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Original poster

Test & Trace calls

65 replies

Stevie77 · 05/07/2021 12:41

Is there a legal to answer their calls when isolating?

Quite frankly, they’re doing my head in and I don’t want to speak to them anymore but they’ve rung 3 times today so far and I’m guessing won’t stop calling until I speak to them. It’s harassment.

OP posts:
WhiteChocTwix · 06/07/2021 12:39

I've just had another T&T agent tell me the reason they keep calling my husband's mobile to speak to me is because "it's a landline number". When did landline numbers begin "07"?! The worrying thing is that's the 2nd agent in 2 days that's said that to me. The mind boggles. Have made a complaint!

Rosesareyellow · 06/07/2021 12:39

I work for T&T. Just answer the phone and we'll go away. How hard is it?

Nearly everyone on this thread explained how hard it is, that many callers don’t just ‘go away’. You sound very helpful indeed Hmm

CloudPop · 06/07/2021 13:39

Do they call your mobile or your land line ?

blobby10 · 06/07/2021 14:26

My son is returning from an overseas deployment tomorrow -he's had to give our landline number for T&T purposes as he has to isolate for 10 days. Even though he has had Covid, had two vaccinations and not moved off his base for four months! He will be contacted several times and has been told he must answer the phone. They wouldn't accept a mobile as he could answer it when out and about! No idea what they would do with people who don't have a landline as many don't these days Hmm

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/07/2021 14:41

That's ridiculous! I have a landline but don't know the number and only ever answer it to my uncle who won't call my mobile!

FictionalCharacter · 06/07/2021 14:56

What do they think is the point of calling you every day? If you are told to isolate and you know which day you can stop isolating, why do they need to talk to you every day? People who are meant to be isolating but aren’t will just lie, those who are isolating are just being bothered unnecessarily.

SandyStarfish · 06/07/2021 16:05

Well, it's not hard. The initial phone call is made and then daily SMS or daily phone calls are offered. The daily phone calls, if chosen, are literally just a check in to see if you are well / have any symptoms. An SMS is easier for us all! It's "hard" when people are rude and difficult when we are just trying to do our job.

SandyStarfish · 06/07/2021 16:07

And I am helpful actually. I spend lots of time talking to lonely or anxious people, trying to arrange support if they can't access food or medications whilst isolating, and being empathic as I know it's a stressful time. What is not helpful, again, is unpleasant people being rude and uncooperative.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/07/2021 16:34

I didn't realise an SMS was an option @SandyStarfish. Do you just reply to check in?

I wouldn't be rude to anyone but I can understand people getting frustrated when they get multiple calls a day, T&T has to make separate calls for each household member even if they have the same number etc.

SandyStarfish · 06/07/2021 16:40

I am in Wales so maybe it is different here. Children can't have SMS as it has to be a phone call to the parent. But we do all the household in one call where we can.

SandyStarfish · 06/07/2021 16:41

And yes, you text 0 if no symptoms? 1 if symptoms. You then get a reply advising you what to do or thanking you for isolating.

CanIHaveAHolidayPlease · 06/07/2021 16:52

These damn people called me 3-4 times per day when I was bed bound with covid. More often than my mother. Half of them had such strong accents from various places it was impossible to have a proper conversation.
It was if they were calling to check if I was still alive. I advised them I have a good support network thankyou very much and don't need daily check - ins. That didn't put them off!!

I suppose the thought was there, they're only trying to provide support but damn, they nagged me more than my kids.

SandyStarfish · 06/07/2021 18:24

Ours is all done by council locally. And we only ring Covid positive people once to get all their contact info.

kazillionaire · 06/07/2021 18:31

If you answer the phone and either do the questionnaire with them or refuse co-operation then that is it, they don't call again. As it is you can be called up to ten times per person over three days so if your number is the contact number for the family then that will be alot of calls to ignore. You could even fill in the questionnaire online yourself, then nobody will ring, its not hard...
If you tell them to f off then they are within their rights to report you and remember these calls are recorded, so you may find that you would be better off being polite and helpful and if you don't want to share your information just say so, oh and the harassment route has been tried before and they don't fall under that category :)

BoaCunstrictor · 06/07/2021 18:34

Report for what, exactly? It isn't illegal to tell someone to fuck off.

