MSE News: How to avoid tax credits hotline hell

Jaimemorris_2

My goodness just got through after 1 hr 20 mins this morning alone! Late for work but it's done whoopee .

indiansummer

Yes, I have been trying to get through for weeks, what a nightmare! I didn't just want to post the forms as I had a couple of questions relevant to the renewal, but was forced to post nevertheless as the helpline was always engaged. This morning I was given another number though, this one:
01355359007
and managed to get through straightaway. This number is for people living outside of the UK and not every adviser is prepared to take the call but most of them do and are very helpful. Hope this helps!

IrishCath

:mad::mad::mad::mad:
OHHHHHH Ive tried forever getting through by phone and it's a waste of time!!!
Five phone calls - spending up to 35minutes at a time to get through and "No Luck".
Fed up with it!!

suburbanmisfit

Fuming is not the word had to phone tax credits helpline today not only was it 0345 number from my mobile was on hold for 1 hour and 23 with no answer was beginning to go insane with repeatative tune and statement for my credit on my phone to run out of credit and still haven't spoken to no one I'm really not impressed arghhhhhhhh

Tika90

My longest wait so far was 1hr and 47 minutes. After 39 mins got a humn voice that said they would put me through to the tax office, or something..then hung on until the phone line went dear after 1 hr 47 mins.

Decided to write and send "signed for". Have done most of my correspondence this way. The send me amended letters about 2014-2015 about every two weeks. At the beginning of the month we owed £700 which was about right as had overestimated childcare costs. However, last week they increased our supposed debt to £5000. NO idea what is going on. Each time there is a problem on our form- they had wrong childcare details altho these details not changed for 3 years, then apparently we had no child, then we had no childcare costs..and now they say I am working 18 hours a week when have been on disability benefits for 19 years!
I despair of the whole system. Have tried phoning twice more and now in desperation have submitted an appeal.. (sent recorded delivery!)