Can I appeal?

Dar, I'm sorry you're going through this. Def sounds like somethings not right if even your instructor says you should have passed. Can you do what Luckycuz said? Seems like a good idea, she can't fail you if someone else in the car is also a pro at what's going on.

If you think you are being a little victimised you can have your instructor sit in the back of the car on your test.

Go over the areas in which you failed with your instructor and show him what you did and see what he says afterwards.

Dar, I'm sorry you're going through this. Def sounds like somethings not right if even your instructor says you should have passed. Can you do what Luckycuz said? Seems like a good idea, she can't fail you if someone else in the car is also a pro at what's going on.

Oh, but, she can according to my instructor.  He is livid because I didn't have a single mark for my driving.  Just one minor on my reverse around the corner (because I adjusted myself to be a bit further away from the curb she considered that bad control).  What she failed me for is insane.  She also didn't run the test according to the rules.  At one point, she told me to take a right on the roundabout.  The roundabout was huge and had 6 exits.  She never told me an exit, so, I had to ask her.  She, of course, said that she wanted me to take the exit I was about to pass.  She snapped at me during the "show me, tell me" bit because I started answering her question and she "wasn't prepared (then why ask?)".  I had to constantly ask where she wanted me to go at junctions.  Seriously, I would be sitting at a junction holding up traffic waiting for her to tell me where to go.  During the debrief at the end, I had to ask her what I got the minor for.  She wasn't going to tell me.  I can't believe I failed for being on the wrong side of the road on a one way street.  WTF is wrong with this system? 

My instructor feels very strongly that I was treated unfairly (as do about 12 of his colleagues).  This is the second time this examiner has failed me.  She has something against me and I really don't know what it is.  She was really rude on the first test and even worse on the one I just took.  We have looked into the appeal and there is no point.  It takes 3 months and they NEVER overturn a decision.  My instructor said he has never had a student pass a free re-test.  However, I will be writing a few letters after I pass.  She was completely unprofessional.  I paid to have my test and whether or not I pass, the examiner can, at the very least, act professionally.  They don't have to be really nice, but, a hostile attitude is not acceptable.  I didn't just kill her pet or anything.  I am just a normal person there to take a test and then go on my way.

Taking the test in your own car should not be an issue, as long as you've got an extra rear-view mirror for the examiner to use.  I used my own car for the test twice, and my instructor lent me a mirror that attached with suction cups.  The examiner was fine with it, and I passed the second time.

I hate to ask it, but do you think being American might have had anything to do with it?  My instructor and I talked a lot about this.  He didn't feel my being American would create any problems for me where I tested, but he was very clear in saying that he felt strongly that when he had students from Asia and Africa he had to prepare them much more than other students because he felt the examiners were much tougher on them, even though they weren't supposed to be and they would swear they weren't.  It bothered him a lot.

I hate to ask it, but do you think being American might have had anything to do with it?  My instructor and I talked a lot about this.  He didn't feel my being American would create any problems for me where I tested, but he was very clear in saying that he felt strongly that when he had students from Asia and Africa he had to prepare them much more than other students because he felt the examiners were much tougher on them, even though they weren't supposed to be and they would swear they weren't.  It bothered him a lot.

Yes, I do actually.  As does my instructor.  It is really disconcerting because I can't pass no matter how well I drive.  I feel very strongly that I have been unfairly treated; but, the way that the system works, I can't do a damn thing about it. 

Yes, I do actually.  As does my instructor.  It is really disconcerting because I can't pass no matter how well I drive.  I feel very strongly that I have been unfairly treated; but, the way that the system works, I can't do a damn thing about it. 

That is horrible!  Have you scheduled your next exam yet?  I wonder what the chances are of you getting that same examiner. 

That is horrible!  Have you scheduled your next exam yet?  I wonder what the chances are of you getting that same examiner. 

