A few days ago I received a letter from HM Revenue and Customs asking me to complete a tax return on line. Yesterday I received another letter this time from Leicester requesting me to do the same. So in accordance with their wishes and in the hope that I might get a rebate I went on line to complete a self assessment. Imagine to my surprise that I could not complete the assessment because I had to register.
As I attempted to register I was informed that I needed an activation pin number which they would issue but it might take up to a week before it arrived! I could not believe it because on the two letters that I received I discovered that I had a name, a date of birth, a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), a National Insurance Number, an Employer's Reference Number, a Pension Reference Number, PAYE Reference,a User ID, a password, a Tax Office Reference and now I need an Activation PIN!! The mind absolutely boggles!
My final question is why does it take up to a week to issue?
UPDATE: Today I received another letter this time from Government Gateway enclosing my User ID which I already knew! This is where the government wastes so much money. Still no Activation Pin though.
2 comments:
Ha ha. The waste goes on. The User ID and password work for a few of the Government "portals". You still need the PIN to fill in self assessment though.
Be warned WRITE THEM ALL DOWN (or keep the papers)
As I remember the activation PIN must be used quickly because it expires. I didn't and had to get a new one. Once activated there is nothing more to do apparently because you are an "on-line" user thereafter. I also seem to remember that the general portal log-on is different from the HMRC one which makes life a little confusing!
As one who has designed systems I find this one somewhat incompetent. I recognise the need for security but this perhaps goes too far. After all once activated anyone with access to your log-on can access your records anyway.
Similar vein - the NHS.
I received a letter advising me that the bowel cancer test kit was available to me again. Didn't fully read the letter - one of those "roundtoit" things but a week or so later the kit arrived. Why not just send it 1st time round?
Also now being bullied by the NHS to complete their patient survey. The first was a letter with a survey. I haven't visited the doc for 20 years so had nothing to say. Not to be put off I got a 2nd letter and survey form. It was almost threatening!
Total waste of resources but then as an ex LG senior officer I know how people try to justify their existence
Hello Bewick tks for your interest. The next step was just as weird because when I got in I couldn't complete the self assessment because it kept rejecting the information. I am still working on it but no matter how I try and present the information I get the 'red print' telling me that I've done it wrong again! I'm on the verge of picking up the phone but don't know if I can spare the time!
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