UK govt are making a killing out of private travel tests...

[Plumedenom]

.. and they have no interest in making a digital covid passport available while they are making money out of private day 5 and 8 kits. I look at that list of private test providers and I see a massive list of 'jobs for the boys'.

While the rest of Europe have signed an agreement and will be ready to roll out a digital certificate of vaccination in July, our government haven't even engaged with Europe. They are spending money making another system when a perfectly good and secure system has been offered to them.

They want us to go on holiday here or pay exorbitant prices for tests if we do have to go. Anything to keep the money in the UK coffers, at the expense of freedom of movement.

There are 5 million UK nationals living in Europe. The majority go home at least once a year. Each test kit costs 200-300 quid. That is a hell of a backhander they are making. You tell me why posting two rapid flow tests in the post costs 300 quid. It is a scandal waiting to be uncovered.

Certainly means only those with the means can go abroad. I see plenty of wealthier people saying I am going to wherever, can quarantine and afford the tests! Sucks for those who cant.

The fact Mr Malik is a Labour MP is neither here nor there. A former member of govt is now the director of one of these dodgy labs. Why on earth is the former Under-Secretary of State for Justice running a covid testing lab? Does that not strike you as odd? Opportunistic? Convenient? Also, I have no problem paying a reasonable amount for a test, but I expect to receive the result of that test in a timely manner. That should be a basic consumer right, that's the service. You can't leave the house until you receive it. Tracks Nd Texas hassle you if you haven't. The majority of labs are not doing that.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. People don't really care because they think if they can't travel they don't want anyone else to, but one in three British children has a parent born abroad, so a lot of families are separated. Millions of Britons live abroad.

The Guardian this morning has reported some findings by Which ``www.theguardian.com/money/2021/jun/10/firms-on-uk-covid-test-provider-list-misleading-travellers-which-says here is the article]]

Firms that appear on the government’s official list of test providers
are charging for tests that do not meet the requirements for travel, and some firms were unable to provide the tests they advertised.

Three of the companies on the governments own list of recommended providers took the money and never provided the tests at all.

People still think its about keeping out variants!

this is actually quite shocking

Book A Travel test’s About Us page includes a section headlined ‘Who we are’ with photos of three individuals, supposedly called Jennifer Smith, Amy Andrews and Al Haser, who it describes as ‘our experts’. But a Google image search reveals that the three photos are just stock images that come with the website builder. It’s unclear who is actually behind the company. We contacted Book A Test again after we noticed the discrepancy, but haven’t received a reply.

Thanks for that @QuentininQuarantino is shocking!

Thanks a lot @QuentininTarantino, I am so glad Which? are onto this. The truth is, only truly desperate people are traveling at the moment. People with a really compelling need. Nearly every single one of these testing companies has been set up specifically in response to the crisis. The government website is nothing more than a hurried excel spreadsheet put online. These companies are profiting out of desperation. It makes me sick.

There are obviously some dodgy companies out there poorly regulated by the government, and I also find it ridiculous that people who are already taking regular free PCR tests as part of their work for the NHS or as part of surge testing should have to pay separately for duplicate private sector tests.

But you haven’t proven your main assertion that the government’s policy is motivated by backhanders to ministers. Involvement by one man who used to be an MP for the opposite party ten years ago is not convincing evidence.

Randox is one of the biggest suppliers of PCR tests under the UK's "testing for travel" scheme.

Conservative MP Owen Paterson is paid £100,000 a year to act as a consultant for Randox.

The UK government has awarded a new £347m Covid-19 testing contract to Randox (incidendally there was a scandal last summer when testing kits had to be recalled over the summer because of concerns about contamination.)

The deal was agreed without other companies being invited to bid.

It means the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has now approved transfers of nearly half a billion pounds in taxpayer funds to the Northern Ireland-based company since the pandemic began.