Original poster
Stevie77 · 06/07/2021 21:14

@SandyStarfish

And I am helpful actually. I spend lots of time talking to lonely or anxious people, trying to arrange support if they can't access food or medications whilst isolating, and being empathic as I know it's a stressful time. What is not helpful, again, is unpleasant people being rude and uncooperative.
What?!? I wasn’t offered the choice between SMS or phone call. Anyway, no calls today - hooray!
OP posts:
Precipice · 07/07/2021 01:31

"People questioning the law"

It's not unreasonable to ask what is the legal basis for something and whether it is legally unavoidable. It is outrageous that T&T callers upthread are described as not knowing what the basis for their activity is.

It does my head in to see orders and instructions "you must do this, you have to do that" without any authority cited for it. It's like the lateral flow tests - I can see why they want them reported and accordingly why I should, but when I see on the leaflet "you must report" on the website, my immediate response is "on what basis do you claim I must"?

As to harassment, as to the legal sense, perhaps not, but in the common use of the word, not so odd a description if people are getting constantly contacted. It can be harassment even where there is a right to contact you - there was a case in Scotland where a woman was getting constantly called up by her bank, to which she owed money, the court finding that while the bank was entitled to contact her to seek resolution, they could not bombard her with endless calls/call attempts (she got something like 550 calls in just over a year), hence damages for her.

beentoldcomputersaysno · 07/07/2021 05:02

Are they calling to check you're isolating? One criticism I've read over the year is that there are no checks on people isolating/it's a farce etc etc.

PTW1234 · 07/07/2021 05:14

It’s a complete waste of money. I am in isolation and get called daily on my mobile (no landline) they ask for my year of birth and if I am still isolating. Who would say no to that question Grin

And as they are calling my mobile I could literally be anywhere...

But agree with PP, I politely take the 2 minute call - I wouldn’t dream of being abusive to someone doing their job. As for harassment, that’s a bit of a stretch!

TreaslakeandBack · 07/07/2021 05:23

I always answered and was polite but firm. We are ok, we are all isolating, we wouldn’t dream of leaving the house. I won’t listen to scripted threats today, bye.

ChristmasCovid · 07/07/2021 05:54

@Suranjeep

Just tell them to fuck off etc be rude to them.
Nice - they are just dong their job After the initial contact tracing you get welfare calls checking that you are ok, making sure you have the correct advise and isolation information, and to answer any questions you may have - they take about 3 minutes - they are not trying to sell you anything ffs.

I was told you get 3 welfare/isolation calls during the 10 days if you don’t answer they try again which is why people are getting repeat calls - much easier to answer the phone and be polite.

HowdyDudey · 07/07/2021 06:41

We’re all positive in this house. They have my number for all the children. I’ve been called 12 times - they’re the ones I’ve answered. It’s an absolute farce and I have now blocked the number. They can send the police around for all I care.

I called 119 to talk to them about it and to remove my number from the database. Apparently I had called the right department but had been put through to an overflow centre who couldn’t help me and so I had to keep on ringing back to sort it out. As if I have the energy for that at the moment.

It’s harassment. It’s made me cry and I’m not a crier. Because of this all, my husband has a positive LF but is not going for a PCR and we have deleted the NHS app. I never want to deal with them again.

HowdyDudey · 07/07/2021 06:44

To add. They don’t join the dots. Each case is treated separately and they don’t link household cases. I was called to say my son has been in contact with someone and had to isolate.

  1. My son had been in contact with a sibling.
  2. My son also tested positive.

So it’s not just welfare checks etc. It’s useless calls, highlighting just how the service is not fit for purpose.

Lemons1571 · 07/07/2021 07:23

When they call to check if you’re isolating, do they read a scripted threat then? I don’t mind a call to check if we’re at home, but I can’t be doing with reams of repetitive blah blah blah when I’m trying to wfh.

Bubblespider · 07/07/2021 07:55

Surely there is no legal requirement to answer your phone?