So like many of you I have the GOV shielding letter. I have registered on the GOV site, checked the box that "I Don't have any means to get shopping"(because can't find a delivery slot)and still no email, txt or call from any of the main supermarkets after a week.
Do any of you have any tips to get noticed? I tried calling the helplines but after the automated mesg ends it hangs up on you :/ There are no email addi's for any of them on the sites.
Thought it would be good to put any tips that have worked for ppl all in one place to help me and others. I have scoured the other threads on this topic and after trying those still no luck.
Thanks
D
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Deminem
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I’ve exhausted everything .. like you had the letter contacted Gov uk no luck. I have to ring my clinic next week but I don’t know when they will reply as we’ve had a message that most staff have been redeployed and it may take sometime to get to speak to someone. I will ask them .. I’m fed up with this shopping malarkey
I'll be watching this thread with interest although sadly, I suspect there aren't really any magical solutions. Although the supermarkets *say* they're giving priority to those on "the list", very few seem to be doing it consistently (if at all)...
I'm supposedly on Tesco's list (they even sent me an email to confirm it) but I still haven't found any other way to get a slot than waiting up late at night and hoping I get lucky. It really would be such a relief to be able to book a regular weekly slot (or even 2 or 3 weekly... heck, I'd settle for once a month and at least I could plan) but unfortunately I can't see that happening any time soon...
I phoned Tesco last week and they gave me a time to go on to book it and i went on at the time they said and i managed to get a slot so worth phoning them as i was having the same problem hope you get a slot.Keep safe x
@beeckey... have you heard anything since that initial prompt to go and book at a specific time?
Shortly after I registered, they did actually send me one message saying they had slots free for a couple of days later but (fortunately?) my need for a delivery wasn't quite that urgent!
UNfortunately... since then I've heard nothing further and certainly don't see any new priority slots appearing, despite the fact that the option to search for them does now appear on my account.
Sorry forgot to say if they give you a time to log on you will always go on at the same time.Sorry i would private message you the number but not sure how to do it
Yes me too...It’s hard enough dealing with these health conditions, the current Covid 19 situation, then staying up to midnight trying to book a delivery slot - if lucky!
It’s adding more stress, which definitely not needed, right now!
At sometime .....when everything has settled down with this Covid situation it would be really interesting to know who actually should’ve written “the letters” what the categories were and, who made that decision, and how they decided who, should receive them & how the letters should have been distributed.
And who is going to explain why the hell was it all such a monumental muck up?And will somebody finally apologise?
But as nobody in any position of supposed authority can answer a straight question of life & death over PPE for NHS clinical staff & care workers in Nursing homed...I guess it will take a freedom of information order to get an answer....& I for one am not holding my breath!
The only supermarket chain I found to be the best is Sainsbury ,like you I am on the vulnerable list, I tried ASDA, no luck. Tried tesco, a waste of space . I was giver a number for Sainsbury vulnerable person site and got registered easy. YoU might be on the phone a long time to get through But it is a free phone number. The number is 08000525500. Also found that they only do slots for 2/3 days at a time so you have to keep trying.
I trust the response I received that I should receive confirmation in 2 - 3 days. I think my date of birth and physical limitations probably swung in my favour, particularly as I can’t stand for long on a painful ankle that fused without surgical intervention, so queuing is a no-no.
I went onto Sainsbury's website and could never get a slot. I phoned and after 25 mins got through and she said that I hadn't 'completed' creating an account because I hadnt saved my payment card details onto the site. So after I had saved my card payment details onto the site I was then able to book a slot. They are only releasing delivery slots a few days in advance so keep checking
I've found that going on the Asda site soon after midnight usually (not always) shows some slots. I did this a few days ago and my slot is for Tuesday week! Gave up with the others. Not particularly bothered which supermarket I can get as I'm not one of those who is brand or supermarket loyal.
I’ve found Waitrose quite good once they wrote saying I’d been identified as vulnerable. I’ve got slots two and then three weeks ahead and there’s still slots showing as available. I’ve had one delivery from Sainsbury’s and from Tesco. Tesco I tried at around 6 pm and they had three slots for the following day. It’s definitely the luck of the draw. I hope you get somewhere. Otherwise I’m told some farm shops will deliver, that’s if you live in a farm shop area of course. Good luck
Hi, I had the same dilemma. Tesco have a number to call, if you give them your details and that you’ve had the letter, within 48 hours delivery ootions opens on your account. Tesco are only delivering to vulnerable or shielded customers. Asda, seem to be opening slots gradually. However, the slots I have managed to get are two weeks away - meantime it’s finding friends, family or voluntary groups to help out.
It took me an hour if dialling every 15seconds to get through and then an hour of hold, but I managed to register as vulnerable. The slots appear about 5 days in advance and go quickly. This is Sainsbury's in the South. So every Saturday morning I play lucky dip and so far all is well. I hope you will get there soon.
I have literally just received an email from Sainsbury last night and have been added now. No joy on Ocado though. I have managed to book a slot for Wednesday.
I did fill in the .gov form around 8 times. 7 times they said I wasn’t on the list. 8th time I was. Took another two weeks before receiving the email from Sainsbury.
I’ve used local farm shops, bakery and veg box delivery and put toiletries and stuff on Amazon subscription so probably won’t actually use my slot now anyway. Produce miles better and works out better prices. And supporting the local economy which is crucial now.
I’m the same, I haven’t had an email from any of the supermarkets and neither has my dad and he got his letter right at the beginning of this. I did however have a phone call from my Council on Friday saying they had been informed by the NHS I was on the list and offering help so hopefully things are finally getting through.
