Tax Credits phone line = big phone bill

AnxiousMum

MCGONIS wrote: »

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?

Or......complete the form they send you, and pop it back in the mail - simple! Just don't leave it till the last day to do so

lindseywatson

thanks for the comments... just to address a few...

I did complete the form and returned it in good time, but half way through the year not only did I move house but also changed jobs and therefore salary. I needed to phone them to advise them of this.

I didn't realise the phone number was subsidised, but subsidised or not it cost me £16 (on my landline bill) to eventually speak to just one person for no more than 4 minutes - this highlights just how many times i rang, to be told i was in a queue, to sit in this queue for a couple of minutes and then be told the service was busy and cut off.

Maybe I was a little naive in thinking the number was free, but I wanted to mention my experience on here so someone else does not make the same costly mistake.

pipscot

lindseywatson wrote: »

thanks for the comments... just to address a few...

I did complete the form and returned it in good time, but half way through the year not only did I move house but also changed jobs and therefore salary. I needed to phone them to advise them of this.

I didn't realise the phone number was subsidised, but subsidised or not it cost me £16 (on my landline bill) to eventually speak to just one person for no more than 4 minutes - this highlights just how many times i rang, to be told i was in a queue, to sit in this queue for a couple of minutes and then be told the service was busy and cut off.

Maybe I was a little naive in thinking the number was free, but I wanted to mention my experience on here so someone else does not make the same costly mistake.

Thanks for your story. I've had the same many times - why they can't just cut you off straight away when they're busy instead of giving a load of spiel about visiting their website, opening hours, what changes you need to tell them about..etc is beyond me! I think there should be a law against it!!!

Emma_whitnash

I hope I never have to phone the tax credits helpline again cos they're a nightmare, however I did get through when calling between 8 and 8.30 am (that was about the only time I got through). Was even holding at 7.45 at night (even tried just after 7.55 pm but was cut off - they'd prob gone home), it's rubbish.

wendyacarl

i tried to phone them on their overseas number so i could use my free mins on my mobile only to be told i had to phone them on the 0845 number, it is just another way for the government to get more money out of us, i told the woman that i didnt have enought credit on my phone to use that number but she didnt care. in the time she spent arguing she could have taken my details, so here is the number if anyone else wants to give it a go, i did warn her i would post the number on the internet, maybe if enough of us keep phoning then maybe they will start letting us in the uk use that number
01355 359007

Kayleigh1986

the number for normal rate calls is

028 905 38192

its normal rate so usually included in your minutes and goes thru to the same place that the 0845 nuber goes to

kez_d

i always look on saynoto0870 if need to ring an 0845 number etc

lindseywatson

I still have not received my renewal pack yet. :mad: So much for doing things early. Thanks for the freephone number help though :T

fuzzgun19

Kayleigh1986 wrote: »

the number for normal rate calls is

028 905 38192

its normal rate so usually included in your minutes and goes thru to the same place that the 0845 nuber goes to

Has anyone tried this number, is it ok to use?

I only need to tell them of a change in circumstances.

amanda0612

fuzzgun19 wrote: »

Has anyone tried this number, is it ok to use?

I only need to tell them of a change in circumstances.

yes i have used this number loads of times and it works