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Original poster

Tax free childcare RANT

58 replies

helsybells · 04/10/2021 20:56

Anyone else getting really fed up with the tax free childcare system?

Every time I log in I have to provide details of my credit score (if I’ve taken out a loan, how long I’ve had my bank account, when I last applied for a credit card blah blah blah) I have to guess the answers every time because I’m not totally sure. Sometimes I guess wrong and have to start a-flipping-gain. Then it wants my blooming passport details. EVERY SINGLE TIME. well guess what HMRC I keep my passport somewhere safe, not on my person so you know, untrustworthy people, the sort who try to fraudulently claim childcare discounts don’t get hold of it and clone it... so off I go to find the passport, but the key to the draw is missing...yada yada yada... you know the drill... I have everything approved and account up and running but it still asks me all this every single time.

NOW it wants copies of my payslips and proof I’ve received my pay by way of my bank statements! I’ve got nothing exciting to hide but I find that last request really invasive.

More annoyingly hubby and I run our own business and my pay just gets transferred across in one lump at the same time as his pay so there are no individual transactions showing my pay. Could it be more bl**dy difficult!?

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WorkingMumWantsChange · 14/12/2021 13:42

Hi all working families…

Please support my govt Petition: Remove the cap on tax-free childcare so it meets more families’ needs.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/602389

Please help by removing the £2000p/a CAP on tax free childcare so that it is more reflective of 20% of annual childcare. I live in Surrey and full time childcare in my area is £21k p/a per child. The current £2k CAP is only 9.5% of this.

I really appreciate this government support but removing the CAP so that we get the full 20% tax free would really help families, women especially go back to work.

Please support, sign and share my petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/602389

Huge thanks!!

Panda2021 · 11/10/2021 19:13

Sorry for late reply, So fat I have been asked for passport, driving licence , P60, child benefits number .... I actually rang them up to check it was legit as this never happened before and suddenly now all the flipping time. Fella said yes but he didn’t comment anything about the sudden frequency. I havnt been asked for payslips or bank statements and I think that is unusual as you’ve never provided those in the first place so how could they ever verify these ?!!

Original poster
helsybells · 05/10/2021 08:40

@Noodledoodledoo

On your link it says this

To access this service for the first time you'll need:

a Government Gateway account - if you don't already have one, you can set one up by using this service
your National Insurance number
access to a mobile phone or landline
details of one or more of the following - your UK Passport, tax credits, P60 or a recent payslip
It will take about 5 minutes to set up.

If you already have a Government Gateway account you can sign in using your existing login details.

You only get asked for the info if you don't have a gateway set up.

I have used my account for 5 years nearly and never been asked for these details logging in at least once a month.

Posted too soon. I have a government gateway account so I hit sign in.I put in my gov gateway login and password, it sends me a code to my phone THEN we have to go through all the rigmarole with passports and credit checks... I did the 3 month renewal a few weeks ago and now it is requesting my bank statements and payslips!
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Original poster
helsybells · 05/10/2021 08:37

@Noodledoodledoo

On your link it says this

To access this service for the first time you'll need:

a Government Gateway account - if you don't already have one, you can set one up by using this service
your National Insurance number
access to a mobile phone or landline
details of one or more of the following - your UK Passport, tax credits, P60 or a recent payslip
It will take about 5 minutes to set up.

If you already have a Government Gateway account you can sign in using your existing login details.

You only get asked for the info if you don't have a gateway set up.

I have used my account for 5 years nearly and never been asked for these details logging in at least once a month.

I already have a government gateway account so I then hit sign in....
OP posts:
Original poster
helsybells · 05/10/2021 08:37

@Panda2021

Bane of my life recently !!! Exact same issue!!
Finally someone else with this same issue. Have you been asked to provide bank statements Panda?
OP posts:
RussianSpy101 · 04/10/2021 23:02

I signed up about 2 months ago and I have no idea why you’ve been asked to provide these things?
Bank statements and credit score? What?

I put in my government gateway password and it sends a verification code to my phone.

JazzerMcCreary · 04/10/2021 23:00

I’ve only had to confirm my ID like that once, and it was when I had to phone them for something. Might have been to add DD to our account.

Noodledoodledoo · 04/10/2021 22:45

On your link it says this

To access this service for the first time you'll need:

a Government Gateway account - if you don't already have one, you can set one up by using this service
your National Insurance number
access to a mobile phone or landline
details of one or more of the following - your UK Passport, tax credits, P60 or a recent payslip
It will take about 5 minutes to set up.

