Benefits and 0845 numbers

NEH

Is anyone else finding that having to call an 0845 number so many times a month about your benefit is costing a fair bit?

I am spending at least £4 a month if not more, last month it was just over £6 all to get some errors ironed out with my benefit...It's driving me mad....I've just been sent a letter stating that they will pay me from the 16th December and yet my sick note specifically says the 14th so I need to query it but it's going to cost me....done a search on the 0870 site and nothings comes up.

Know it doesn't sound a lot but when you're on a limited income every bit counts....

geoff11

its a disgrace.

chrissie_bond

If you can get to your local job center you can use their phones and contact them for free. I presume its the same everywhere? If not perhaps it would work out cheaper to write to them. Good luck.

McKneff

Have a look on the website Saynoto0870, to find an alternative number, very often you can find a freephone number, it its a generic no. ie 01 then lots of these places are open after 6pm when a lot of people have free calls anyway.
Good luck

NEH

geoff11 wrote: »

its a disgrace.

It is, I mean it's jsut ridiculous, especially when it's something they have done.

chrissie_bond wrote: »

If you can get to your local job center you can use their phones and contact them for free. I presume its the same everywhere? If not perhaps it would work out cheaper to write to them. Good luck.

Local jobcentre is 5 miles away so it would cost me in petrol to get there unfortunately.

McKneff wrote: »

Have a look on the website Saynoto0870, to find an alternative number, very often you can find a freephone number, it its a generic no. ie 01 then lots of these places are open after 6pm when a lot of people have free calls anyway.
Good luck

Tried that site as mentioned in my post, no luck....

samuelsmommy

When you ring them, tell them as soon as you give your name that you are calling from a mobile and that you want them to ring you back, they will then take your number and ring you straight back.

you are still paying for some of the call but it does cut the cost quite a bit.

Bogof_Babe

0845 numbers are free on some BT tariffs now (it's 0844 you have to watch!). Can you go to a friend or relative's house to call, if you know anyone on the right BT scheme.

NEH

samuelsmommy wrote: »

When you ring them, tell them as soon as you give your name that you are calling from a mobile and that you want them to ring you back, they will then take your number and ring you straight back.

you are still paying for some of the call but it does cut the cost quite a bit.

I'm ringing from a landline but being Post Office it's a rehashed BT line but still thankfully not a mobile....I have tried to get them to call me back before but they are quite reluctant to do so but I will give it another go thanks...

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

0845 numbers are free on some BT tariffs now (it's 0844 you have to watch!). Can you go to a friend or relative's house to call, if you know anyone on the right BT scheme.

Nearest relative with BT line is 260 odd miles aways and my nearest friend is a fair few miles away, so unfortunately it wouldn't work...

Anyway solved the problem, though the guy couldn't speak clearly and I struggled to understand him. Apprently the benefits are being paid in batches and I now have to be paid on a Wednesday according to my NI number....If they can send a letter out stating they are going to pay my benefit could they not also include the reason for the change of date as well or was that too much to hope for....

Thanks for the replies, just wished they would keep me informed of things.

System

It !!!!es me off roytally i've spent £10 (on mobile) and £8 (from BT payphone) trying to bloody get through about my ESA before. It charges everytime it connects (usually to tell me they are busy and to call back later then cuts me off..and repeat).

yellowduck_2

I am really fed up with this, have had my ESA mucked up twice, each call to sort it out cost me £6 by the time i had got through the menu and been kept on hold for ages. Don't have a land line to cut down on costs. It is a disgrace, my provider charges 20p a minute and it can take many attempts to get through

[Deleted User]

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

It !!!!es me off roytally i've spent £10 (on mobile) and £8 (from BT payphone) trying to bloody get through about my ESA before. It charges everytime it connects (usually to tell me they are busy and to call back later then cuts me off..and repeat).

If you have a bt line have you considered option3(think thats the one)£4.95 a month and 0845 and 0870 numbers free as are all 01/02/03,the only extras are mobiles(which are cheaper than usual and premium numbers 0844 or 09