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Original poster

Travel day 2 test - Please help

37 replies

stilldazed · 08/08/2021 17:36

Please help, I live overseas and after 2 years I'm finally going home!

I am filling out the passenger locator form and it is asking for a test booking reference, when I click on the link on the government site they are all really far away, I will be staying in rural wales with no transport. Can anyone recommed a postal services that is accepted by government website and doesn't cost afortune (I am travelling with 3 DCs) I was hoping to pay £20 but I've seen prices as high as £80 which for 4 of us I just can't afford.

I'd be grateful for any advice or to hear from people with recent eperiance smile

OP posts:
UmbilicusProfundus · 08/08/2021 17:53

Watching with interest. Cheapest I have found is just under £50 but with £6 delivery charge (and another £6 if you post back rather than drop off). And for a family of 4 have to individually order each one, each with the additional delivery charge Hmm

Delatron · 08/08/2021 18:04

I’m looking at the moment and they are about £80 average with the cheapest £50. Even lateral flow tests here are about £30 so unfortunately you won’t get a pcr for £20. It is really expensive for a family.

You should be able to get one delivered though. The some return through Royal Mail priority boxes? I’ve looked at so many I can’t remember which one did the Royal Mail decide though!

Delatron · 08/08/2021 18:06

Yes I found I had to individually order each one @UmbilicusProfundus which put me off (was it C:19 ?) it meant entering payment details and address each time. So still looking for an easier option!

Tatum1234 · 08/08/2021 18:30

Randox health. You can use code FLYRYANAIR to get £5 off

Original poster
stilldazed · 08/08/2021 18:51

thank you for the replies.

This is shocking, it's so expensive, any other recommendations for delivery ones?

OP posts:
Downtown36 · 08/08/2021 19:05

Following as looking too. Prices seem to have increased?!

Downtown36 · 08/08/2021 19:06

And not forgetting the cost of the test we need to take up to 72hours before departure for the UK… 😭

110APiccadilly · 08/08/2021 19:08

Be careful. I saw on another thread (so check this, I or the person on the other thread may have got it wrong) that Welsh Gov only accepts tests from one provider. So if you're staying in rural Wales, make sure you've checked the Welsh Gov rules, not just UK gov.

ScottyandWestie · 08/08/2021 19:13

I wouldn't touch Randox health, look at their reviews. We ordered two tests two weeks before we were leaving. The tests took 8 days to arrive and then the claims of next day results are not true. The tests get put in a drop box on day 1, the box near us was emptied at 6pm or so, the next day they arrive at the lab so day two, the third day you get your result so day three.
We had to go and have tests with DAM health at £99 each as the Randox results never arrived when they said they would, (we called and were on hold for hours, so gave up and booked the DAM health ones.
As I say loads of reviews saying them same we were foolish not to google before buying.
You simply will not get cheap tests. The cheapest are the worst too in terms of service, the stress of not being able
To get hold of anyone, not getting a result on time and being fearful of missing our trip was terrible.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but sadly there's no cheap service for this at present that is reliable. The Randox were around £48 each. At the airport we met a family on our flight who had same issues we did. It's all a con you can't return them if they arrive too late or anything.

UmbilicusProfundus · 08/08/2021 19:25

But if you are just looking for a (fully vaxed, travelling from amber country) day 2 test it doesn’t matter if the results take ages as there is no requirement to quarantine? Obviously different if you need results before flying.

sonjadog · 08/08/2021 19:38

I haven`t seen any for twenty pounds. I have used Randox and been very happy with them, but they have to be put in a dropbox so check where your nearest one is before you order, or you might have to drive a long way.

ilovesooty · 08/08/2021 19:42

I think you might be able to put Randox in a priority postbox but I've got a Dropbox near me. I've been quite happy with them.

The tests are expensive - I've certainly not seen any for £20 or anything like that.

Normandy144 · 08/08/2021 22:52

We've booked Dante for £49 each. That was the cheapest I found and they post to you. We got home today and nothing has arrived so far - to be honest I don't really care, just needed the cheapest test and a code to add to the passenger locator form. Go with the cheapest postal one you can find and don't stress about it.

DonGray · 08/08/2021 22:54

You don't have to wait until day 2 - you can take a test on arrival at the airport or port

Suprima · 08/08/2021 23:03

ExpertMedicals is the cheapest day 2 (£28)

Unreliable service, but all you need is the code to put on your passenger locator form.

If it doesn’t show up- NHS Covid helpline will direct you to go and get a free PCR done at a test site.

There really is no point in paying £50-60. You literally only need the code for entry to the UK.

Delatron · 08/08/2021 23:07

It’s a good point. You just need the code for the form. If the tests turn up late or the return is delayed it’s not really an issue.

user68901 · 09/08/2021 07:03

watching thread!

DGFB · 09/08/2021 07:06

No you don’t just need the code for entry, authorities can check you’ve done the PCR and recorded the result.
Not seen any for £20 at any point. Cheapest I found was £50

Delatron · 09/08/2021 07:32

This is for the day 2 test though? So you just need the code on entry to the U.K.

Then you do the test day 0-2 and send off results? Who checks this has been done?

Delatron · 09/08/2021 07:34

The point is. It doesn’t matter if the test doesn’t turn up in time. That’s not your fault. As someone said as long as you’ve ordered and paid for it. So reliability isn’t that important for day 2 tests. It is for the fit to fly tests as the risk there is missing your holiday.

xksismybestletter · 09/08/2021 07:35

Im watching because I need to book these too. If it helps op, we are a family of 5...

bert3400 · 09/08/2021 07:36

We are currently on holiday visiting family in the UK and used Randox. The tests are easy to do and the results came back the next day. They delivered the tests to my parents house. I've been very pleased with the service but check the location for the Dropbox near where you will be staying

Amboseli · 09/08/2021 07:42

Try Chronomics, they are quite cheap but don't know if accepted in Wales.

Agree that it doesn't matter if the test doesn't get sent to you in time, as long as it's booked before you come to the UK you're fine. We didn't do our day 2 tests until day 3 because of a problem with the supplier. Nobody called to check and I suspect if we had done it on day 4/5/6 nobody would have called. It's all just a money making exercise for gov and their chums.

Suprima · 09/08/2021 08:55

@DGFB

No you don’t just need the code for entry, authorities can check you’ve done the PCR and recorded the result. Not seen any for £20 at any point. Cheapest I found was £50
This thread is about the Day 2 travel test. You do only need a code for entry.

You are talking about the Return to the UK test.

Original poster
stilldazed · 09/08/2021 09:19

Suprima - It's asking for a code on the Passenger locator form

OP posts:
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