A mum was left red-faced after telling a DWP advisor she had been 'forced into prostitution' instead of 'a position' in a predictive text fail.
Steph Harper quickly bashed out a message into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) system regarding Universal Credit as she was concerned about juggling work and looking after her son, seven, with no childcare options while schools were shut.
The 30-year-old added that she was 'forced into a prostitution' as she was now 'unable to continue her work' as a children's party and entertainment co-ordinator.
Minutes later the red-faced mum-of-one realised her error and scrambled together a response apologising for the auto-corrected typo reassuring the DWP advisor she hadn't been forced into sex work.
In response, a kindly advisor said they were initially 'very concerned' when reading her first message and were relieved to see it was simply an auto-correct mistake.
Steph, from Gloucester, Gloucestershire, said: "It was a really stressful time for everybody. I was just worried about paying my rent and bills. I sent them a message in the journal asking about my Universal Credit payment and that's when the auto correct happened.
"I was writing on my phone, don't know how it corrected 'position' to that, I was mortified when I saw what it had changed it to.
"I accidentally told Universal Credit I was a prostitute. When I pressed send I thought 'I should re-read this back 'and thank goodness that I did.
"I remember thinking 'oh my god if they read that they're going to think I'm admitting to being a prostitute' which was definitely not the case.
"When I read the DWP's reply I just laughed out loud, and I thought 'well at least you were concerned about it'."
Steph wrote in her journal at the end of March last year as covid struck but shared her cringy typo this week when it quickly went viral on Facebook.
The comment read, 'I accidentally told Universal Credit I was a prostitute' and racked up more than 4,300 likes, shares and comments.
Steph said: "This is my first auto-correct fail. I was really embarrassed but my friends and family found it hilarious.
"When I shared it online it just blew up from there. It's good to see it's given people a bit of a laugh.
I've definitely learned my lesson. I triple-check everything, even my work emails, all the time."
The full-text conversation
Stephanie wrote: Good afternoon. With the school my son attends being closed now for the foreseeable future due to the Coronavirus outbreak, and with no childcare options available to me. I am forced into a prostitution where I am now unable to continue my work from effect of Monday 23rd March 2020.
Stephanie wrote: "I am ever so sorry, my last journal entry corrected my statement - I meant to say 'in a position', not the word 'prostitution'.
"I am so sorry! Stephanie"
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rep wrote: "Good Afternoon Stephanie,
"I was very concerned when I read your first message, so glad to see it was just an auto correct mistake!
"Should your earnings be reduced your UC award will increase.
"The first £287.00 of your take-home pay doesn't affect your Universal Credit monthly amount.
"Every £1.00 you earn in take-home pay over this amount [... show more]."
The DWP declined to comment.