I have.  It is at a different centre so I don't get her.  Once I actually do pass, I will be writing numerous letters of complaint about her.  She was so incredibly unprofessional and rude.  She was doing things on the test to purposely trip me up (and it didn't work, so, she failed me for something that wasn't even a minor mark).  She did this on both tests I had with her. 

I find it very strange that I have a test sheet that shows one minor (which wasn't for actual road driving, but, control on my reverse around a corner) and then failure for being on the wrong side of the road on a one way street (which wasn't even possible on this road).  Sorry!  I am still really very angry about the whole thing.  I am no longer legal to drive as of yesterday, so, I am spending a small fortune, that I don't have, every week (£125/week) to take the bus and train to work.  An hour minute commute by car that takes about 2 hours by train/bus.

After all of this and a crook of a letting agent, I am ready to say, "I gave it a year" and head back to the states.  Sad, I love this country.  The land.  The history.  But,  I do not feel welcome here.  No need to stay anywhere I am not welcome.

If it's a one-way street there is no "wrong side of the road".   

If it's a one-way street there is no "wrong side of the road".   

There is if you are turning onto another street.

There is if you are turning onto another street.

Except in my case, there were cars parked on both sides of the street, so, my only option was to stay in the middle and angle my car to the right for my right-hand turn.  I physically could not get the car further to the right.

Except in my case, there were cars parked on both sides of the street, so, my only option was to stay in the middle and angle my car to the right for my right-hand turn.  I physically could not get the car further to the right.

I can't believe you failed for that.  Uggh!

I am no longer legal to drive as of yesterday, so, I am spending a small fortune, that I don't have, every week (£125/week) to take the bus and train to work.  An hour minute commute by car that takes about 2 hours by train/bus.

After all of this and a crook of a letting agent, I am ready to say, "I gave it a year" and head back to the states.  Sad, I love this country.  The land.  The history.  But,  I do not feel welcome here.  No need to stay anywhere I am not welcome.

Have you been here for a year already? Wow
I think you should lodge a complaint against the DSA now, I would be outraged too, at this examiner's behavior. Even if they dont overturn your failure, at least do it for the satisfaction.
I would hope it's nothing personal against you.
Would your driving teacher know if this person has been unfair with other test applicants?
If it makes you feel better I passed on the 4th try but I really feel for you because as you say, it affects your employment situation.
Don't give up on the UK, its just red tape, and I am sure the people closest to you appreciate you being here. Chin up 

I hate to ask it, but do you think being American might have had anything to do with it? 

I thought the same thing

I have.  It is at a different centre so I don't get her.  Once I actually do pass, I will be writing numerous letters of complaint about her.  She was so incredibly unprofessional and rude.  She was doing things on the test to purposely trip me up (and it didn't work, so, she failed me for something that wasn't even a minor mark).  She did this on both tests I had with her. 

I find it very strange that I have a test sheet that shows one minor (which wasn't for actual road driving, but, control on my reverse around a corner) and then failure for being on the wrong side of the road on a one way street (which wasn't even possible on this road).  Sorry!  I am still really very angry about the whole thing.  I am no longer legal to drive as of yesterday, so, I am spending a small fortune, that I don't have, every week (£125/week) to take the bus and train to work.  An hour minute commute by car that takes about 2 hours by train/bus.

After all of this and a crook of a letting agent, I am ready to say, "I gave it a year" and head back to the states.  Sad, I love this country.  The land.  The history.  But,  I do not feel welcome here.  No need to stay anywhere I am not welcome.

Keep on trying.  Writing letters of complaint won't do any good.  It's the way this country is and people just bend over and take it.  It's like they've given up here.  They tax you to death and make you go broke just for the privilege to drive.  There really is nothing to love about this country honestly.  Weather sucks.  Small roads.  Everything's closed after 5pm.  So anyways I'm sure you'll pass in due time.  Don't let their rules and regulations get you down.  There are ahole examiners out there that let their power go to their head.

Here we go again.