As long as it’s the stupid people going on holiday being fleeced then that’s fine with me

Literally the biggest money making SCAM ever

QuentininQuarantino

That's the same Randox who sponsor the Grand National - and which health secretary do we know who is MP for Newmarket and receives donations from racing circles ,and which track and trace head is also heavily involved in racing! And just by sheer coincidenc Owen Patersons wife is on the board of the jockey club as is Dido!

More jobs for mates! It an f'n joke - these people are laughing at us!

@SoSadAboutMyDad but its not, its you, the taxpayer. You are the idiot being fleeced. If you're a British taxpayer, you've paid 347 million quid to this company. In fact, that figure is an extention on a previous contract, so you've paid an absolute fortune. Owen Paterson gets 8000 pounds a month for doing 16 hours "work". You fine with that?

The point is, PCR tests aren't just requirements for "stupid people going on holiday" are they?

If the proceeds of the testing were being channeled into public funds and used to support government spending, I would be less angry about these arbitary tests. It is not the government making money, it is private individuals. And they are going to be lobbying hard to keep the tests in place to protect their investment.

Tests for outgoing travellers are determined by the regulations in the country to which they are travelling so nothing to do with the UK government.

The rules on testing for incoming travellers are arbitary, confusing, and in many cases fail the common sense test. Enforcement is bizarre - phone calls from test and trace to a mobile number ( could be anywhere) where you have to listen to them read out their script. Same script every day. Box tick Britain at its best.

I think people are getting fed up with this now.

As long as it’s the stupid people going on holiday being fleeced then that’s fine with me

I am in UK to spend time with a dying relative who I have not been able to see for a year. Are you happy about me being fleeced too?

There 2 operates issue they way the contracts were issued and the price.
TBH can't be arse with the contract thing it's constant conspireces and back hander theories yet we never seem to get any proof just random bad mouthing and speculation .

All companies have to make a profit it's just not practical to do it for cost big profits buffer big loses .

I’m not one for conspiracies either, but as the MPs have to declare their financial interests it is straight from the horse’s mouth

I'm entering Greece tomorrow and all I need is my vaccination QR code from the NHS app. It took me about two minutes to register and download it.

I'm entering Greece tomorrow and all I need is my vaccination QR code from the NHS app. It took me about two minutes to register and download it.

I had this conversation with Jet2 earlier this week and they swore blind that it was a government requirement that everyone takes a PCR test before they travel abroad, regardless of destination and regardless of vaccination status. When I asked them to point me to where it says that on the government website, they backed down and said you need to check the entry requirements for the government you're visiting.

Do let us know how you get on @HeyDemonsItsYaGirl - I'm meant to be going to a Greek island in 3 weeks but losing hope.

They're definitely wrong!

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

"Arrivals from the UK must provide either; proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, undertaken within the 72 hour period before arrival into Greece, or proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations completed at least 14 days before travel (see Demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status). Travellers with proof of either are exempted from the need to self-isolate on arrival to Greece."

Or from the Greek government itself (no doubt more trustworthy than ours)

• Proof of a negative test is not required however for all travelers that have completed their vaccination (i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required) and hold a vaccination certificate.

travel.gov.gr/#/

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl that may be what you need to get THERE (the Greek rules for entry) What you should be worrying is what you need to get BACK (the English rules for entry). If they are not a a green destination it's a day 2 and 8 test.
This is not conspiracy theory. This is info from the companies house website. And an article in which literally describing the whole scam in detail.
Also, this doesn't just affect the "idiots" going on holiday (companies that now have a financial interest in keeping Europe amber). It is any private test conducted for any reason at all.

Also, seriously, even if the country is green, given what happened with Portugal, take a lateral flow test with you for the way back from a place like qured who can issue a certificate online, and have the details of a day 2 and 8 provider lined up, because if they become amber while you are away, you will be in the very same boat. It is nearly impossible to get a lateral flow test that is translated into English/french/Spanish (the UK requirement) if you are in Greece, so you are better to have it with you on the way out.

I have a test in my suitcase and the day 2 and 8 ones will be delivered when I return. It was £40. I don't think the government should pay for my tests when I've chosen to go on holiday...