been asked for my NI number. Is this a new thing? Last time was summer 2022 for a 'courtesy' car which was essentially a cheap day hire.

I had never been asked for a NI number either, previously just licence, and some other form of ID - usually a passport and / or utility bill... plus the all important credit card to pay the excess if I dropped it.

Last time I took a test ride was 2019 on the Zero, and last time I hired a vehicle would have been about 2002!

[The Spin Doctor]

So even if they had it last year, it's not valid this year. I think it's valid for 30 days.

Which part of my post didn't you read?

Oh yes... it must have been this bit:

"You must use the code within 21 days. You can only use the code once - you have to get another code to do another check."

[weeksy]

So even if they had it last year, it's not valid this year. I think it's valid for 30 days.

Which part of my post didn't you read?

Oh yes... it must have been this bit:

"You must use the code within 21 days. You can only use the code once - you have to get another code to do another check."

Any need being condescending ???

"i already posted that bit earlier" would have been a nicer reply.

[The Spin Doctor]

Any need being condescending ???

"i already posted that bit earlier" would have been a nicer reply.

I'm aware of the dangers, but i'm also aware he's only put it into the DVLA site, it's not stored on his PC/machine, at the worst he's written it on a scrap of paper on his desk
.
.
.

So nope, the local dealer, whom I don't know from Adam, is not getting my NI number.

Pot, kettle etc..

If you don't care about exposing your NI number, that's fine and has nothing to do with me...
...but please don't laugh at a simple attempt to make others aware of the risks.

[Wossname]

Back to the OP - the NI number request may be at the insistence of the dealership's insurance Co to reduce the risk of theft of the demo bike eg if the licence presented is stolen?

[Bigyin]

After my truly sh1te experience with Triumph when I bought my Trident, do these people not want your money? I have zero confidence in dealing with them any longer. I was so annoyed I just left the showroom speechless. Got home and took the Trident out for a ride to calm me down.

I'm in the position to spend my money on a really nice bike for myself but the dealers always seem to let themselves down.

Is this common or is it just my bad luck? It was Paddock Motorcycles in Congleton.

Back to the original question

Some people will get completely different opinions on the same dealership.....all depends on the personal experience.

I rate Seastar Superbikes in Norfolk highly as they have always looked after me very well and prior to buying 2 Ducati's from them i also had work done on Kawasaki's by them. If i want a test ride on a bike its always sorted for me with no hassles. Any issues i had with any work were immediately resolved and even after not being in the premises for a few years was still remembered by the staff and on first name terms with most of them including the owner. They have recently had a huge turnover in staff so only a few know me now but on a recent trip to Wales a fuse went for the power to my satnav socket a few miles after leaving home so diverted in and one of the mechanics came out and sourced the blown one/replaced it and all done FOC within minutes as they knew i had a long days riding ahead

My boss at the training school also went in to the same premises a few years ago to try and get a test ride but was completely ignored by all the staff there while walking round looking at bikes, possibly being female, blonde etc etc as its happened to her before in a couple of other local dealerships. She didnt bother going back so they missed out on a bike sale.

[tricol]

My boss at the training school also went in to the same premises a few years ago to try and get a test ride but was completely ignored by all the staff there while walking round looking at bikes, possibly being female, blonde etc etc as its happened to her before in a couple of other local dealerships. She didnt bother going back so they missed out on a bike sale.

Had the same experience with Triumph in Stoke recently. Popped in over lunch, place was dead, two sales guys at their desks and neither of them asked if I was okay. I know, I can open my own mouth, but it keeps reaffirming my thoughts on these dealers.

But most importantly now, I'll bring my NI card on Friday just in case I need it.....

[Bigyin]

Had the same experience with Triumph in Stoke recently. Popped in over lunch, place was dead, two sales guys at their desks and neither of them asked if I was okay. I know, I can open my own mouth, but it keeps reaffirming my thoughts on these dealers.

But most importantly now, I'll bring my NI card on Friday just in case I need it.....

I get the same at Lind BMW in Norwich. Arrive on my Ducati not my shitty 600 Frazer so in their target market yet while walking around looking at their bikes not one of the sales staff asks if i need anything. I even went there on an open evening during winter a few years back, I arrived on my GS1150 dressed in Rukka and Arai so probably not skint and was genuinely looking to change it for a newer GS yet all the sales staff were fawning over a few blokes in their late 60's who arrived in a collection of Jags/ Mercs and such like. I even asked if someone could have a chat about a bike i was looking at and was told "could be a while" so i left.

[ChrisW]

Had the same experience with Triumph in Stoke recently. Popped in over lunch, place was dead, two sales guys at their desks and neither of them asked if I was okay. I know, I can open my own mouth, but it keeps reaffirming my thoughts on these dealers.

Staffs Triumph? It's not just you, I've had similar experiences there. Conversely the people at their new Honda dealership in Newcastle seem great.

[MrLongbeard]

And then there are folk like me, I like to go into dealerships / shops / whatever, and be left the hell alone, if I need help or want to ask something I'll put my big boy pants on and seek out a staff member.
If they jump on me the minute I'm in the door and or pester me every 5 minutes I'm walking out with buying anything.

Swing n roundabouts init, but I'm odd so whatev's

[Scotsrich]

Seemingly along with your driving licence number it gives the dealer access to your driving record.

So you could be banned but still in possession of your licence and I suppose this is to prevent that.

A lot of hire companies now as for NI numbers.

[Dodgy69]

I reckon a showroom salesman should acknowledge your presence but leave you alone to browse. Any questions feel free to ask, kind of thing.

What make me chuckle is some dealer's have young salesman who try and bullshit to you, thing is, most of us are old fcukers and heard the bollox many many times before.