Reply to: Agent asking for NI number

[ASB]

Well they are wasting their time, since NI number isn't unique.

This is true. Dates back a long time. Curiously here:-

HM Revenue & Customs: Applying for a National Insurance number

"Your National Insurance number is your own personal account number. It is unique to you and you keep the same one all your life."

But those allocated temporary numbers pre about 2001 had no guarantee at all they were unique. Those allocated manually eons ago regionally did cause duplicates. Caused lots of problems sorting out in the early days as systems because centralised; though I doubt there any many duplicates out there now (at least in terms of the living).

[DirtyDog]

It's a government scheme dreamed up in the Second World War. What's the likelihood that they've managed to operate it correctly for all those years?

My Dutch ex had a load of hassle as she'd been given a previously-used NI number when she first came to the UK. As she worked as an au pair for her first three or four years here, there wasn't anything to make the system notice. Then her au pair job came to an end and she got a "real" job, and it took several weeks to sort out her NI because of the number being associated with somebody else's records. They explained that people who came here specifically as au pairs were usually given a number from a pool for foreign nationals that got recycled, as the vast majority only worked in au pair roles that didn't involve paying NI, and returned to their own countries within a year or two. In the end, they had to give her a new number to sort it out.

So in at least some corners of the system, it is - or has been - official policy to assign the same NI number to more than one person at different times.

Dutch au pair?!?!?

[NickFitz]

That's news to me!
I have always thought they were.

It's a government scheme dreamed up in the Second World War. What's the likelihood that they've managed to operate it correctly for all those years?

My Dutch ex had a load of hassle as she'd been given a previously-used NI number when she first came to the UK. As she worked as an au pair for her first three or four years here, there wasn't anything to make the system notice. Then her au pair job came to an end and she got a "real" job, and it took several weeks to sort out her NI because of the number being associated with somebody else's records. They explained that people who came here specifically as au pairs were usually given a number from a pool for foreign nationals that got recycled, as the vast majority only worked in au pair roles that didn't involve paying NI, and returned to their own countries within a year or two. In the end, they had to give her a new number to sort it out.

So in at least some corners of the system, it is - or has been - official policy to assign the same NI number to more than one person at different times.

[GlenW]

Well they are wasting their time, since NI number isn't unique.

That's news to me!
I have always thought they were.

[DirtyDog]

Reed Elsevier requires every candidate sent to them to have been uploaded against their national insurance number. Just because this prevents any duplication because everyone has a unique 9 digit number.

Well they are wasting their time, since NI number isn't unique.

[Eirikur]

Varying reasons such as ID checking you are not an illegal, client requires it as part of process, compliance reasons etc.

One can be an illegal with an NI number. Everyone on a temporary workpermit can get one. A copy of visa/workpermit would be a better indication whether someone is legal or not.

I don't see any reason for contractors (and permies for that matter) to give NI numbers in advance of a contract being signed. they may need it later for security checks.

[Wanderer]

I was asked to provide NI number today, wasn't sure what to do but found this official advice

Safe jobseeking | nidirect

Refer them to that website.....

[SueEllen]

B2B contract <---> NI number huh?

Unique info to identify you personally in a system used by all types of workers.

Don't make a deal out of tulip systems and give them fake personal info unless otherwise required to give them real stuff.

[MPwannadecentincome]

We don't apply for jobs we are looking for business and enter in to a B2B contract. Different kettle of fish altogether.

B2B contract <---> NI number huh?

[tomtomagain]

Given the outsourcing trend I would be careful who get hands on my personal info.

Given the outsourcing trend .... your personal information is already freely available.

[sunflower]

Yes, we may be in B2B contracts, but even so, people need to be careful with personal data. How does a contractor know if the NI number or copy of a passport is really intended for an application?
Even on offer stage, I would be wary of supplying all sorts of personal data these days without knowing the agent is real as is the offer.

[northernladuk]

We don't apply for jobs we are looking for business and enter in to a B2B contract. Different kettle of fish altogether.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Official Government advice

I was asked to provide NI number today, wasn't sure what to do but found this official advice

Safe jobseeking | nidirect

When asking or applying for a job you should never:

give your personal financial details, like your bank account number
give your National Insurance number
give your date of birth
give your driving licence number
give your passport number
give out copies of your utility bills
provide a photograph
provide any other details you believe to be personal
You may need to provide these details when you actually have a proper job offer or start a job.

[SimonMac]

NI Number can be a quick and easy way of confirming you are eligible to work in the UK, for that reason I see no reason why an agent would not want to know this before putting you forward for a role.

[malvolio]

Reed Elsevier requires every candidate sent to them to have been uploaded against their national insurance number. Just because this prevents any duplication because everyone has a unique 9 digit number.

You can give a fake number if you like, but there isnt an agency out there who would misuse it.

Its a drag, but it also helps your profile not be sent without your permission!

Except NI numbers aren't unique. Until very recently they were kept on three separate registers and cross-checking was, shall we say, sub-optimal...