to be freaked out by how much the Tax Credits people know about me?

[theladylovescupcakes]

phoned yesterday to renew my claim, due to a letter they sent me. Chap said he was going to ask some security questions based on information provided by Experian (credit check people?) and proceeded to ask me to name the amount I pay for my mortgage and the duration of the loan I have! I know they need to verify identities but I'm a bit concernedthat they know how much my mortgage payment is! Doesn't seem right.

I have never been asked anything like that, sounds a bit iffy, they usually ask fathers occupation, mothers maiden name, that sort of stuff and it is stuff you have told them.

I got asked a couple of questions last year relating to my school years, I was told they'd be put on my file for security questions.

I have never been asked that either sounds dodgy.

I only get asked where I work and national insurance number.

Mind you I have not rung for years, maybe it has changed.

I haven't called them for a while either. Once we'd done the "experian" questions he then asked me another couple of security questions, ie what was the name of your bestfriend's cat when you were at school?, and they are now the security questions on my account, which is fine. Total "Big Brother's watching you" IMO.

what number did you phone OP.

Its not what they ask, your mortgage payments are nothing to do with your tax credits and I would be phoning up TCHQ and asking for verification!.

There is alot of TC emails and fraud going about currently, did you get the number from a email?

experian.............I have never heard of this.........without being rude have you been declared bankrupt or had debt probs.?

Please ignore if you wish to.

hi slave, received a letter from them, in an official envelope. phone call sounded official, ie recorded information at the beginning. not suspicious that it was fraudulent, just shocked at what they know about me.

@goodbye, no, haven't had any money problems. credit record clean as a whistle. might try and get in touch with them on another number to confirm this is all above board.

Maybe it is just a case of big bro is watching you then......

I'm sure I've had to answer those questions once. Think it's just a spot check thing. Was a while ago too.

the Government knows everything about you, most things are all done by National Insurance number. Any company can access your Experian Credit record.

If the geovernment knows everything about me why do I have to fill the forms out.....

I was also asked similar questions when I phone the tax credits people recently. I phoned number on some old correspondence and had to listen to many options to choose from to get through to the right person. They asked me who my mortgage was with and other questions for security. Agree it is nothing to do with poor credit. Again like OP I had to answer to obscure questions so would not have to go through experian check again. It sounds like a relatively new procedure?

They no very little about me.

They still spell DD's name wrong and somehow think I a was paid less than I was last year, even though they should know how much tax my employers paid.

I really should tell them they are over paying me shouldn't I. But for now it's so nice.

I was asked what is your favorite film and what is your dog called!