NHS test & trace text message

[Threetoone]

I received a message from NHS test and trace this afternoon.
I don’t have the NHS app downloaded on my phone.
Message mentions me by name and says
“You have been identified as a contact as someone who has recently tested positive for COVID 19. You must now stay home and self isolate for 10 days from the date of your last contact with them.”
Given it mentions me by name and the fact I don’t have the App, I assume this is someone I know well enough who knows my name and number.
Both DC finished school on 11th Dec so not a school contact.
Saw MIL Christmas Day (she in our support bubble). Met a good friend on Christmas Eve for socially distanced coffee outside. Were always 2m apart. I’ve asked her if she’s tested positive and she hasn’t.
I’ve not seen anyone other than my DC, DH, MIL and friend on Xmas eve.
Racking brains, not been anywhere other than collecting groceries, popped into supermarket on 23rd but didn’t speak to anyone and no NHS app.
Had something delivered on 23rd, told delivery guy to leave just inside door, about 20 seconds of contact.
Really confused why I’ve got this text and why no dates mentioned.

I’m not convinced that’s legit. It should tell you the isolation end date at the very least.

Ooh how odd. I wonder who it was. How are you meant to know when the contact was.

How can you work out how long to isolate for if you don't know who? Sounds strange.

@testingtesting321 that’s what I was thinking. Funnily enough was reading the thread on here about the woman who’s husband was annoyed she had the text and she mentioned the dates, which mine didn’t.
It came up on my messages from NHStracing and had one previous message about the T&T app. But I guess numbers can be cloned.
There was a link which I didn’t click on but put into a different device and went through to an NHS link which wants your details. (Name, address) and wants you to know if you have symptoms etc. There was a reference on text also but you need to register before you can use the reference. Bit loathe to put any details unless it’s genuine.

Have you had any missed calls? It’d have to be contact tracers, if you don’t have the app; so someone would have had to mention that they’d spent time with you... I wonder if you can get in touch with them. I’m not sure if the text from contact tracers could mention a name because of privacy laws? But I have no idea, other then friends reporting weird sounding texts at times.

@StealthPolarBear exactly, really not been anywhere. Dc have been home since school
finished and I’ve only been very local and not with anybody else and outside walking dog.
@Dadnotamum72 does sound strange, maybe a big flaw in the T&T process!

OP, my text as a contact is below. I've removed the codes they included. As you can see no dates were mentioned. This was authentic from T&T when my son tested positive:

You have been identified as a contact of someone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19. You must now stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days from the date of your last contact with them.

Please visit your account (account number xxx) at contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/invitation/accept?invitation_token=(code xxx) to answer a few brief questions about your health and get support to self-isolate.

Thank you for doing this quickly: you will be helping to protect yourself, your family, and the NHS.

Any information you give us will be held in complete confidence. If you're unsure, please search online for "NHS Test and Trace".

@HopeAndDriftWood good idea, just checked and no missed calls.

Oh and by the way, the text started with my first name.
I don't use the app either.

The text came the day before the calls by the way.

We're in Scotland but the message my daughter received stated the date she had to self isolate until.

I can see that a follow up text with specific isolation dates came the following day too after the initial text.
Your initial text wording and link reads as legitimate, therefore.

Can you call the T&T helpline to confirm?

@middleager thanks, that is pretty much my text. But obviously 10 days now.
If I go through to that link, will it give me any further information as to when contact was? I guess I’m on at least day 2 or 3 now anyway.
There was a post on the other thread about someone’s DH was told to self isolate and then received a text a couple days later saying your self isolation period is ending early and the poster assumed it had been a mistake.

The text sent an invitation to a portal where you register your details. I had to create an account and type my details in.

My son tested positive late Sun night.
I got the text cut and pasted above on the Monday
I got another text with the actual dates on the Tues.

But I've gone through my files and I also received a call on the Monday and an email (though T&T had my email).

I would call their helpline number which is three digits (sorry, you might need to look it up, not 111 obvs).

@middleager

Can you call the T&T helpline to confirm?

That's what I would do

Don't click on anything or put personal details anywhere.

The email arrived on the Tuesday in my timeline.

@middleager oh that’s interesting, thank you. I’ll wait to see if I get a follow up text then.
I did try to call T&T but it’s was an automated message.

Good luck. It was different for me as I knew DS was positive and that I'd handed all my details over when I registered him (a minor) for the test, but in your situation I'd double check.
The real tell tale sign is the calls though, which should start coming through (usually an 0300 number).

Thank you everyone.
I rang the TandT helpline, (119 if anyone is interested) and they concluded same as me, must be someone I know which I had already concluded. They suggested logging on to the NHS portal for more information which I did.
I have to self isolate until the end of 28th December so tomorrow. So I assume someone I know who I’ve seen in last 9 or 10 days who has tested positive.
Still can’t think who though, memory is pretty bad at best of times.
But thanks everyone for the messages and advice, it’s much appreciated.

OP it might be someone you stopped to chat to, like a neighbour.