The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 8th December

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

• JandeW says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:38

  Does anybody know if Collinson have gone into administration or similar? We have used them for covid tests in the past and they have been first rate. However, since ordering our Day 2 tests on 30 November (£55.20 x 2) we have heard nothing and received nothing. We are now on Day 5. I have written 4 emails to the address given (the last 2 have bounced back as Undeliverable), I have tried to call them but they have closed the switchboard, and tweeted them several times with no response whatsoever. If anybody is planning to use them, my advice would be DON’T!

  • NorthernLass says:

    8 Dec8 December 11:41

    Apparently they have been overwhelmed with demand, so I can’t see that they would be having financial problems but clearly the service level is unacceptable at the moment.

• His Holyness says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:39

  Travelling from CDG to DUB, I’ve got a EU Covid Pass, am I free to enter? Would it be any different if it was a NHS one? Also curious about choosing to travel to NI, would that be unlawful?

  • Whisper2 says:

    8 Dec8 December 18:52

    I think the Republic of Ireland are required pre departure Covid tests if traveling from the mainland. However no tests are required to travel to Belfast and everyone is free to travel south by any means without testing. So you could go via Belfast and avoid any testing hassle

    • Justin says:

      8 Dec8 December 21:37

      mainland?

  • His Holyness says:

    8 Dec8 December 22:23

    Yes seems so. How many EU Member States are requiring a test in addition to the EU Covid Pass? Is Ireland the only one? Seems very odd

• NorthernLass says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:39

  I have easyJet flights I need to move to next May/June and a chunk of Bonvoy points to use before they fall victim to “dynamic pricing”. Certain hotels let you use points and then upgrade with cash for lounge access. Just looked at Paris and there are loads of Marriott properties and no way (as far as I can tell) filtering the ones with lounges. Any suggestions?

• Tracey says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:39

  Twitter rumours, Boris making a big announcement today on internal restrictions, possibly including working from home and vaccine passports. No international travel changes today as omicron is already here, but may be on another day.

  • His Holyness says:

    8 Dec8 December 11:44

    Vaccine passports would be good, they’re a great success in Germany and France who’ve had them for many months, plus Scotland and Wales. They’ve also done wonders for hospitality too.

    Moreover, cases saw a real drop with FFP2 masks in Germany and Austria. Another great success.

    • PeteM says:

      8 Dec8 December 11:49

      Queue someone reminding you without these measures, His Holyness, cases would be: So. Much. Worse. 🙂

    • Harry T says:

      8 Dec8 December 11:50

      Vaccine passports working really well in Europe – cases dropping through the floor, right? 😂

      • PeteM says:

        8 Dec8 December 11:54

        I wonder if this is a bit like pre-departure testing. The value of a LFT 48hrs before departure is virtually nil. But it pleases the people who need pleasing and it shows something is being. So we are doing “something”.

        • Harrier25 says:

          8 Dec8 December 11:59

          This sounds like an attempt to deflect attention away from Christmas Party claims at No 10. 🥳

      • Geoff 1977 says:

        8 Dec8 December 12:04

        Good point. It annoys the mad anti vaxxers though so swings and roundabouts 🤣

  • Tracy Regan says:

    8 Dec8 December 11:53

    I’m there on Saturday morning so I’ll ask for you.

  • James Vickers says:

    8 Dec8 December 12:01

    Convenient timing to take the focus of his dodgy party 😉

  • can says:

    8 Dec8 December 12:15

    Typical of Boris. Do it late, Do it worse, Do it half-assed, and blame everyone and everything else later.

    • Anna says:

      8 Dec8 December 12:23

      People seem to have forgotten that he had various visitors over Xmas last year, under the guise of a “childcare bubble”!

    • Aston100 says:

      8 Dec8 December 13:20

      And yet people continue to vote for this circus of clowns.
      I guess lots of people must enjoy self-harming.

      • SteveJ says:

        8 Dec8 December 13:27

        The real problem is that the opposition are an even worse bunch of unelectable clowns.

      • Spurs drive me mad says:

        8 Dec8 December 13:41

        Who else can we vote for the choice was Boris or Coybn ! I can’t vote for labour they are a bigger bunch of idiots than the ones in now!

        • AndyGWP says:

          8 Dec8 December 17:04

          There’s more than two parties you can vote for 🙂

• Tracey says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:40

  Question. Can you walk through a drive through testing centre? LGW have a speedy PCR testing centre but it is drive through only.

  • NorthernLass says:

    8 Dec8 December 11:42

    I’d check with the centre. When we had Collinson ones done at MAN we got instructions to stay in the car and they did the swabs through the window, there didn’t seem to be an option to do it as a pedestrian.

  • memesweeper says:

    8 Dec8 December 12:35

    No

    There are walk in testing centres instead

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    8 Dec8 December 13:27

    We did last year. But there was no shelter and it was windy. Decided never again.

  • Simon L says:

    8 Dec8 December 17:45

    I went to the collision drive through yesterday at LGW , there were 2 couples there who were walk ins , they were swabbed and I couldn’t hear them encountering any probs

• Amo says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:41

  Does anyone have any recommendations for an accountant that can help with a self-assessment? My income is a combination of salary, RSUs and BTL income so don’t feel too comfortable doing it myself. I’m based in London so would be great to have someone local, but not essential.

  • Chas says:

    8 Dec8 December 12:25

    Happy to recommend my accountant – Nigel Harris from Harris & Co, based in north London (although I’m no longer based there). His firm has managed my personal and corporate tax affairs for over a decade. A quick google should give you his contact details.

  • memesweeper says:

    8 Dec8 December 12:36

    Just north of London is the superb and reasonably priced Gold Stag

    https://goldstagaccounts.co.uk/

    • memesweeper says:

      8 Dec8 December 12:37

      (no connection other than a happy customer BTW)

  • Amo says:

    8 Dec8 December 15:21

    Thank you both! I’ve contacted both to set up a chat 🙂

    • Chas says:

      8 Dec8 December 16:25

      👍

• stevenhp1987 says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:44

  NHS Android app now has an option to export your Domestic or International Covid Passport to Google Pay.

  Might be useful for some.

  • manilabay says:

    8 Dec8 December 14:57

    Thanks very helpful!

• Eric the Half a Bee says:

  8 Dec8 December 11:48

  I have just requalified for BAEC silver (was silver already) but my card expiry date hasn’t changed. Is this normal or, as I was expecting, should I have seen Oct 22 card expiry change to Oct 23?

  • Rob says:

    8 Dec8 December 12:08

    It should be October 2023, yes.

    • Eric the Half a Bee says:

      8 Dec8 December 12:43

      Thanks Rob, will contact BAEC.

      • Rob says:

        8 Dec8 December 13:22

        Good luck with that. I’d just sit it out.

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.