Help mi bob it jist gets harder - I have just telephoned the Tax Credit Helpline to discuss a letter I sent early in March. Though they have a mandate for the service user I was informed that since April new security arrangements have come in. This involves asking a series of questions related to the tax credit claim form and will not be the same series of questions any time you phone. I do not hold a copy of the claim form since the service user came to us when she was advised of an overpayment.

Unfortunately I fell at the third hurdle. Has anyone else encountered this recently. Any idea how to get round this.

Maybe I should have asked to phone a friend or go 50/50.

They still seem happy, as long as we've sent an authority and have our OIN, to speak to us. At the moment anyway - if there's problems starting elsewhere it can't be long before it happens to us!