Tax Credits phone line = big phone bill

lindseywatson

I saw Martin on Daybreak yesterday and am grateful for the reminder not to hang on to my tax credits form when it eventually arrives and to return it by post. He mentioned the awful telephone help service and I wanted to firstly agree with him, but secondly ask if anyone knows if this number is still not a freephone number.

Last year we moved house and I phoned to tell them. Rather than getting an engaged tone I was put in a queue and after some minutes was told they were too busy, please try again some other time.

This went on and on and stupid me assumed the calls would be free. However, one phone bill later and we had been charged £16 - just to be repeatedly cut off (I had still not spoken to anyone at that point) :mad:

I would not have been the only one to rack up such a big bill but I just thought I would warn others becuase it was certainly an incredibly expensive mistake. This phoneline should either be free, or should just ring out engaged if they really are too busy to place you in a queue.

McKneff

What number were you ringing.

lindseywatson

It was the helpline number displayed on my tac credits award doccument. I dont have it with me right now but when I get home I will dig it out and will advise back. I just hope this time around I dont need to ring them!

Just to add, it was an 0845 number... I remember that much

McKneff

Dont forget to post back, If you have to ring again have a look for alternative number on Saynoto0870

You probably have an 0870 number or 0845 so what prompted you to think it was a freephone number, and of course it also depends whether you rang from a landline or mobile.

DX2

Dreadful innit. Start a protest, a facebook page and an online petition. That'll do the job.

McKneff

Wha'..................

lindseywatson

Embarassingly I did not realise an 0845 number would cost me (please dont laugh). I know better now... and that is why I have joined this forum! I am learning!!

Plus, foolishly I didnt think a govt/HMRC helpline number would charge me for calls for a service we are TOLD to ring if we have any slight change in circumstance.

nannytone_2

or alternativey go to the tax office and hang on for free!

flutterby_lil

0800 numbers are free.

Send it back in the post. I send change of circs via letter recorded too. Works for me.

Hammyman

lindseywatson wrote: »

Plus, foolishly I didnt think a govt/HMRC helpline number would charge me for calls for a service we are TOLD to ring if we have any slight change in circumstance.

The 0845 number is actually a SUBSIDISED NUMBER. It costs you less than it would if you lived outside the area local to the HMRC Tax Credits office and had to ring them on a standard dialling code by a considerable amount.

0845 are billed at local call rates on landlines which can be free depending on the plan you're on.

MCGONIS

nannytone wrote: »

or alternativey go to the tax office and hang on for free!

Nice idea, but the tax office enquiry centres in some parts of the UK are not quite so easy to get to. In my area there is one office now after 3 others were closed.

So users are expected to get trains - buses -or whatever to the city centre or wherever a TC office is, with prams or umpteen children just because the revenue cannot staff the helpline properly? HM Government allow free calls to some service lines. JobcentrePlus for example - why not to Tax Credits?