Tax Credit's I can't get through the security questions

surreysaver

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

the security is there for the protection of the applicants. I do understand there has been a massive failure in data protection which caused this but these are problems caused by a poorly run department at the highest level - this was not down to us mere mortals having to accept all sorts on the phones.

Wrong. The security is there because of the incomptence of the Child Benefit Department (or the Government in general) in losing the disks. If someone rings up and gives security information that is not theirs then the applicant's details are already compromised. The security is to prevent money being dished out to people it's not supposed to be. Therefore perhaps the only time you should need such strict security is when someone changes their bank account details. And even then it would be possible to confirm the person is who they say they are by liasing with the bank. And any job where you deal with the public you get abuse - it's not right, but it's life. At least for you it is only on the end of a phone - at least you are not a nurse who has to be nice as well as deal with the violence as well.

surreysaver

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

7Instead of ranting on the phone because you havent kept TCO up to date causing you to fail security, just get your a*se down to the enquiry centre and get it sorted.

What do we need to do to know to keep you up to date? Do we have to look at our paperwork once every two weeks to make sure everything is still up to date? I never knew I had to tell you if I changed my employer, my telephone number. I only knew if I had to tell you if my salary, number of hours I work or amount I pay for childcare changed! Surely the rest is neither here nor there? And how many people have got time to go to an enquiry centre and wait for ages to be seen by someone who probably hasn't got a clue what they are doing? I do not know what my annual salary is until I get my P60. I do not know what my average weekly hours are until the end of the year when I can work it out as it changes every week. No wonder people do not bother claiming tax benefits - it is just far too much bother and hassle. And those that need the money just end up getting it clawed back via threats issued because they've been tripped up by dodgy information or a goalpost they didn't know had been moved.