Government Gateway access

rubble2

I logged into my government gateway account to submit this months VAT return and whilst logged in I decided to double check my Self Assessment status for tax/N.I. due at the end of the month, everything ok so far.

I then decided to check my wife's Self assessment status so I entered her user ID and password which took me to some sort of 'Beta' access page which decided I needed to confirm her identity.

It first of all asked for a mobile number so that I could be sent a text containing a new access code, this duly arrived and was entered in the box on the website.
It next stated that they needed to ask further details in order to confirm identity and in order to do this they would use information from her credit file ( but no actual credit check would take place).

First question that came back was 'You took out a new credit/store card in July 1989 - with which supplier was the account held'

I don't know about anyone else but we cannot remember details of account opening dates from over 25 years ago so we made a brave effort and guessed at a Debenhams card - wrong answer apparently , please try again after 24 hours have lapsed.

Fortunately by logging out and re-entering her log in details from scratch we were able to get access to her account as we have done in the past but who would have information of such a trivial nature to hand in order to access an account which is already operational and established?

lisa110rry

Yep, I'm with you on that one. I have had no store cards or other credit for a very long time and can't remember how much our mortgage payments were. I seem to remember falling foul of this on the Gateway also a couple of years ago.

agrinnall

Lengthy discussion on the same subject has been under way for a while on the Cutting Tax board.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5589244

JuicyJesus

I do understand why they do it, but at the same time I agree that it's annoying. I've failed ID checks before because when an account was opened on the CRAs doesn't match my recollection, or because the name given for the provider is different, or simply because I've had multiple bank accounts and credit cards and trying to work out which was opened when is a ballache!

It is just one of those things we have to deal with I suppose; it is, at least, relatively secure.