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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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Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:11

This is where I sign in

www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account

OP posts:
8dpwoah · 04/10/2021 21:10

See what I mean about typos 🤦

gogohm · 04/10/2021 21:10

It could be because you are not paye I suppose. If you don't have separate pay from your dh that might be the bigger issue, you should have a separate transaction

PhillMcCann · 04/10/2021 21:10

Mines fine too.

Just log in through Government Gateway, for which my phone autofills the details..one click.

If it's been longer than 7 days since my last log in they text me a code to input. That's it.

8dpwoah · 04/10/2021 21:10

The only problem I had with setting up my TFC about 18 months ago was the website glitches and didn't give me chance to enter one of my answers a second time (typo) soningot locked out and had to do a right old game inc provide verified ID to get back in.

But since then it just asks for the gateway number, password, and text code. Every now and then it asks for my security answers but I set these up from a list of suggestions (where did you go to uni, what hospital was your child born in, that kind of thing).

Let us know why they say, OP!

StrongerOrWeaker · 04/10/2021 21:09

I have never been asked that (I reconfirmed mine a few weeks ago). What website are you using? The gov gateway one?

FuckingFlumps · 04/10/2021 21:09

Are you sure you arn't setting up a new govt gateway each time or something weird like that?

I was about to suggest that but even then asking for bank statements doesn't sound accurate.

Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:08

Well I feel really short changed here... literally

OP posts:
Tinkles78 · 04/10/2021 21:08

@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.
Yep, this.

I was selected for an audit and had to send 3 months payslips and evidence of a paid nursery invoice once. And since then every time I go to pay the bill it asks me 3 security questions but they're always the same 3.

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:07

Oh that's annoying. I just logged in and got in fine there, but the last two times in the last three weeks or so I've had to go through the confirming ID rigamarole when I've never done that the 18 months prior.

Bellossom · 04/10/2021 21:07

mines fine too and I just use gov gateway. Are you sure you arn't setting up a new govt gateway each time or something weird like that?

FuckingFlumps · 04/10/2021 21:06

@helsybells

Oh that’s really odd that no one else has had this. I only signed up about 3-6 months ago.... maybe it’s a new thing?
It's not a new thing. I signed up last month and have not had to send bank statements or anything like that. I've never had to call them either. Confused

It literally took me 15 minutes to set it all up and when I log on I just enter my gateway number and password and then I get sent a code to my mobile to enter and that's it.

Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:06

Yes I’ve been through the reconfirmation but now it’s requested pay slips and bank statements and stopped topping up what I’ve put in. I will have to try and call them ASAP. It is really unfair .

OP posts:
SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:05

Or, well, mine doesn't, but they've definitely changed something about it in the last month or so.

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:05

They ask you to confirm ID with 2 out of 3 methods: it asks questions based on your credit report (who did you take out a mortgage with in 2017, for example), your passport (passport number) and your driving licence. It doesn't ask for bank statements!

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

Oh that’s really odd that no one else has had this. I only signed up about 3-6 months ago.... maybe it’s a new thing?

OP posts:
SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:03

And yes, it's incredibly annoying. I don't know why they've brought it in.

ellesbellesxxx · 04/10/2021 21:03

*every three months

ellesbellesxxx · 04/10/2021 21:03

Tax free childcare: when you reconfirm, you literally just go through are you still employed/self employed etc etc, tick yes and that’s it… only every months, not every login too

SylvanasWindrunner · 04/10/2021 21:03

This is a new thing. It's done it to me the last couple of times in the last month or so, but never before and I've been using it for 18 months.

WensleydaleCrumbs · 04/10/2021 21:03

This doesn't sound right to me. I've been using the system since it started and I've only ever had to provide some of that information to set up my Gateway. Now it's the easiest thing to log into.

I'd be looking into this OP as it sounds a bit off.

NCfortoday2021 · 04/10/2021 21:03

That isn't right. Tax Free childcare is via the Government Gateway login.

FuckingFlumps · 04/10/2021 21:03

@helsybells

Pretty sure I have it was working fine until they now want my bank statements etc...
Is this for the tax free childcare? I've never had to submit bank statements for that are you trying to set something else up? It all sounds very wrong and suspect to be honest.
mondler · 04/10/2021 21:03

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.

Original poster
helsybells · 04/10/2021 21:03

Yes definitely not tax credits, I don’t claim those. It’s definitely the right website as I’ve spoken to them before.

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