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Original poster

Track and trace calling every day?

84 replies

crayray · 30/06/2021 18:55

DH has just returned from an overseas trip to an amber country. He took a call today from track and trace to remind him of all the rules he needs to follow (and to read a long speech from a script about data security). After the speech he told the caller that he'd had a call yesterday and been through all the same information. The caller said 'yes that's right. We have to call you every single day for the ten days'. I'm bemused by this. What's the point?? If he decided to break the rules and go out and about during this period, he wouldn't exactly tell them! (not that he will be going out). And it's not like they're giving him new information each day!? Could they be tracing the location of his mobile phone during these calls? If so, surely they would have to be up front about it. If they're not, what are they achieving? I could understand if he had missed a call one day and they called the next, but surely they don't need to have the same discussion with him 10 times...

OP posts:
Blessex · 01/07/2021 07:36

I get called every day during the day when in work meetings. It’s now all highly disproportionate now we are double vaccinated and a waste of tax payers money.

MarchXX · 01/07/2021 07:39

Hope this doesn't happen for people who are isolating as a result of being in contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive.

I got a notification yesterday from T&T that a relative who I had seen recently (outside thankfully) had tested positive for C and am now isolating until Tuesday as per the official guidance. I am so grateful to be able to sit outside (Vit D) and my lovely neighbour has said she will get me anything from shops I need.

I have a personal policy of blocking all phone calls to my phone from unknown numbers as they are invariably spam/scam. Anyone who knows me knows to text only.

I have been so sad to read mnetters experiences here Sad and wish everyone the best and hope you can all move on from this Flowers.

I have switched my phone off for the moment Hmm.

daisypond · 01/07/2021 07:41

A relative of mine returned from an Amber country, where they work abroad, and Test and Trace turned up at the door to double-check they were quarantining.

Lochroy · 01/07/2021 07:47

To those who've had duplicate calls to various family members, is that recent? I know that had been a problem but thought I'd had been ironed out.

I know in person visits must cost a lot more but I'd rather they put the money against more of those rather than calls. If you were inclined to break your isolation I think you'd be far more likely to stay at home knowing someone could come at anytime (current frequency seems minute) rather than a call you can take anywhere.

QuentininQuarantino · 01/07/2021 08:07

Marked as uncooperative Shock

I’m genuinely flabbergasted that Brits, who have previously been against even having ID cards, are now happy with handing over their friends details without consent, for them to be hounded and marked as uncooperative by the govt if they show impatience on their fourth family call of the day… wtf!

QuentininQuarantino · 01/07/2021 08:16

Meanwhile labour pushing for everywhere to go on a red list and into quarantine facilities, where young solo women travelers, probably mostly grieving as why else would you travel to a red list - are being sexually harassed by their —captors— guards.

But businessmen and footballers, obviously they’re welcome!

notmethenwho · 01/07/2021 08:16

I arrived home from an amber country last Friday.
DH missed a call from them on Sunday. They then called me and accepted my word for it that DH was in the house, they didn't ask to speak to him. Also the caller didn't have "the script" that a lot of people mention she just waffled on about holidays and how she would love to be in the sun Grin
Haven't had any calls since.
I'm in Wales so maybe it's a bit different

Fnib · 01/07/2021 08:27

I think they do it to ensure you stay at home don't they? I don't know if they have same licence as police to check where your mobile is via triangulation with the masts, but I would tend to assume that they do. I don't think it's as simple as staying in till you've had the call and then it's fine to go out.
I agree it's very Big Brother and annoying. Not sure how else to ensure people are sticking to their quarantine though.

Anonymouse21 · 01/07/2021 08:40

@Lochroy

To those who've had duplicate calls to various family members, is that recent? I know that had been a problem but thought I'd had been ironed out.

I know in person visits must cost a lot more but I'd rather they put the money against more of those rather than calls. If you were inclined to break your isolation I think you'd be far more likely to stay at home knowing someone could come at anytime (current frequency seems minute) rather than a call you can take anywhere.

Yes. Yesterday I ‘missed’ two calls from T&T while I was on the phone to T&T. Two voicemails were left. I could see that it was T&T calling while I was speaking to T&T as it was the same number (an 0300 number), so I said can we go through the details for my other children as I can see someone is trying to call me. They said ‘no’! Not possible I need to wait for and answer all the calls! There is five of us in the house isolating - all isolating over 24 hours before before the first contact from T&T because we all had contact with the same family member! But every phone call it’s the same information. I know!!!
HancockScrewedCareHomes · 01/07/2021 08:59

Huge waste of money and very OTT. I received multiple calls daily too in Feb and it was extremely irritating. I was told it was a courtesy call!

Talking was hard as I couldn’t breathe due to having COVID. When I felt a bit better I lost it one day and told them to stop calling. They told me they had no record of a call already having been made so needed to go through the spiel again. Angry

After that I saw no point in answering the calls...

Original poster
crayray · 01/07/2021 08:59

@Fnib

I think they do it to ensure you stay at home don't they? I don't know if they have same licence as police to check where your mobile is via triangulation with the masts, but I would tend to assume that they do. I don't think it's as simple as staying in till you've had the call and then it's fine to go out. I agree it's very Big Brother and annoying. Not sure how else to ensure people are sticking to their quarantine though.
This is my point. If they're triangulating your location then they're doing it without telling you, which would be a huge contravention of data security regulations. If they're not triangulating, then they're not ensuring you're staying in, they're just reminding you to stay in every day for ten days, which is pointless. You either know you need to isolate and will do so, know you need to isolate and have no intention of doing so. A phone call won't change that. If you somehow don't know you need to isolate, you don't need to be told ten times.
OP posts:
newnortherner111 · 01/07/2021 09:01

I wonder if the country your DH has returned to has any bearing? Or the fact that the contract with Serco has just been extended. So they are being more proactive, to get more work for a bit longer.

