Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Track and trace alerts - non refundable appointment

52 replies

LittleMissSneezy · 03/07/2021 03:27

Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this

Just looked over at my phone in the middle of the night to see a sodding track and trace alert that has popped up but expires at 2359 tonight - it was from contact on 23 June

I've got no symptoms and quickly did a LFT which was negative.

This morning, I had arranged to have my hair cut and coloured. Had organised someone to come and sit with the dog etc.

Just looked up both cancellation policies and I can't cancel either without paying in full because I have less than 24 hours notice fgs. Where do I stand with this in terms of legal rights do you know?

Tbh with one day left and a negative LFT I would happily get my hair cut but of course the hairdresser wouldn't want that I don't think and I won't be able to check in!

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleMissSneezy · 03/07/2021 03:30

Should also say I had Covid in April 2020 and I've been double jabbed!

OP posts:
Thehenbunringsock · 03/07/2021 03:49

Not sure where you stand legally other than contacting the salon asap and hoping they show some kindness. Obviously you'll need to isolate so it may mean losing the money Flowers

Polpette · 03/07/2021 03:57

Having had Covid once won't stop you getting it a second time and won't stop you from carrying it and passing it on.

And having the vaccine doesn't stop you from getting Covid or from passing it on either.

I would hope the hairdressers had different cancellation policies in place for Covid otherwise they risk people turning up regardless as they can't afford to lose money.

ChocOrange1 · 03/07/2021 04:06

Ridiculous to ping you with less than 24 hours to go, pretty pointless as if you were going to develop covid then you are 90% likely to have already done so and be spreading it around.
The app pings are not legally binding, being contacted by test and trace on the phone is.
I would go, leave your phone at home and check in with pen and paper. Also turn off contact tracing on the app so it doesn't happen again - lots of stories of people getting pinged when they hadn't been in contact with anyone.

cocoloco987 · 03/07/2021 05:08

I'm normally a rule follower but in this instance I'd do the same as @ChocOrange1 . Oh and delete the app. I've heard of people pinged because their phones have been in close range through walls in separate buildings. There's good reason the app isn't legally binding.

ApolloandDaphne · 03/07/2021 05:28

I don't think there is any legal obligation to isolate following a ping from the app. Given the isolation period is almost over and you have done a LFT I would still go to the appointment.

Original poster
LittleMissSneezy · 03/07/2021 05:33

I checked the 'other data' bit and it says it notified me on 2 July (yesterday) but I didn't notice it or it happened after I went to bed! Argh!

@Polpette I did a LFT and it was negative so don't think I've been carrying it around and spreading it

I'm also a rule follower Blush and the hairdressers has all my details online so not sure if they put them in somewhere themselves that would alert them and now concerned about getting them into trouble!

I have to check in at work so have to use the app annoyingly!

I do think it's ridiculous I've been told so late as I've been out and about and at work since then and with it so near the end of isolation, I'm sure I would know by now! You would think with a negative LFT it would sort it!

OP posts:
Polpette · 03/07/2021 05:49

Oh OP I really feel for you. I'm a rule follower too but as others have said the app is unreliable and it's informed you so late.

Having your details doesn't mean they log them anywhere. So I wouldn't worry about that.

It's the last day of isolation and your LFTs are negative.

I'd go and not worry.

cocoloco987 · 03/07/2021 05:56

Is there no way to check in at work manually? What about people who have older phones whose operating system doesn't support the app? Or like mine where I didn't have enough storage to update to support it (glad of that now). The hairdresser doesn't log your details anywhere and as said it's not a legal requirement via the app anyway. You didn't notice for a day so you could easily not have noticed for 2 anyway and been none the wiser

ChocOrange1 · 03/07/2021 06:11

You can still use the app but turn contact tracing off. That means you can check in places but won't get pinged.

Your hairdressers won't be able to look you up using your details, the app doesn't even have your details it just works on Bluetooth - that's why it's not legally binding, there is no record linking your name to the behaviour of the app.

floatingboater · 03/07/2021 06:29

Nobody apart from you knows the app has pinged you. Go to the hairdressers and delete that useless app.