If you already have a Government Gateway account you can sign in using your existing login details.

You only get asked for the info if you don't have a gateway set up.

I have used my account for 5 years nearly and never been asked for these details logging in at least once a month.

pastabest · 04/10/2021 21:59

I've never had it to this extent but maybe every 10th - 15th time I log in I get asked some additional security questions.

Usually I get straight in but when I did it earlier today I got asked three random security questions (mother middle name, fathers middle name and where I went to university)

I'm not SE but DH is.

Minniem2020 · 04/10/2021 21:39

Another one here that's never had this, I've been using the service for nearly 3 years now

Figgygal · 04/10/2021 21:38

Have used it for 4 years and never had this ever
I’ve found it really easy to use

Panda2021 · 04/10/2021 21:26

Bane of my life recently !!! Exact same issue!!

Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:23

@SylvanasWindrunner

Yes, I'm guessing that if you've failed the (stupid) ID checks a couple of times, they now want to check your stuff as if the account was new again. Which could have been avoided if they didn't have the blasted things in the first place. I'm hoping it's just some sort of glitch that made it overzealous, as I got them three times in a row I think when trying to log on a few days apart a couple of weeks ago.

None of the PAYE women in my antenatal group reported the same problem, just me and another SE person, so maybe it is that.

It looks like this could be it. I’ll get on to them t9morrow I think and hope I get a helpful operator....
OP posts:
20viona · 04/10/2021 21:23

Mines fine never asks that just government Gateway.

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:20

Yes, I'm guessing that if you've failed the (stupid) ID checks a couple of times, they now want to check your stuff as if the account was new again. Which could have been avoided if they didn't have the blasted things in the first place. I'm hoping it's just some sort of glitch that made it overzealous, as I got them three times in a row I think when trying to log on a few days apart a couple of weeks ago.

None of the PAYE women in my antenatal group reported the same problem, just me and another SE person, so maybe it is that.

Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:19

@Hboo31

I imagine it's asking for bank statements as proof of ID since OP says she's failed the identity checks by guessing the answers. They need another way to verify her identity
I got one try wrong once but I re-did it and got it right and got in. I’ve got it right and got in every time since.... surely I would be denied access if they suspected this?
OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 04/10/2021 21:17

@mondler

Hmm I'm no expert but I just have to put in my ID and password and then they send a code to my mobile and I'm into the account. I have to reaffirm every 3 months but even that is just agreeing a checklist that no details have changed.
That’s exactly how mine work.
Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:16

I’m literally thinking of writing to my MP (the chancellor! 😂) about it! It’s an appalling system. I pay my taxes, I am clearly entitled to this help, but it’s just making it so difficult to access. (Last time I wrote to him about a work related issue with HMRC his constituency team were super helpful).

OP posts:
8dpwoah · 04/10/2021 21:15

Oh crikey, that's annoying that it's likely to be mainstream then...please complain lots so they don't bring it in for everything!

Do you get the feeling they're trying to make it harder to access in order to put people off? Or is that a bit of a reach on my part?

Hboo31 · 04/10/2021 21:15

I imagine it's asking for bank statements as proof of ID since OP says she's failed the identity checks by guessing the answers. They need another way to verify her identity

3cats4poniesandababy · 04/10/2021 21:15

I signed up aovit 3 months ago and had to reconfirm this month.

On sign up I had to do a few ID checks- NI number maybe passport number but didn't on reconfirmation.

Something sounds off with your account. I am not self employed and am payed via PAYE so I wonder if it is that? I would defiantly give them a call in the morning.

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:13

Have you tried to log in today, OP? It let me in without going through it all there - I just logged out and in a few times and all fine, so maybe they've changed something.

DunderMifflinSalesRep · 04/10/2021 21:12

Tax Free Childcare. I've had this. I'm self employed so I had to provide details of my last tax returns, such as amount of NI paid etc. It was some sort of identity check, but quite annoying when it did it again and again and again. In the end, as it kept asking me for the same figures, I made a note of them to copy them across.

However, last time I logged in (last Thursday - payday!) it seemed to have reverted back to the normal login process. Hopefully once the system is assured you are really you, it will do the same.

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:12

We are both self-employed actually, so perhaps it's related to that?

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:11

It is a thing, honestly. It's either new or being sporadically applied. It's happened to both me and one of the women from my antenatal group in the last month, and we were both confused as it had never happened before. It might be when logging on from a new IP or device or it might just be random ID checks they've decided to implement, but it is very annoying when you just want to nip on and check that the payment has gone through and you have to go dig out your passport and play 20 questions about your credit score.