Original poster
crayray · 01/07/2021 09:18

@newnortherner111

I wonder if the country your DH has returned to has any bearing? Or the fact that the contract with Serco has just been extended. So they are being more proactive, to get more work for a bit longer.
It's a good point but having just checked the stats, it's not a country that will be on any watch list. Cases are very low, as are deaths.
OP posts:
Lochroy · 01/07/2021 09:28

@Anonymouse21 thanks for replying - obviously it's still a problem!

As is the stupidity that when they knocked at the door for DH, they weren't asking for me, nor had any way to record that I was at home too.

Lochroy · 01/07/2021 09:30

@crayray I don't think they are triangulating, but they are reminding you of your obligation and I had a very definite question 'do I agree to abide by these rules?'. So the phone calls aren't as much enforcement as reminders....

Honey12346 · 01/07/2021 12:35

Does anyone know what happens if you don't answer the door when they come? I am on holiday in an amber country and I do plan on isolating on return but there are certain zoom meetings that I have to take for work and cannot step away for a moment so it they show up then I'm screwed!

Lochroy · 01/07/2021 12:48

@Honey12346 I don't know what happens, but can you pop a note on your door explaining and leave a number on it they could call you on? Then you could text and say 'I'm inside on a work call, I'll be down in 30 minutes!'.

Horst · 01/07/2021 12:55

I had a walk not 100% Distanced all the time because the children zooming around near a school. That person is positive but I’ve not been contacted. Even though I’m pretty sure I should of been. Track and trace is pointless because unless the positive believes you’ve been a close contact they won’t have your details anyway.

Souther · 01/07/2021 13:20

@Temp023

I used to answer and then hang up when I realised it was T&T. We were obeying the rules so happy for them to come to the house, but they never did.
That's what I'm wondering. Better to just hang up? Than listen to that for half an hous 4 times a day?

I don't realise how relentless they were for people who have had to self isolate. Especially some of the stories about people being hounded while they were in hospital.

Absolutely shocking

looptheloopinahulahoop · 01/07/2021 13:26

@Blessex

I get called every day during the day when in work meetings. It’s now all highly disproportionate now we are double vaccinated and a waste of tax payers money.
I'd just say "yes I'm here and working, bye" and put the phone down and put on silent.

If I was ill I'd leave my phone next to my bed and say "yes I'm here and ill, please leave me alone, bye" and put the phone down and put on silent.

You are all being far too polite. All they need to know is you're at home. Not that they can tell that from a mobile number anyway.

looptheloopinahulahoop · 01/07/2021 13:28

@Honey12346

Does anyone know what happens if you don't answer the door when they come? I am on holiday in an amber country and I do plan on isolating on return but there are certain zoom meetings that I have to take for work and cannot step away for a moment so it they show up then I'm screwed!
I'd put a note on the door to say I am working and cannot be disturbed and you won't be opening the door.
woodpigeongrey · 01/07/2021 14:21

MargaretThatcherMilkSnatcher exactly the same happened to us a few months back.
There was no recognition that the whole family had caught it at the same time. The phone calls were relentless, they insisted on going through the whole script every single time and not once did they ask if I felt well enough to talk (I didn't). I found them extremely rude and insensitive and in the end I blocked the number. This seemed to be the only way to stop them.

narniaswardrobe · 01/07/2021 14:31

I live in an amber country and returned to England to stay with family in May. I had a visit on day 1 and then had daily calls. Yes there is a very short script they read from at the start and end of the calls but other than that, each call was different. So on day 2 they checked that my day 2 test had arrived, on day 3 they checked that I had been able to do the test ok and get it posted, we talked about how the test to release test would work and that as soon as the negative came through I'd be going out etc I think the last call was on day 8 and they spoke to my dad who told them I'd had my negative day 5 test result so was out and about and they put it on my notes. The calls lasted a couple of minutes each, all nice people and no big deal. I was really pleased they were checking up.

Original poster
crayray · 01/07/2021 15:33

@narniaswardrobe

I live in an amber country and returned to England to stay with family in May. I had a visit on day 1 and then had daily calls. Yes there is a very short script they read from at the start and end of the calls but other than that, each call was different. So on day 2 they checked that my day 2 test had arrived, on day 3 they checked that I had been able to do the test ok and get it posted, we talked about how the test to release test would work and that as soon as the negative came through I'd be going out etc I think the last call was on day 8 and they spoke to my dad who told them I'd had my negative day 5 test result so was out and about and they put it on my notes. The calls lasted a couple of minutes each, all nice people and no big deal. I was really pleased they were checking up.
Why were you pleased?
OP posts:
narniaswardrobe · 01/07/2021 17:22

I was pleased because, from a selfish point of view as someone who lives in a different country from my family, I want international travel to continue. If testing, being called and quarantine is what it takes for me to continue to be able to see my family one a year, then I'm happy to do so. Saying that, I don't think that visiting my family is the same as just going on holiday to a random destination, but I know others disagree. In the short term, if people know that checks are being made on people coming back from amber countries, then it may cause some people to reconsider travel plans purely for 'holiday' reasons. And secondly, I travelled back last summer and quarantined for 14 days and wasn't contacted at all so I felt like this summer they were trying to keep on top of arrivals from other countries. Which I think is still needed at the moment.

I don't know anything about how the track and trace calls are working after testing positive/near a positive case so I can't comment on that.

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