hmrc office number

MrsManda

The reason the tax office uses 0845 numbers rather than 0800 numbers is that you cannot transfer calls between offices with 0800 numbers but you can with 0845 numbers. Therefore if there is a shorter queue on the telephones at one office compared to another the calls can can rerouted to that one, reducing the waiting time.

It doesn't matter which tax office you get through to as they all have access to the same information.

If you are racking up call costs because you are phoning due to a mistake made by the tax office they will reimburse the cost of the calls if you request it.

kickwhamstunner

jem16 wrote: »

If HMRC and others can't provide geographic numbers for customer use, they force their customers into using other options.

In which case you should lobby HMRC to change their system, not bypass it merely because you disagree with it.

They're not forcing you to use other options - they're providing a means through which you can contact them, and you're choosing to use the wrong method because you're unwilling to pay the price the correct one costs.

It's much the same as someone phoning an ambulance for a routine hospital appointment because a taxi costs more than they'd like. You may be able to justify it to yourself, but you're diverting the service away from those for whom it is genuinely needed, and thus it's little more than breathtaking selfishness.

jem16

MrsManda wrote: »

The reason the tax office uses 0845 numbers rather than 0800 numbers is that you cannot transfer calls between offices with 0800 numbers but you can with 0845 numbers. Therefore if there is a shorter queue on the telephones at one office compared to another the calls can can rerouted to that one, reducing the waiting time.

Who told you that rubbish? Calls to 0800 numbers are handled in exactly the same way as 0845/0870 numbers - just the charging structure is different.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/help/dg_173539

If you are racking up call costs because you are phoning due to a mistake made by the tax office they will reimburse the cost of the calls if you request it.

I can just see that happening!

Apart from that, HMRC and other government departments are making money out of many low income families trying to sort out Child Benefit, Tax Credits and pensions.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1246907169/0

Mobile costs to 0845 numbers are up to 40p a minute. Bt charges 2p a minute during the day with a 9p connection charge. Virgin charges 10p per minute plus its connection charge.

I'm not advocating 0800 numbers (although that would be nice) but either a geographic number that costs less from landlines and mobiles.

Ofcom are now advocating 03 numbers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/03_numbers

jem16

kickwhamstunner wrote: »

In which case you should lobby HMRC to change their system, not bypass it merely because you disagree with it.

I am, as are many others.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1246907169/0

They're not forcing you to use other options - they're providing a means through which you can contact them, and you're choosing to use the wrong method because you're unwilling to pay the price the correct one costs.

That means is forcing many low income families to pay high call charges.

It's much the same as someone phoning an ambulance for a routine hospital appointment because a taxi costs more than they'd like.

I have other choices of getting to hospital - a bus, train, car or walk. I can choose the one which suits my needs.

If HMRC refuse to provide a geographic number or even an 03 number as Ofcom advocate, they provide no choice.

Why do HMRC not switch to 03 numbers? Perhaps something to do with not making any money out of it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/03_numbers

You may be able to justify it to yourself, but you're diverting the service away from those for whom it is genuinely needed, and thus it's little more than breathtaking selfishness.

Don't be riduculous. The number is answered by exactly the same staff for both 0845 and international callers. No preference is given to either call as has been verified by HMRC themsleves.

08 numbers simply route to normal geographic numbers and as they can't be accessed outside of the UK, HMRC has to provide a normal geographic number.

See post 24 on this thread;

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1246907169/15

kickwhamstunner

jem16 wrote: »

I have other choices of getting to hospital - a bus, train, car or walk. I can choose the one which suits my needs.

If HMRC refuse to provide a geographic number or even an 03 number as Ofcom advocate, they provide no choice.

You can write to HMRC - stamps can be obtained from your local post office for as little as 41p. This will obviously take a little longer than a phone call. However, it seems perfectly reasonable to me that you should pay to have things done quicker than standard.

jem16 wrote: »

Don't be riduculous. The number is answered by exactly the same staff for both 0845 and international callers. No preference is given to either call as has been verified by HMRC themsleves.

I'll explain this again, since you appear to be a little hard of thinking.

The non-0845 number DOES give priority in the queue, as does the dedicated line for agents and accountants (even though yes, they are answered by the same staff). Having read the link you posted, it would appear the staff member spoken to was unaware of this.

It is therefore unfair for UK callers to jump the queue simply for their own financial gain.

Finally, I must request that if you're going to bring more 'evidence' into this thread, that it comes from a more impartial source than a site which by its very url is opposed to non-geographical numbers.

McKneff

It's much the same as someone phoning an ambulance for a routine hospital appointment because a taxi costs more than they'd like. You may be able to justify it to yourself, but you're diverting the service away from those for whom it is genuinely needed, and thus it's little more than breathtaking selfishness.

What utter nonsense, it is no comparison at all, where do you think this sort of thing up.

kickwhamstunner

McKneff wrote: »

where do you think this sort of thing up.

Reality. You may want to take a trip there sometime.

And for future reference, questions end in question marks.

jem16

kickwhamstunner wrote: »

You can write to HMRC - stamps can be obtained from your local post office for as little as 41p. This will obviously take a little longer than a phone call. However, it seems perfectly reasonable to me that you should pay to have things done quicker than standard.

I'll ask again as you seem to have a problem with this.

Why does a government agency refuse to switch over to 03 numbers?

The non-0845 number DOES give priority in the queue, as does the dedicated line for agents and accountants (even though yes, they are answered by the same staff). Having read the link you posted, it would appear the staff member spoken to was unaware of this.

Dedicated line for agents and accountants I can understand.

However why should someone from outside the UK have any preference over a UK caller?

Where is your proof of this?

It is therefore unfair for UK callers to jump the queue simply for their own financial gain.

So it's alright for non-UK callers to jump the queue?

Finally, I must request that if you're going to bring more 'evidence' into this thread, that it comes from a more impartial source than a site which by its very url is opposed to non-geographical numbers.

Of course it is opposed to UK callers being ripped off.

The only reason 0845/0870 numbers are still being used is to gather in the revenue it creates by their very use.

No government department, local authority, NHS hospital should be using them when there are 03 numbers that can do exactly the same job and nobody profits from it. The point here is that instead of the use that 0845/0870 numbers once were, they have simply become another excuse for making money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-geographical_telephone_numbers_in_the_UK

If you want to be ripped off then so be it, but don't assume the rest of us are prepared to put up with it too.

Perhaps you would be better off at moneythrowaway.com.

kickwhamstunner

jem16 wrote: »

...Bloo bloo bloo. Ah bloo bloo bloo...

Your constant reference to UK callers is making me uncomfortable. You're right in that this forum probably isn't for me, I'll go somewhere with a bit more tolerance for others.

jem16

kickwhamstunner wrote: »

Your constant reference to UK callers is making me uncomfortable.

You were the one who brought up the differentiation in the first place, not me.

You're right in that this forum probably isn't for me,

Agreed.

I'm stil waiiting to hear why you feel it's ok for HMRC to keep on using 0845 numbers as opposed to 03 numbers but you don't seem to want to answer that.

I'll go somewhere with a bit more tolerance for others.

Pot, kettle, black


By the way if you're going to quote me, I'd appreciate it if you don't change my words.