How the f do I use government gateway?

[OoohMasala]

When it doesn't recognise my details. It's for tax free childcare. The bloke on the phone was useless and told me to keep trying. He said am I entering the details correctly (fairly sure I know my own name and DOB/NI). Ive done it 20 times. Not working. He said there's not much he can do!!! So am I just not entitled to tax free childcare then? Really frustrated and stressed. Help!

It’s a fucking nightmare. That’s all I can say. I remember there being 2 different websites that were basically the same but you had to log on to both? Sorry I can’t be of any help.

Did you get married? I tried to set mine up and it wouldn't recognise my NI number, turns out I was still registered with my maiden name with the tax man so it wouldn't link me with my new name. Rang them up they changed my name and I was able to register a couple of days later :D

It's soooo shite. A few months back, I couldn't log on for about 2 weeks (luckily it wasn't urgent!) and I couldn't figure out if it was the system or something I was doing wrong. I spent ages going in circles on the phone lines which kept just directing me back online after going through about 50 steps, tried to contact someone on Twitter and FB messenger, who gave me another number to ring which eventually directed me back online again! Arghhhhhhh!

Turned out it was the system and when I tried again a few weeks later i was able to just log on. Dreading the next time I have to use it!