To ask if giving a false phone number is a thing?

[DuckyMcDuck]

Went to a cafe with a friend, we sat outside but she was asked for her phone number. Once we sat down, she admitted that she always gives a false number and so does everyone she knows.

Is this really a common thing? I haven't been in places very much but have always given my number when asked.

You cannot find money for 2 weeks of not earning

On top of the months of not earning I think a lot of people’s funds have depleted if their businesses have been closed and only just started getting going again

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages why can't you claim benefits?

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@AvocadosBeforeMortgages why can't you claim benefits?[/quote]
There's lots of reasons why people cannot claim benefits

• if they currently earn "too much", even if they're living hand to mouth and their income would drop to zero if they self isolate - bearing in mind that anyone who works full time on minimum wage and doesn't have kids is deemed to earn too much to claim benefits

• if they have a partner that's earning, even if that wage is low and they cannot survive on one low income alone. The likelihood is that, in this scenario, they would both be told to self isolate so neither would have any income.

• they have savings, even if these savings have been set aside for a tax bill or a house deposit

Pisses me off. I comply with every dicky rule. I think the whole thing is made up bullshit, but I do exactly as I'm told, because I can hardly tell my kids to do as they're told and then ignore the rules myself. If this bollocks really is that bad, well maybe track and trace will make a difference. We'll only know if we actually try. Or we should just bin the whole thing and let nature run its course. The endless hypocrisy is painful.

I often do

You do realise that you are suggesting that, don't you?

I'm doing my bit, which happens to involve taking abuse on a regular basis trying to get details from people when they very clearly have reached their limits and I fully understand why.

And you know what its made things a million times worse. It took a while but mask compliance had improved. Now, now that's not enough fir people they can't be bothered with any of it now cos they have well and truly had enough.

So all the other stuff that's been implemented, the stuff that was systematically ditched as soon as the next lot of stuff comes in, first its distancing, you sort that and they want masks, but cos masks are being worn they think distancing doesn't matter. Now they want details and no one can even be arsed with the masks any more. I'm sure there are many who will happily walk to the houses if Parliament and beg for a tracking chip but for others they started to drawer he line and its the staff dealing with this chap. Each step makes things worse for us

But the reasons you list @AvocadosBeforeMortgages suggest you fall into one of those categories (not being eligible for any benefits.)

Do you?

In which case, it's not really true you can't stop work for 2 weeks. Because you either have a partner or savings, or some other source of income. As a business you will also have access to an overdraft that could surely get you through 2 weeks.

I don't know if your username gives a clue to your work but if you are in catering I'd be gutted if someone was serving me if they might have Covid.

If your work is customer-facing you are being very selfish to refuse a test or self isolate if you develop symptoms.

@ineedaholidaynow they have to ask, they don't have to produce an accurate list of correct numbers.

But many other countries have these rules, it's not just Boris having a power trip.

If people don't comply, hospitality and events are some of the businesses that are going to be even more buggered than they already are

@JinglingHellsBells

But the reasons you list *@AvocadosBeforeMortgages* suggest you fall into one of those categories (not being eligible for any benefits.)

Do you?

In which case, it's not really true you can't stop work for 2 weeks. Because you either have a partner or savings, or some other source of income. As a business you will also have access to an overdraft that could surely get you through 2 weeks.

I don't know if your username gives a clue to your work but if you are in catering I'd be gutted if someone was serving me if they might have Covid.

If your work is customer-facing you are being very selfish to refuse a test or self isolate if you develop symptoms.

I cannot earn a penny if I don't leave the house. While I have income now (and that rules me ineligible for UC), that would stop if I self isolate. The five week wait for UC means it won't kick in for two weeks of self visse

*self isolation

I refuse to get into debt (any debt - but especially expensive debt like the overdraft you suggested) for this. I've never been in debt before, with the exception of student loans, and I'm not going to start now. It is the responsibility of government to make it affordable to do the right thing.

It's not selfish to need to pay your rent or put food on the table.

I cannot earn a penny if I don't leave the house

So that means you mix face to face. You need to think very seriously about how many deaths your behaviour might cause without a test/ isolation for two weeks, compared to taking a few hundred quid out of your rainy day fund for tax or a house deposit. Or an overdraft, OR asking parents/ relatives/ friends, for a loan of a bit of money.

