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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think some people will use the track and trace maliciously (because you won't know who has reported you as a contact)

68 replies

chomalungma · 29/05/2020 12:20

You won't be told who the person was who is ill. But you will be told to self isolate for 14 days.

I can see why they won't tell you.
I can also see that some people (maybe, maybe not - if they are ill, they might not care) - but they could take advantage of this to harm someone.

I would like to know who has listed me as a contact. It could be a mistake on their part.

It's a big ask to self isolate for 2 weeks, especially given the impact on your life, finances etc.

And especially if you don't know who the person is

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 29/05/2020 12:31

I suppose it's possible, but I can't see it being a widespread problem tbh.

You'll likely know who it is anyway because either they will tell you or you'll notice that they're suddenly missing from work etc.

I very much doubt we're all going to be getting calls that an anonymous person has listed us as a contact. You know who you've been in close contact with!

HermioneWeasley · 29/05/2020 12:31

Agree, it’s ridiculous. Personally if I test positive I shall say I’ve been in contact with Dominic Cummings

Barnabyboyo · 29/05/2020 12:33

It’s 2 weeks and it’ll help contain the virus. Do you want this to continue forever?

Appuskidu · 29/05/2020 12:33

Will you have proof that you’ve been named? I presume if I need to be off work for 14 days, I’ll have to show my boss evidence?

Or can you just self certificate?

NuffSaidSam · 29/05/2020 12:33

Hermione that will have no effect whatsoever. The one thing we know about DC is that he doesn't follow the rules!

Barnabyboyo · 29/05/2020 12:33

@HermioneWeasley

Agree, it’s ridiculous. Personally if I test positive I shall say I’ve been in contact with Dominic Cummings
How childish
Barnabyboyo · 29/05/2020 12:34

@Appuskidu

Will you have proof that you’ve been named? I presume if I need to be off work for 14 days, I’ll have to show my boss evidence?

Or can you just self certificate?

You can get a self isolation note from NHS online that you can download
Oliversmumsarmy · 29/05/2020 12:34

My friend thought exactly this. She has a Stbxh who would be this malicious and would then know exactly where she was and it would leave her alone in the house.

OhhhPeee · 29/05/2020 12:36

It could also potentially work the other way around, where someone fancies a few weeks off work and asks a friend who has tested positive to name them despite not being in contact.

PicsInRed · 29/05/2020 12:40

My friend thought exactly this. She has a Stbxh who would be this malicious and would then know exactly where she was and it would leave her alone in the house.

This. I thought you would know who the contact was and wondered what would happen if you denied seeing them, but obviously not.

I'm in a similar position to your friend.

What would the tracers do if you deny being in anyone's company for 15mins?

TheAlphaandtheOmega · 29/05/2020 12:42

I wonder how long it will be before scams are reported about people trying to get personal details like dob and addresses from it the whole thing is open to fraud and we know what happened with TalkTalk which the same person was in charge of

ComDummings · 29/05/2020 12:43

There will be many malicious people abusing this, absolutely.

PicsInRed · 29/05/2020 12:44

@TheAlphaandtheOmega

I wonder how long it will be before scams are reported about people trying to get personal details like dob and addresses from it the whole thing is open to fraud and we know what happened with TalkTalk which the same person was in charge of
Oh yeah, guess we can look forward to phone calls about that virus we were involved in on the high street. Hmm
Original poster
chomalungma · 29/05/2020 12:45

What would the tracers do if you deny being in anyone's company for 15mins

This.

I bet they have a script for this.

I want it to work - but there is a lot of trust in this - and a potential financial impact.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 29/05/2020 12:49

They're not enforcing it at the moment. So if you absolutely know that you've not been in close contact with anyone then just carry on as normal. There is not going to be mass malicious reporting.

Choccyp1g · 29/05/2020 12:55

If you have only been in 15m contact with ONE person, will they make the obvious assumption that you caught it from them, and get that persons contacts to also isolate?

WyfOfBathe · 29/05/2020 12:55

So if you absolutely know that you've not been in close contact with anyone then just carry on as normal.

I am coming into contact with people, as a teacher. If I got told I'd been into contact with a case I'd assume it was through work.

That doesn't mean that somebody who I hadn't been in contact with couldn't maliciously report me. My last break-up was awful. Luckily it was years ago now, but if it had just happened I could definitely imagine my ex doing something like that.

TheHighestSardine · 29/05/2020 13:04

Honestly it's barely worth discussing the way it "works" because it's so badly thought out it never will.

It's a mere sop to those who would like some science in our policy. There isn't any.

Mawbags · 29/05/2020 13:05

It’s really not going to work because they’ll only be able to contact known people so it will be limited to workmates and friends etc.

If they were doing a total big brother number, they’d use location services on phones.

NuffSaidSam · 29/05/2020 13:08

'That doesn't mean that somebody who I hadn't been in contact with couldn't maliciously report me'

Of course it could happen, but it's very unlikely to happen widely.

How many people in your life would maliciously report you? The number must be low surely?

Each one of them will likely only test positive once, so it's not like they could do it over and over again.

The consequence is two weeks off work and staying in.

If you've got a vicious ex-partner I would say being incorrectly reported as a contact will be the least of your worries. It's not exactly a masterplan for revenge is it?

Earnsomething · 29/05/2020 13:34

Oh that makes me feel better actually. I was concerned that there'd be scope to say, no I didn't see Fred last week, it was the week before or argue over never having been where the contact was made. Also that people wouldn't name all their contacts for fear of being held responsible for them not being able to work etc.

I think it's more likely to happen mischievously than maliciously and I do think there's scope, where people have good sick pay entitlements, for people to be persuaded to name contacts that never were.

ChilliCheese123 · 29/05/2020 13:35

Two weeks of statutory sick pay is a joke
Should be full pay it could happen all the time

Earnsomething · 29/05/2020 13:37

I do wonder how.many peope would take action after a stranger calls them and tells them theyve been in contact with 'someone' but can't tell them where or when though. I can also understand why people might keep very quiet about having it.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 29/05/2020 13:43

"My friend thought exactly this. She has a Stbxh who would be this malicious and would then know exactly where she was and it would leave her alone in the house."
If your friend's stbxh told the tracer he had been in close contact for 15 minutes with her, I think he would be asked for her name, address telephone number. Presumably he wouldn't have (at least) the address.

Why do you then think he would know where she lives? The person tracing contacts is not going to divulge personal information about anyone to any of the parties involved.

Original poster
chomalungma · 29/05/2020 13:45

I do think there's scope, where people have good sick pay entitlements, for people to be persuaded to name contacts that never were

That's something I never thought about

OP posts: