Recova 19Reviews 

Dreadful. Can’t activate test. No one answers the phone, email or Twitter. Absolutely awful

Not able to register the test! Tried different QR code scanners.

Instructions wrong for Day 2 lateral flow test - you need to scan QR code on the results cassette, there is no bar code on testing tube like it asks. Very frustrating that it’s wrong.

Absolutely useless service. I can’t scan, type in or register the result.

Instructions for day 2 test do not relate to the actual procedure. On screen, where it request you to scan or type in the barcode number, you must actually scan the QR code on the actual lateral flow test.

Wasted at least one hour trying to activate tests and upload results for daughter and husband. Still not managed. Won't be buying from Boots again. Maybe next time we come to the UK there will be a decent testing regime as in EU countries....

Simply useless, purchased 2 x 2 day LFT from Boots
Cant be used, cant activate test online once sample taken its only valid for 30 mins, total incompetence at its highest level
Not able to complete the test process due to their crap IT and exceptionally misleading instuctions, so if the Government comes knocking I will simply send them to Recova 19 & Boots, let hope they both get a huge fine for this shambles
Disgusting

Thank heavens for Autumn Jade and her post explaining how to "activate" the Boots Day 2 LAT flow test - I had wasted an hour trying to work it out (because of the inaccurate language used in the instructions). Anyway, AJ had sussed it and did the most generous thing in sharing with Trustpilot.

Whoever at Boots agreed this test process hadn't had a go at completing it or asking someone without prior knowledge to have a go - if they had, the errors would have been clear and easily preventable.

Boots have been going downhill for some years as an organisation - this debacle is typical of why!

Followed instructions as directed. Had same challenges as others but did manage to upload a clear photograph showing a negative result. Came back as 'inconclusive'. I was directed to book another test and the guidance said that I'd be presented with a voucher code to cover the cost. No voucher code so I've booked an instore test at the additional cost of £30. I'm really disappointed and after this is sorted I won't be shopping at Boots again.

I did notice one anomaly with my test though which may have caused the issue - my flight arrival date was before the departure date. The site isn't easy to use but this may have been my mistake. However, I'd be amazed if the website didn't have that basic field validation. Worth checking but doubt anyone reading these reviews would consider using this service!!!

I really feel sorry for everyone who's had to leave these reviews as for something so serious we should expect much better.

Edit: you can complain via the UK government website

Edit 04/11/2021: after getting no response from Boots I had to book a test with another provider. Nationwide Pathology were so much easier to deal with. Got confirmation of results back within minutes.

This is the most frustrating testing process you could ever imagine and where oh where is the CEO of Boots within all of this ? It's appaling and as Global Head of IT for a banking group I would hope I am qualfied to make these comments. Any elderly person or someone not skilled at compuyters and codes etc would not have a clue how to process a test result. I believe I have processed 4 correctly, but when I log back in to my account I can only see that my own result is being processed but no confrmation on the portal or email acknowledgement that anyone else's that I BELIEVE I have submitted has actually been succesfully uploaded. BOOTS, I am coming after you for a refund!

I have tried entering the long code as suggested here but when I try to activate it says "Invalid Barcode"

This is absolute rubbish - no answer on the Phone

can anyone help?

Ditto to all the other reviews. I'd given up on activating my test till I saw the suggestions on here. The test also arrived two days late. Very confusing and no clear way to contact customer service.

I am so glad I stumbled across these reviews. Sadly too late to stop me buying the tests from Boots in the first place. I'm absolutely astounded at how terrible the whole experience has been. Would expect better from a company like Boots. I have spent hours on hold to the helpline, for various reasons throughout the process. Firstly, the booking reference numbers for the PLF can only be found by going on to the portal. I was trying to use the order reference and it wouldn't accept it. Why can't they just clearly state the booking reference numbers in the order confirmation email?? Then I had to phone because one of the three tests that I had ordered hadn't arrived. And then I couldn't work out how to activate the tests - as many have said, the instruction about scanning the barcode on the sample tube is ridiculous - there is no such thing. It's the QR code on the actual test itself. Plus the scanner on my iPhone wouldn't activate, so I had to manually input the long codes. What a complete palaver. I will be telling everyone not to buy these tests from Boots.

The instructions make it impossible to understand how to activate the test - we were only able to activate it thanks to finding a useful review on this site that told us what to do. We expected better from Boots. Very disappointed.

Money making machine, took 2 hours to work out you need a QR reader, the barcode that’s supposed to be on the test tube is actually on the file. This is what’s wrong with the whole system in general you pay a fortune for inferior products, and do the work yourself. Really dissapointed in Boots, thought it would of been a better and easier service

DIABOLICAL Process for Registering Test Results.
DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE WHEN RETURNING FROM A NON-RED COUNTRY.
Here are the issues I encountered: a mixture of errors in the written instructions & software errors in the ReCoVa-19 Web portal.
-Booking Reference Number "BOOTSnnnnnnn" was not available in the emailed ReCoVa-19 order confirmation email as stated in the test kit. It had to be found by logging into the recova-19 site.
- As previously mentioned by others the barcode was a QR code.
- The next step to take a photo or attach an image of the test result was not possible as the "button" to activate....well....just wouldn't work!
- Received an email a few hours later with a link back to the ReCoVa-19 portal which then informed me that the Results were "inconclusive".
- The suggested action was I should order another test!.
Don't think I will be following this suggestion & hang the consequences.

Boots:
1. barcode IS NOT THE SAME as QR Code!!!!!
2. test tube IS NOT test cassette!!!!!

For everyone else struggling to upload the covid lateral test result to recova portal: use your camera to scan the QR Code on the test cassette (where the test result window is), it generates a long chars/numeric that contains the bit "COV..bunchanumbers.. HUGHES...more numbers.. " (at least on mine) then when you copy/paste twice, you may need to reenter the last digit (somehow it didn't paste the last digit for me), then it works.

I bought the day 2 lateral flow test from boots. The instruction told me to fill the barcode from the sample tube which starts from SB-. It was on the tube so I tried to fill it numerous times and of course, it didn’t work while saying invalid barcode/error activating test. After reading reviews, I tried to find the QR code but, I could not find any QR code except the one on the postage sticker. There is no test cassette in my kit box. Tried to contact boots by phone, after waiting 45 mins it cut itself, and no response from the email. Now I am thinking about going to walk in for another pharmacy but not sure whether it would work since I already filled the booking number on the location form with my boots order. Their website says they can not make refunds for the day2 & day8 tests. Such a waste of money, time, and energy.

From others' reviews, it seems like the kit should have a test cassette which was not in my kit. And wonder how should I get the result without having it.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

I can only repeat what everyone else has said re barcode instructions. I trusted Boots, but will never use them again. Useless instructions, and very frustrating waste of time. Kept on hold on the phone for ages. I have had to give up. I WILL NEVER USE THEM AGAIN!!!

You couldn't make a worse user experience if you tried.

A QR code is not a barcode. Where are diagrams to make it more clear what to do? Why can't I type in a number instead of using my phone to scan a QR code which they call a barcode? Why do they tell you to squeeze the test tube when it's so flimsy that it just cracks?