If you are willing to have that on your conscience for life, and know your behaviour may have killed someone, good luck to you.

we're talking serious stuff here- people's lives.

It's not selfish to need to pay your rent or put food on the table.

Oh come on! get real FGS. it's completely fucking off the wall selfish.

You'd rather murder someone (that's what it amounts to) than borrow a bit of money (2 weeks' income.)

It is the responsibility of government to make it affordable to do the right thing

They are and you clearly fall through the net as you have saving BUT won't use them.

And it's YOUR responsibility to stop being a spreader when you could dig into savings to cover 2 weeks of income. The government has NO money- it's OUR money- tax payers. Why should we cough up more when people like you are not willing to dig into savings or get a small loan or borrow from family?

Why are you directing your anger at individuals, and not the system that forces people to make decisions they'd prefer not to?

I hope you'll be writing to your MP about the lack of financial support for people like me?

The idea that I've not spread covid will be cold comfort when I'm sleeping in a tent on the high street. Will you put some money in the pot that says "change please" or will you just assume I'm some junkie

@JinglingHellsBells

It is the responsibility of government to make it affordable to do the right thing

They are and you clearly fall through the net as you have saving BUT won't use them.

And it's YOUR responsibility to stop being a spreader when you could dig into savings to cover 2 weeks of income. The government has NO money- it's OUR money- tax payers. Why should we cough up more when people like you are not willing to dig into savings or get a small loan or borrow from family?

I HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT SYSTEM ALL MY LIFE

And the second I need help, I'm abandoned.

Fuck that shit.

So, I've been in a work venue where some one tested positive, I had been in contact with people that had been in close contact with that person. I was not contacted by T And T and my employer couldn't actually give a shit when I asked them what should do.

@JinglingHellsBells

It's not selfish to need to pay your rent or put food on the table.

Oh come on! get real FGS. it's completely fucking off the wall selfish.

You'd rather murder someone (that's what it amounts to) than borrow a bit of money (2 weeks' income.)

Oh the hysteria! Mumsnet really is a good laugh

It would be funny if it wasn't so frightening! People are completely hysterical and have submitted all thought and now rely on others to tell them what to do.

@ilovesooty

I haven't slagged off people's children or wished death on anyone. I still think people who won't provide an accurate phone number for track and trace are despicable, irresponsible and selfish and their actions are a threat to others. I wouldn't want to associate with anyone admitting to doing that but unfortunately I might have be unable to avoid them. They might work in or be customers in shops, doctors ' surgeries, hospitals or business places I may have to visit, even if I can choose to stay away from pubs or restaurants they're using so selfishly. Their potentially infectious children will be at school with other people's children and teachers. And they can't know if those people have vulnerable family or friends.

You're just as likely to catch covid off someone who gives their real number as you are someone who gives a fake one. If you are so concerned, you should self isolate and keep your kids out of school. It is your responsibility to keep you and your family safe.

I do however still want to meet with friends and support businesses that will likely soon be further shat on.

The irony here being that, in the government’s desperation to lay the blame absolutely anywhere than at their own door, the ammunition of ‘people aren’t giving true contact details for T&T’ feels like it might be a very convenient not-our-fault-gov excuse for piling more restrictions (such as return to takeaway only) on those businesses if things don’t improve.

Like you, I want to support local businesses, so I comply with the rules that are a condition of them currently operating. If I feel I can’t do that, I just don’t go there (and look for other ways to shop local.)

I don’t think it’s fair on the businesses themselves to do anything else. They are firmly in the governments sights on this.

Minimising risk is everyone's responsibility.

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

You have money you just don't want to dip into it, so please stop being disingenuous. You gave that away by saying that you didn't fall into the group eligible for benefits and banged on about people having put money away to pay tax or a house deposit.

TBH I'd rather give you £500 with my blessing, or whatever you need to get by 2 weeks if you stop work than risk you killing my mum aged 94 by passing Covid on to her or someone who knows her and passes it on, or my DH who is medically vulnerable.

A few women I know are giving fake numbers. They weren't at first, but it appears the lists of contact details were not kept confidential, and the women started getting dodgy calls. Its only 4 of them mind, but all 4 were in the same establishment, and the next day started with the calls, it might not be because of the lists, but it seems odd timing if its just random.

What a depressing thread. Are people really that bloody stupid. The whole idea of track and trace is to save lives.