Can't return Day 2 PCR test as Sunday and Bank Holiday

[tim091]

Wife returned from amber country on Friday so today (Sunday) is the day she needs to take her test. But it has to be taken to a post office and they are closed for two days.

Any advice? There is nothing to cover this scenario in the provider's documentation or gov website etc.

She could also have done it Fri or Sat. Day 2 is the latest day to do it, but it doesn't have to be on that day. Not sure where that leaves her in terms of complying with the rules unfortunately.

Presumably she booked the test already tho? I don't think it actually matters if it's taken or not, it seems all that's needed now is a booking reference for the passenger locator form. So it's unlikely anything will happen as a result of her not sending it back on time.

Why didnt she do it yesterday?

Nothing helpful to add, but I’m finding it mind-boggling that a system to test whether people have brought Covid into the country is relying on them visiting the Post Office.
That sounds an absolutely ridiculous plan.
Are you sure they can’t be posted in a priority post box?

Can't you drive to a test centre?

I'd just shove it in the post box. No one will check it anyway.
We did it at the airport on landing as I just wanted to get it done!

It really won’t matter when it is taken- the government aren’t checking it. My youngest DC did her Day two test six days ago and we still don’t have the results back despite booking with a very well known provider and paying £75 each. Do it day three instead, it won’t matter.

Just put it into the priority box. The Royal Mail site will have a list of your nearest ones

@DaisyDozyDee

Nothing helpful to add, but I’m finding it mind-boggling that a system to test whether people have brought Covid into the country is relying on them visiting the Post Office. That sounds an absolutely ridiculous plan. Are you sure they can’t be posted in a priority post box?

Doesn't seem they can be posted in priority post box as they have a bar code to be scanned.

Anyway, all the priority post boxes near have no collection today!

Yes, it's too late now but the test had to be taken on or before Day 2. I didn't realise this until I actually read the guidance rather than just the bit that said "Day 2 Test".

Ours went in a Priority post box though. There is an outside chance that one outside a main Post office collects on the bank holiday I suppose.

It doesn’t matter. They aren’t checking.

@MimosaFields

You cant do that unless there is a collection from that box today. Last time I took a test, you had to check the collection time on your closest priority box and it said to do the test something like "no more than 1 hour before posting it".

I think our local sub post office (in the "corner shop") claims that they offer PO services any time the shop is open.

It won't matter. DD's day 2 test wouldn't work. Called the company who were not helpful. Ended up having to order a new one from elsewhere. But didn't arrive til day 4 or 5.
So we called the Covid helpline and they said it was fine to do it late.
To be honest nobody seems to check!

@MimosaFields

Just put it into the priority box. The Royal Mail site will have a list of your nearest ones

Not all can be put in Royal Mail priority boxes. Randox, for example, use their own drop boxes.

Thanks all. Bottom line it seems then is that there is nothing we can do today or tomorrow, so she will do it and send it on Tuesday. If anyone "official" kicks off then I will argue with them!

I've just checked the opening times for my local post office and it is. Open til 1pm today. It's worth checking on the Website for ones local to you.

I don't think it matters. I sent mine off on day 3, nobody has checked or cared. I know 3 people who haven't done theirs at all, and are past day 10 and nobody cared or checked. It's a money making scheme nothing more.

Our local post office inside Tesco express is open all the hours Tesco is open so it’s worth checking all local counters not just proper post offices.

@SoupDragon

I've just checked the opening times for my local post office and it is. Open til 1pm today. It's worth checking on the Website for ones local to you.

Thanks, I only checked my usual one and it was closed. There are some open nearby, however, I doubt they have collections from them for two days so the test would sit there.

Yeah I’d second finding a post office that is open - the “dedicated” post office near us is closed but the one inside a Spa is open, and there’s one at a Tesco half an hour away. There’s also three priority post boxes with collections before 1pm; although the third one is a 50 minute drive away.

It’s a pain in the arse but she could have taken the test yesterday and it’d have been easier.

It doesnt matter. There is no follow up if you don’t do it, you see basically paying for a code that lets you complete the PLF. drop it it a priority post box if you want or leave it until Tuesday

Just FYI on anyone reading this thread doing Randox day 2 tests, In the very small print, you don't have to use the designated post boxes for Randox. You can use any courier service, at your own risk. We sent ours Royal Mail special delivery, with doorstep collection from our own house, any they arrived safely and were processed next day.

Ours probably won’t arrive in time for us to test on day 2 due to the bank holiday. Couldn’t give a sxxt. We’re in a country with far lower rates that the U.K. and we’ve done antigen tests to come home. Much greater risk if we’d gone to Devon or Cornwall with the masses.

Just to close this story: we did the test today (Tuesday) and took it to the post office. They refused to take it saying it must go in the priority box instead. Now I have read the instructions from the test provider (Prenetics) that is actually what it says to do, my wife read it wrong. DO NOT take to the post office.

So, job sort of done. Of course if it comes back positive then she will have mixed with more people than she would have if she had done it on the correct day, which we feel bad about obviously.