0845 number for jobseekers from Department of Work & Pensions

slenderkitten

sammyjammy wrote: »

Please Note BT have confirmed that customer call charges for the Jobcentre 0845 number do not start until the call is answered by the operator (i.e. the customer is not charged for listening to the recorded message, or for waiting in the queue prior to the operator answering the call). This is different from some other DWP 0845 numbers where charging begins immediately.

The Department does not receive any revenue for using 0845 numbers.

Thats the first i heard about this, i certainly would hope that it's true.

AP007

sammyjammy wrote: »

Please Note BT have confirmed that customer call charges for the Jobcentre 0845 number do not start until the call is answered by the operator (i.e. the customer is not charged for listening to the recorded message, or for waiting in the queue prior to the operator answering the call). This is different from some other DWP 0845 numbers where charging begins immediately.

The Department does not receive any revenue for using 0845 numbers.

I have called the Job Centre and I have a bill that says other wise - charged from as soon as I got the recorded 'press 1 for this' '2 for that' etc and we are busy but will get to you soon etc etc

Sandhy

It's all part of the system that keeps many from claiming Jobseekers and getting on to the 'system' therefore the number of unemployed statistics looks better
See the typical upbeat news headline:
"The number of people claiming Jobseekers fell last month..."

InsideInsurance

slenderkitten wrote: »

Thats the first i heard about this, i certainly would hope that it's true.

It isnt true, you are billed from as soon as the recipient answers the call, it doesnt make any difference if the recipient is a person or a machine with IVR/ call steering. The telecoms company would have no way of knowing which of the two had answered.

nanunanu123

Why charge a premium rate and give the money to private telecom,sorry British telecom.I've heard that people not phoning to provide info such as starting work etc,causes more paper work for the tax payer/government.Why not use 0300 and put a charge on top if it's to deter claims.£70 a min should do the job.Or are politicians corrupt,hmm.Anyone for a round of golf at BT St Andrews?

Cheeky_Monkey

If you go onto the SayNoTo0870 website, you click on 'Search to find an alternative number' at the top of the page and then type in the company name and phone number then click Search.

I use it all the time and, as I have lots of free minutes on my mobile, rarely have to pay for calls.

Obviously, it doesn't work for every company/number but it usually does.

Sharon87

If you have to phone the Belfast office though which is an 0845 number even if you find the alternative number it's still cheaper than international calls!

agrinnall

Sharon87 wrote: »

If you have to phone the Belfast office though which is an 0845 number even if you find the alternative number it's still cheaper than international calls!

You are aware that Belfast is in the UK aren't you? So where would you be calling from that Belfast would be regarded as international?

getzls

agrinnall wrote: »

You are aware that Belfast is in the UK aren't you? So where would you be calling from that Belfast would be regarded as international?

With that sayno to 0845, it does not give a landline number for the Belfast office.

agrinnall

getzls wrote: »

With that sayno to 0845, it does not give a landline number for the Belfast office.

I'm not sure what relevance that has to my reply, Belfast is part of the UK whether a landline number is available or not.

Although it does raise (yet another) question for Alec Salmond's mob, if they manage to con the Scottish electorate into voting for independence, will phone calls between Scotland and RUK be charged as international?