National Insurance Number

[SplashDash]

Hello!

This is my first post, so I hope I am posting this in the right area.

I came to the U.K. under a work visa a little over a month ago. I came here with a job already in place, and started work immediately. About two weeks after I arrived, I got a letter in the mail from HM Revenue and Customs containing my tax codes. The letter included my National Insurance Number.

I was very surprised at this, as I had not yet applied for a National Insurance Number! Nobody at work knew anything about it, but they suggested that the bookkeeper may have arranged it on my behalf. I was completely baffled by the scenario but let it go.

However, I have recently realized that the number my letter clearly states is my National Insurance Number does not follow the correct format for a National Insurance Number. When I tried to create a Government Gateway account, I was rejected on the basis of my number not being in the correct format... so it can't be a National Insurance Number then, can it?

Has anyone else had this happen? I am so confused. I don't know how this number was assigned to me without my applying for it, and I am completely unsure whether or not it is a valid N.I. number.

I am going to call HMR as soon as I can, but I don't have regular access to a telephone, so I wanted to see if anyone here has any advice/similar experiences. This whole immigration experience is so confusing to me...

Thanks in advance!

[poper]

Happened to my colleague as well I believe.
He received his NI card a few weeks later which had an entirely different NI number to what was stated in the letter