How hard should it be to book a test, FFS?!

[80sMum]

I have just spent the last 45 minutes trying to book a Covid test for me and DH. Talk about a rigmarole!

Having gone through multiple pages of questions (after having had the page crash twice so I had to start again) I finally reached the stage where it said it needed to verification my identity.
So I clicked on "ok check my identity" - I should point out that at this point I had already entered my name, address, mobile number, date of birth, NHS number and National Insurance number into the form and had confirmed my email address by entering a unique code that had been emailed as part of the booking process. But I then got a "computer says no" situation, ie the system was unable to verify my identity. WTF? What more do they need?!!

I had been trying to book a home test kit. The form said that as they were unable to verify who I am, I should book another slot at a drive through instead - so I clicked on the "book slot" link or whatever it said it was, only to be taken back to Page One of the booking form to enter my name and start the whole process over again! WTAF? I don't have time for all this faffing around!

I had no idea it would be this difficult to book a simple test! I have to go out now, so will have to go through the whole process again later on.

I should add, I don't have any symptoms. I've been invited to book a test as part of a study.

same thing happened to me. Ring 119 they'll send you one.

Remember this for any sections of the study which may allow you to elaborate - ease of testing makes a huge difference to uptake.

The drive through was so easy, I booked online at 12.45, test 1.30, it took 10 mins, home by 1.45, woke up to the results the next morning, which were sent sent about 8am.

I had similar. Spent what felt like hours entering the information for me and two others in households. Eventually get to page which says however many hundreds of tests and slots available and three nearby centres. Yet every time I click nothing was available. Tried on phone, tablet laptop. Same thing. Gave up and started all over again next morning and then could do it. It was so frustrating and I nearly didn’t bother the next day.

56Alex50 that's good to know. It seems that the system is mostly geared up for in-person testing. I might just book drive through tests instead in that case. The only downside of that is that our nearest testing station is a 40-mile round trip away.

Having just seen 40kimlo's reply, I phoned 119. The person who took the call tried 3 times to book the test kits for me, but was unsuccessful. Apparently, according to her, the booking system that she uses is always very slow but usually works on the 3rd attempt. But not this time.

So, I was advised to either try again online (for what would now be the 6th time!) or phone back to 119 later on and see if it works.

What a fiasco! Hardly the world-beating system that was promised!

Booked at 2.15. Test at 3pm. Result next day 7am. I use the COVID 19 app.

@MrsHerculePoirot

I had similar. Spent what felt like hours entering the information for me and two others in households. Eventually get to page which says however many hundreds of tests and slots available and three nearby centres. Yet every time I click nothing was available. Tried on phone, tablet laptop. Same thing. Gave up and started all over again next morning and then could do it. It was so frustrating and I nearly didn’t bother the next day.

Same here - it was such a frustrating process booking for myself and 3dc. I wish it could have saved the info or at least shown you the slot availability first.

Which app is that, @20perfumeistooexpensive? Are you in England?

I just had to put full name, where we wanted to go and car reg!

I'd rather not have the 40-mile round trip to the test centre though, 24OverTheRainbow88 so have been trying to order a home test kit.

Gosh that's awful, I had no problems booking online. When you go in person they ask you to take ID with you.

Might not help the OP but I'd advise walk in as opposed to drive through centres, you get much more 1:1 support to do the test and package it up etc, none of which is easy.

Luckily testing centre is 5 mins drive from my house, if needed I could have a test every day, hardly anyone is using it.

Oh home testing have been recalled, maybe that’s why your having issues?

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/08/up-to-750000-uk-randox-covid-test-kits-recalled-over-safety-concerns

I have to say I had the opposite experience, I was so impressed. I looked it up that day, booked in for 30 mins later (drive-through), and I found the whole set up when I got there quite very organised. Hope you manage to get sorted!

We did the test this morning. In the end, I booked a slot at a test centre. A pop-up, mobile test site suddenly appeared in the list of options that hadn't been there when I'd looked earlier in the day.

It took us 25 minutes to drive there. We then waited 5 minutes before being asked to call a mobile number, which put us through to the person who was issuing the tests. She quickly ran us through the process, then we were each given a DIY test kit and told to park in a particular place, read all the instructions and then do the tests ourselves.
It was very awkward trying to do it in the car, with no space to put anything and only a tiny mirror. We did the best we could. The whole process took about 45 minutes.

Overall, I was not impressed with the system at all. Surely there must be a better way?

They do it for you where I am, it takes 5 mins, you just have to bring id and the bar code on your email booking confirmation.