Government childcare top up scheme

[Willow4987]

Hi

After some advice as calling the helpline has got me precisely no where

I’ve set up a standing order to go to the childcare 20% top up account for nursery fees

But it keeps bouncing back

The sort code and account number are correct and in the correct boxes

The 13 digit reference number I’ve put in the account name box - is this wrong?!

It’s the only thing I can think of as the helpline say the numbers are all correct and washed their hands of it. Saying it’s a bank issue (funny that it’s only this standing order I have an issue with though!)

[BanksyDJ]

Can you override it with HSBC? And do a test amount to make sure it gets to your tfc account before sending the rest? I did this and nursery is all paid now.

[Mooster007]

Hi Willow
Did you get anywhere with this? I'm having the same problem, their whole process is ridiculous. Of course you need an account name to set up a standing order, why don't they put this on the website???

[Willow4987]

Hi @Mooster007 I just put in ‘nursery’ but this was before the extra checks were in place by the banks. I think you can override them but I’ve not had to do it myself

[RapidRadish]

'NS&I TFC' worked on Starling.

[PimlicoMom]

After many tries, I cracked the name! The payee name for the Tax Free Childcare account is NS&I TFC Customer Receipts.

[tobscher]

Hey,

we've just found this thread as we found ourselves in a similar situation. The following worked for us:

• Business Account
  
• Account Name: NS&I TFC Customer Receipts
  
• Sort code, account number, reference from gov gateway
  
  Hope that helps!

[Crystalann]

Ns&i was just accepted as correctly matching the bank details by my bank (HSBC) had to have the casing as above (only N in capitals and rest lower case)

[Lloydl26]

I've just found this thread as I was having the same issue and wanted to post the resolution for anyone else looking for answers in the future.

Contrary to some of the ignorance in the responses, the Government Childcare account doesn't give you the account name but some banks like Halifax and Barclays need to match to account name to verify the payment, you can't just type anything in like others have suggested.

The answer is: NS&I TFC

Hope this helps future observers.

[Tiffany26]

I’ve made it work!!!!! Put NS&I TFC CUSTOMER RECEIPTS into the account name, make sure it’s ticked as business account. Hope it all works for you!

[Tiffany26]

Ha! Clearly shows how frustrated I got with it, didn’t even see everyone’s responses actually saying this already. Fecking hell 🤦‍♀️😅

[BakeOffRewatch]

I know this is a dead thread but it came up in google when I searched this question.

NS&I in the “business name” option (so not personal where it asks for first name and surname) worked for me.

[BakeOffRewatch]

Oh to clarify I used “NS&I” exactly and it was natwest.

Ridiculous how many of us had to google this, should be in the account with the other transfer details!

[BakeOffRewatch]

Just set it up using DH Barclays account, “NS&I” didn’t work like it did in Natwest, it was “TAX FREE CHILDCARE”!

They don’t make things easy do they,

[mumofbun]

If anyone is trying to set this up on RBS, i used Childcare as the name and that got confirmed...i also found i'd missed a number in the reference so i've changed that and just sent the payment so hopefully it works...

[Lauz1985]

Just type ‘TAX FREE CHILDCARE’
👍🏻

[RVCHaber]

Hi, I know tis is an old post but I googled the exact same thing and found this. If you are with a building society like me, you must put an account name and this is the issue the poster was having. Anyway I figured it out, so if you are setting up a new payment to the childcare account, the account name is Childcare "Government of the" Very odd I know and the stupid site doesn't tell you. Account number and sort code is on their website and ref is your unique childcare account. Give this ref to your childminder/nursery and they will know the payment has been made from you. Hopefully anyone else having this issue will see this message and it helps them

[MrsBonnie]

I spent ages trying to work this out before finding this thread - thank you!!!

I am with Natwest and 'Tax Free Childcare' worked for me, ticked as a business account.

Getting the government gateway to stay logged in however is the next hurdle

[RAlex06]

For anyone searching for this information, you can add Tax Free Childcare to the account name and it will be a match.

[FawnFrenchieMum]

The account name comes up as the Government of United Kingdom on mine. Then the 13 digit number in the reference number field.

[Micabellani]

Took me forever to find out, found it in another web forum and tested it with only £1, just in case.

You can just put 'Childcare Account'.

Or the exact name is:
Name: NS&I TFC CUSTOMER RECEIPTS
Type: BUSINESS ACCOUNT
What: NATIONAL SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS

[Lottiepottie1983]

Hi, been having the same issues as this is my first time putting into the childcare account, I used childcare for the name and it matched but I forgot to put in the reference number, the money has shown has settled on bank account but it’s not in the child tax free account, does anyone know if it will go in or be returned to my account as I hadn’t put in the reference number my mistake?

[BakeOffRewatch]

@Lottiepottie1983 I’ve been told the reference number is for when you have multiple children it is needed to know which child it goes to. If you only have one, the bank account number and sort code is unique to you and it doesn’t matter. You should still use the ref though. It will go in (has done for me before, I only have 2 kid).

[Curlycale]

The answer is ' Tax Free Childcare ' .

I reviewed this thread because I had a similar issue (though the payments not bouncing, 1st Direct, my bank were telling me the names didn't match and throwing a load of fraud concerns at me)

I originally used 'Gov UK childcare service' but I tried ' Tax free Childcare ' for my second payment (second child) and it returned confirming that this matches the name on the payee account 👍.

This was for TFC payments to gov gateway account for 20% contribution that you pay out of gateway, to the nursery.

Bon voyage!

[GreeTree]

The business name is 'childcare' :) hope this helps!