You probably know that the website of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec as well as the various service centers and representatives have been unavailable with a minimum range of services for the past three weeks. And if you didn’t know, I’ll let you imagine the impact this could have had on the automotive industry, which deals with several thousand vehicles every week…
In an interview with the Guide de l’auto program on QUB Radio, SAAQ spokesman Gino Desrosiers admitted that the previous computer system was archaic and its design dates back to the 1980s. It was therefore high time that the SAAQ updated, for which Systems like the website have been completely overhauled.
This overhaul allows both private individuals and dealers to create online profiles and carry out various operations ranging from storing a vehicle, to renewing a license, to making a commercial or private transaction. The possibilities are now so great that they help to significantly reduce traffic in service centers and agents while making users’ lives easier.
Unfortunately, since the launch of this new platform, the technical issues have multiplied at breakneck speed, to the point where, with few exceptions, traders have mostly slammed a door with a site that is “temporarily out of service” or downright dysfunctional. It is impossible to close a deal, sell a vehicle, much less register it.
Dealers even received an email alert from the SAAQ saying it’s better to give each customer two or three transits instead of just one. Transit is that little yellow paper that goes on the rear window of the vehicle and entitles you to drive for a maximum of 10 days, so you can go to a SAAQ office to get your registration.
However, since the offices are overcrowded, the computer system “crashes” and many customers are consequently turned away at the door, we are currently trying to reschedule the appointments. Appointments, which in some cases can be more than 45 days late, for a simple vehicle handover… In short, a nice computer fiasco that creates a multitude of problems that SAAQ obviously did not anticipate.
Another interesting fact is that vehicle registration certificates are now printed on traditional white sheets (instead of the little green paper) just like a temporary registration. This means that the SAAQ will give you a paper number plate until you receive your real number plate in the mail.
But that glue-free “paper plate” doesn’t always stick very well to a vehicle window, let alone the outside! And with signs currently experiencing significant delays in shipping, it’s possible that said sheet (known as a reprint) will fall apart before Canada Post can deliver your new sign to your door…
Another problem seems that certificates printed on white paper are not accepted by the SAAQ equivalent in the other provinces… For many dealers selling vehicles between provinces this is a happy raid, as they have to go there with an obviously deadlocked service -Center to get the usual green registration certificate – which the SAAQ wants to abolish.
For my part, I have fulfilled my duty as a citizen by creating a profile on the new SAAQclic website, thanks to which I can make transactions, consult my file or pay for my driver’s license without having to travel. Since I unfortunately didn’t have the assessment notice number of my tax return from last year, I was told that a letter of authentication would be sent to me by post within 10 working days (I’m curious that…) with a number on it that I can use to identify myself can. Apparently my number plate, driver’s license, social security, health insurance and my date of birth weren’t enough. I’m glad they didn’t ask me the date of my vaccination…
One thing is certain, people will need to arm themselves with patience over the coming weeks, even months. As the problems will continue to multiply and despite all the time we had to think of the IT audit as the service offering, we seem to have forgotten some details.