Argh! Messed up first Tax Free Childcare Payment

[meemaa]

Total idiot. Wanted to pay money into my tax free childcare account for the first time. I wrote down the account number, sort code and reference, logged into my bank to do the payment, doubled checked and triple checked the account number and sort code so I didn't muck it up - then totally forgot to add the reference number I'd be given! Now panicking. Will have to phone the Gov helpline tomorrow I guess. Really hoping it'll be simple. Worried I've lost the money! Any reassurance?

Anyone?

Ring your bank if you sent it through them. They should be able to help.

I’ve no direct experience of this but have worked in finance where payments were often made into a central account with no or incomplete references making it impossible to tell the intended destinatiom. Generally, if they can’t allocate the funds due to a lack of referencs they’ll return them to your account. It may take a couple of days though. Definetely also worth contacting your bank to see if they can recall it.

If not already sent to your childcare provider, you can send it back into your bank account from your tax free childcare account.

If the money has already left your tax free childcare account, and is on its way to your childcare provider, just tell them the exact amount and date paid - they should then be able to work out that the payment they received on that date and of that amount, with no reference, has come from you.

I spoke to the bank and they can't recall it, unfortunately. I'll ring the childcare helpline tomorrow and see if they can help, I can give them the reference and my bank gave me a transaction reference that I can provide them with as well so hopefully that'll be fine, if not I'll have to just hope they'll return the money and then I can pay it again with the reference this time. That bloody reference was all I had for them to know where the payment was from, without it, it could literally have come from anyone. Feel so angry at myself!

Hi,

I’m having this same problem.. did you get it resolved I’m panicking & cannot contact them as they are closed for Christmas period.

Hi all I’ve just done the same! Did your money bounce back? Thank you