Golden2021 · 03/07/2021 06:40

Just go. It will be fine. It's not legally binding. Tell hairdresser you want to sign in manually. We don't sign in at mine anyway. I don't have the app.

byvirtue · 03/07/2021 06:52

Delete the app. Go to the hairdresser.

I’ve never downloaded the app I sign in manually if I’m made to.

CovidCorvid · 03/07/2021 06:54

Agree. Delete the app and go to the appt.

careerchangeperhaps · 03/07/2021 07:00

I'm going to go against the grain here and say don't go. LFT aren't very reliable- a negative result doesn't always mean that you don't have it. There's a reason for the isolation period being the length it is and not a day earlier.
Imagine the person next to you in the hairdressers is elderly or they have caring responsibility to someone vulnerable.
Most - if not all - places waive their cancellation policies for Covid related reasons as they don't want people rocking up regardless and putting them and their customers at risk. I'd explain, send proof of your notification and refuse to pay the cancellation fee. I'm quite sure that they wouldn't take you to court for it.
The reason for late notification is probably that whoever you had close contact with has only recently shown symptoms and received a positive result, showing that it can take a long time for the disease to incubate and make contacts infectious.

Againstmachine · 03/07/2021 07:04

Delete the app and reinstall it should be gone.

I would ignore.

Thehenbunringsock · 03/07/2021 07:08

@careerchangeperhaps

I'm going to go against the grain here and say don't go. LFT aren't very reliable- a negative result doesn't always mean that you don't have it. There's a reason for the isolation period being the length it is and not a day earlier. Imagine the person next to you in the hairdressers is elderly or they have caring responsibility to someone vulnerable. Most - if not all - places waive their cancellation policies for Covid related reasons as they don't want people rocking up regardless and putting them and their customers at risk. I'd explain, send proof of your notification and refuse to pay the cancellation fee. I'm quite sure that they wouldn't take you to court for it. The reason for late notification is probably that whoever you had close contact with has only recently shown symptoms and received a positive result, showing that it can take a long time for the disease to incubate and make contacts infectious.
I agree with you. The rules are shit but following them is the right thing to do.
Goldenoodle · 03/07/2021 07:17

I have a small business and last minute cancellations are incredibly frustrating and mean I don't earn my wages that I'm set out to earn that day.
My policy is only to keep the £30 deposit, not a full payment.

However, I have asked any cancellations to send me a screenshot of their track and trace ping.
Honest people, like yourself, will be able to proove you have to self isolate. And can prove you aren't lying.
Hopefully your hairdresser will be sympathetic if you can demonstrate.

LondonMummer · 03/07/2021 07:19

To those saying turn off contact tracing on the app, can you explain how to do it permanently rather than for 12 hours at a time

Theredjellybean · 03/07/2021 07:22

Delete the app
Go to the hairdressers
After recent behaviour of some MPs, the fact they had G7 with hundreds of people travelling to UK, and yesterday Angela Merkel had audacity to travel to UK after trying to rally Europe into insisting uk travellers have to quarentine for 14 days.. Bet she doesn't in her return..... Well I think you arw fine to go to hairdresser ffs. You'll be wearing a mask and be sd from other customers.

WB205020 · 03/07/2021 07:47

Normally I follow the rules but as @Theredjellybean says, after football, Wimbledon, the g7, merkal coming again, etc. It’s ridiculous. I’m not saying we should do whatever we want but if it’s ok for the above I don’t see why we are expected to take things as seriously any more. Time to get back to a normal life again.

Sinner10 · 03/07/2021 07:50

Track and trace is guidance not a legal requirement. With so little time left I would be going.

72WayTooCool · 03/07/2021 07:55

@LondonMummer

To those saying turn off contact tracing on the app, can you explain how to do it permanently rather than for 12 hours at a time
I turned mine off over a week ago for 12 hours. It reminded me to turn it back on and I just ignored it. It's still off and hasn't turned itself back on.
WeWantAMackerelNotASprat · 03/07/2021 07:57

Delete the app as it's been wrong so many times you can't trust it!

superram · 03/07/2021 07:58

@LondonMummer it doesn’t turn back on after 22 hours, it just reminds you to turn it back on.

Swipe left for the next trending thread