Tax Credits help line - Alternative number is ...

B00

I too have struggled to get through to them, but if you keep trying again and again and again, you do get through- eventually!

I've found it's no good ringing once then again an hour later. You have to keep at it for a continuous length of rime(Am I making sense?) Good luck.

I have to ring them tomorrow as my renewal pack still hasn't arrived, and was told to ring if not recieved, so wish me luck too please!

dundeediva

I would keep trying it is really ridiculously busy just now!

To be honest, the easiest and quickest way to get through is to go to your local enquiry centre, they have freephones that are essentially a "queue jump". If you live close enough to one, it might be easier to do that than keep trying from home!

I know its a nightmare just now but remember cut backs with jobs so every member of staff is on the phones constantly, and most advisers are doing their hardest to get the calls through asap.

Please don't take your frustrations of not getting through on the person on the phone, they are only doing their job and it can be VERY frustrating when all you get when a call comes through is "it's about time"!!!!

daisy_jean

I tried at 4pm today to get a claim pack, and the first couple of times got the "we are busy" message which hung up at the end.

After a couple more tries, I got straight through to someone. No being put on hold or anything, but perhaps that's cos I only wanted a pack rather than to enquire!

milliebear00001

I have been trying all week as well. Every time I get the 'very busy' message and then cut-off. It is utterly ridiculous! Is there no other contact option? Email? Letter?

TaxCreditHelp

The Tax Credit Helpline is incredibly busy now due to this being the peak renewals period, as mentined above. All Tax Credit customers have until 31st July to renew and telephone is the most popular way of doing this. So it will be pretty busy for at least the next month.

The enquiry centres do have freephones you can use if you wish, and depending on the change of circumstance they may be able to make the change for you there and then. Details of your local HMRC enquiry centre can be found online at the official HMRC website, or in your local telephone directory.

jancee_2

This is going to happen more and more due to a freeze on recruitment in Government departments. There just aren't enough people to answer the phones.

People clamour for cuts in the Civil Service but it's at the sharp end that it bites and it's the public that suffers. :embarasse

flutterby_lil

I had to try about three times, but got through and renewed over the phone. Shame you can't send a letter in for a change of circs, unless you do that and explain you cannot get through, at least you are notifying them.

I used to work for the DWP, and worked in the change of circs dept, we always dealth with thing by letter.

Maybe worth a try.

Good luck. F_L

Isleman

Tried again this morning at least 20 times from 8 A.M. until now.
I always get the " We are busy " message.
I will keep trying but this is outrageous . I wish I never filled the Tax credits forms .This is becoming a big stressful waste of time .
I can understand this a very busy period of time and because of the general climate they need to cut back but I don't understand why they can't find an alternative solution .
Why they don't spend some money and create a secure e-mail system which you could access only on a password/user name atached to your file?
I can do my tax online which to be honest I think contains much more sensitive information then the tax credits form .Why they can't do it in this case ?
I am sure it could save them lots of money and time in the long run.

Fitzio

I have been trying to get through for a few days now too - need to inform of a change of circumstances. It's only the second time I have had to call them and I am very surprised at how bad it is. I held on for 40 mins yesterday during the time that their website says is their quieter time usually. Held for another 20 mins today.

I am phoning the 0845 number which is annoying me. When I looked at Saynoto0870, there was a discussion about them not taking your call if you phone on the international number and being really rude. Has anyone experienced this?

malibusami86

ive not been cut off this time - but have been on waiting for 15 minutes for an adviser............ hmff