One thing, I am a long-standing Ocado customer and I filled in a form on their website and now I can get a delivery once a week. They did stop taking new customers at the beginning of this though so unless you’re already registered with them you might be out of luck.
I registered n the government site, stating I had no support. About 10 days later had email from Sainsbury’s but couldn’t find a slot. I phoned the a Tesco line and they added me as I had a letter. I’ve since received emails from Waitrose and Asda to confirm priority. Asda have set me up with recurring weekly slot till Oct. you need to already be on some of their lists before they contact you, Asda that is definitely the case. So if you’ve never used online shopping that may be why you’ve not been contacted.
I was also contacted by my local council to check how I was and next day received a large food parcel
Thanks for all your tips, lots to try there. Though can't understand why others get through to anyone on the helplines, I get cut off when the automated mesg ends after Ive selected to speak to someone.
There are many people who have received letters telling them they are at risk and to self isolate for 12 weeks. Many of them, including me, found that they were not on any supermarket priority list. It seems that the government lists supplied to them were not very comprehensive. I got around the problem by calling Tesco Head Office. The next day I was on their priority list. I would advise anybody who is in the same situation to follow suit. It is still necessary to check regularly for available priority slots as they tend to get snapped up quickly but I have managed to get delivery slots for the past 3 weeks.
Do you have an asda who delivers near you ?. If so create an online account with them and you should A: get an email within a couple of weeks offering you the chance of a weekly occurring slot and B: depending on your council you should receive a box of groceries once per week until you are able to change your extremely vulnerable form with gov.uk saying that You do have means of getting shopping.
It's just it is taking a little longer in some places for government, councils and supermarkets to get on top of it.
Just to throw it in the mix, I have found Iceland the best place to get delivery. They seem to free up next-day delivery slots quite frequently. Not as wide a selection as the bigger stores but it's got us through do far and if course great if you have a big freezer. Also free delivery if you spend £35 so useful for top up shops. Stay safe everyone x
I have the best tip, go to the tills and ask them. Most of the slots are booked early in the day or do it on line an iPad connected to internet and it can be done on a smartphone. And by smart phone it doesn’t need an education or a wash or a tie. Lol with my shopping all I can do in lockdown is ask my estranged wife or do it on line, but I spend too much lol.
Hi ive given up trying i found a company called Beelivery that can get your shopping and deliver the same day a bit limited for choice but good to get by. Recommended.
Just tried iceland and guess what... no slots lol! I'm in kent.
Called the sainsburys number, got through instantly, only to be told they have no capacity to add me, I have to sit and wait to hopefully be noticed through the GOV list. Good job I have enough food atm to not half starve to death lol. You've got to have a sense of humour about all this.
If COVID doesn't get you, the hunger pangs will.
Hi - Im Tracy, Membership Officer from NRAS. I also work at Waitrose, we are now in the process of being provided with the government lists but unfortunately this is taking time. If you are a Waitrose customer already and have a MyWaitrose card and also have a John Lewis Partnership credit card then if you were over 70 you should have been emailed about 3 weeks ago as they took the date of birth from credit card applications as a first step to identify those people who would have gone into self isolation at the beginning. You need to make sure you log in to the website with your email address. That was all the data they had to go on till they get the government information. Make sure you have actually set up an account on Waitrose.com website too. In the meantime if you are still struggling to get a delivery slot then they have opened up many more collection slots if someone can go and collect the shopping if you have done the order online. The friend/relative/neighbour just needs to take a printout of the order which you can forward them via email, they then go straight to the front door at the store (they don't have to queue) and then they will send you straight to the welcome desk where they will get the crates of shopping for you. It all comes bagged now too. If you don't want substitutes for anything make sure when selecting your shopping you don't click "allow substitutes" as you will not be able to return anything for refund. With regards to the other supermarkets, all I can suggest is that you have registered on their website, created an account and if there is anywhere in the sign up that gives you opportunity to put both your date of birth and any free text anywhere to say you are shielding then do so, then at least when they all start getting the government information they will likely prioritise the people and write to those they can see have an account registered on their website already and have a loyalty card.
One last piece of advice and I know early is not the best time for people with RA but if you are looking for slots early bird catches the worm. Hope this may be of some help and hoping that the government information will be being worked on as soon as it gets to us to identify and write to more people, and I guess they will not only have to plug in all the data into Waitrose systems but also then work out by postcode if you are within the delivery area of a store, so the last thing you might want to do is check on supermarket websites and see if you are within their delivery radius in the first place, as otherwise they won't be able to support you unless you can get someone to collect shopping.
Thank you Tracy for taking the time out to help me I really appriciate it. I am up at 7.30 am so will jump on and check the slots then, and before bed, and in between lol!
I will hit waitrose site up later and see if I get any joy there.
Thanks to all who have replied with suggestions, I will get a strike soon I'm sure. I had a lovely lady from my borough council called me just now. Asking if I'm ok and need anything. I said I was fine for now and didn't need any food boxes, have enough food atm, and can afford to pay for my own shopping if I could get a slot.
She was hopeful of me getting noticed by the supermarkets soon, bcz I have (only today)shown up on council radar, and reckoned the supermarkets will come back to me soon. She said that council get a daily feed of the new ppl added to the list and supermarkets less often, so lets see....
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I really appriciate it. I am up at 7.30 am so will jump on and check the slots then, and before bed, and in between lol!
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