Reply to: My NI???

[NickFitz]

NINO's are unique except when a duplicate gets created \ issued in error...

It is wrong to suggest NINO's are not unique due to the practice of creation and issue.

So duplicates are created / issued in error, but it is wrong to suggest that they are not unique due to the practice of creation and issue?

It can't be both...

FWIW NINOs are in fact, if not in theory, not guaranteed to be unique. A friend of mine had no end of hassle a few years ago because her NINO, issued when she came to live here from The Netherlands, was also issued to another person less than two years later. She was working, and paying NI contributions, at the time.

It was only when she moved jobs that the matter came to light, and it took ages to sort out the mess at the IR (as it then was) and NI Office.

Using an NINO as a primary key (which is what appears to be happening in the case described by ADA) is doomed to eventual failure.

[SueEllen]

OP just make up a false NI number, write in two places you won't forget and give it to the agency. If it's a unique identify then it doesn't have to be a real one.

Also due to the Age Discrimination legislation companies and agencies shouldn't be asking for your date of birth. So again give them a made up date.

And a made up ethnicity .........

[Another Dodgy Agent]

This isn't a gig via Comensura for a local authority by some chance is it?

I have just turned away an agent for a similar gig with the same question. Given that I am a company providing a service, I am not at liberty to disclose the personal or financial details of my employees. That's how I see it.

I've also seen the website for Comensura, which seems to be made for permies \ temp staff & not contractors, given that it asks ALOT of personal information related to *employees* such as:-

• NI Number
• Date of Birth
• Ethnicity
• Behaviours \ Attitudes (Based on Interview)
• Gender

I guess it's up to you as a director to decide if you want to disclose that kind of stuff from your company but to be honest, it's not worth the hassle.

Comensura use a procurement portal that requests the candidate's NI number be inputted. If you don't input the NI number in the required field you cannot go any further forward through the procurement process (cannot submit the candidate).

[TheVoice]

Back on Topic!

This isn't a gig via Comensura for a local authority by some chance is it?

I have just turned away an agent for a similar gig with the same question. Given that I am a company providing a service, I am not at liberty to disclose the personal or financial details of my employees. That's how I see it.

I've also seen the website for Comensura, which seems to be made for permies \ temp staff & not contractors, given that it asks ALOT of personal information related to *employees* such as:-

• NI Number
• Date of Birth
• Ethnicity
• Behaviours \ Attitudes (Based on Interview)
• Gender

I guess it's up to you as a director to decide if you want to disclose that kind of stuff from your company but to be honest, it's not worth the hassle.

[ASB]

NINO's are unique except when a duplicate gets created \ issued in error or an existing NINO is used illegally by another person for whatever reason. Once this is spotted by the DCI of the DWP it is corrected.

It is wrong to suggest NINO's are not unique due to the practice of creation and issue.

No it is not wrong. The fact remains that duplicate numbers have been issued.

The DWP only assert that all numbers issued since March 2007 are definitely unique, i.e. when the Department Central Index was replaced. Prior to this detection of duplicates ran at about 2000 a year. So, there are certainly probably very few duplicates around, but there are people who may have had numbers issued pre CIS who for one reason or another - e.g. abroad - have not yet been caught up with as a result of the movement to CIS.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

That explanation is about as much use as your grasp of apostrophes. There are plenty of other things they could use as a "unique identifier", and as someone else has pointed out, NI numbers aren't unique.

Don't blame me, blame the recruitment portal the client uses.

As for apostrophes, I love apostrophes!!

[BolshieBastard]

1) Nino's are not unique (though there is a theory the *should* be in practice they are not.

NINO's are unique except when a duplicate gets created \ issued in error or an existing NINO is used illegally by another person for whatever reason. Once this is spotted by the DCI of the DWP it is corrected.

It is wrong to suggest NINO's are not unique due to the practice of creation and issue.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Yep we have to ask candidate's[sic] for this when we submit CVs to a particular client of mine. Reason being is that each NI number is unique and the client use the NI number as a "unique identifier" for each candidate submitted against a requirement. Supplier's[sic] to this client have to use an online portal (procurement system).

That explanation is about as much use as your grasp of apostrophes. There are plenty of other things they could use as a "unique identifier", and as someone else has pointed out, NI numbers aren't unique.

[ASB]

Yep we have to ask candidate's for this when we submit CVs to a particular client of mine. Reason being is that each NI number is unique and the client use the NI number as a "unique identifier" for each candidate submitted against a requirement. Supplier's to this client have to use an online portal (procurement system).

1) Nino's are not unique (though there is a theory the *should* be in practice they are not.

2) This is in contravention of the anticipated use of NINO's (though obviously it does happen.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/nimmanual/NIM39120.htm

3) HMRC guidance is that an individual should only give their NINO to an actual employer, HMRC, or DWP. All other requests should be refused. I can't find the actual link that states this at the moment. **

Though since half the world seems to have decided to use them for various other reasons it doesn't seem entirely practical.

** somewhat unhelpfully in a different piece of guidance:-

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic/ynino.htm

They state:- "Keep your number safe and do not disclose it to anyone who does not need it."

[Spacecadet]

Yep we have to ask candidate's for this when we submit CVs to a particular client of mine. Reason being is that each NI number is unique and the client use the NI number as a "unique identifier" for each candidate submitted against a requirement. Supplier's to this client have to use an online portal (procurement system).

sounds like HR bollox

[Another Dodgy Agent]

Would anyone know why an agent would ask for my NI number to submit my CV to a local authority for a long term contract role. He says its a standard requirement now. I am new to this game... is this normal????/

Yep we have to ask candidate's for this when we submit CVs to a particular client of mine. Reason being is that each NI number is unique and the client use the NI number as a "unique identifier" for each candidate submitted against a requirement. Supplier's to this client have to use an online portal (procurement system).

[SueEllen]

Would anyone know why an agent would ask for my NI number to submit my CV to a local authority for a long term contract role. He says its a standard requirement now. I am new to this game... is this normal????/

Never been asked for my NI number.

[Churchill]

If you're opted in then they could be taking preliminary steps to prove your identity and set up an internal payroll for you.

That's just speculation from me, to be honest I wouldn't give out my NI number until the role had progressed to an offer and I was opted in.

That wasn't the question asked!

[TykeMerc]

If you're opted in then they could be taking preliminary steps to prove your identity and set up an internal payroll for you.

That's just speculation from me, to be honest I wouldn't give out my NI number until the role had progressed to an offer and I was opted in.

[Churchill]

Would anyone know why an agent would ask for my NI number to submit my CV to a local authority for a long term contract role. He says its a standard requirement now. I am new to this game... is this normal????/

Yes, me.