How to contact HMRC for free

Bridlington1

Hello,

I filled in an R40 form in June to reclaim £1.25 in tax back from the Halifax reward account. I noticed just over a month ago that the form had been processed but am yet to receive my cheque for £1.25. I would like to find out what has happened to it but am having difficulty finding a way to contact them. I am in the unfortunate position of having a PAYG mobile phone (as I barely use it) and it costs me extra to dial 03 numbers from the landline. Does anyone know a way of getting in touch with HMRC for free? I have tried all of the 0800 numbers that I can find on their website to different departments and none of them will transfer me through to the right department.

Silvertabby

Sorry, but I just have to say - after factoring in the cost of the postage stamp, was it really worth the bother?  

Albermarle

Silvertabby said:

Sorry, but I just have to say - after factoring in the cost of the postage stamp, was it really worth the bother?  

I agree, imagine all that time spent calling for the sake of the price of one hours parking ticket !

Bridlington1

Silvertabby said:

Sorry, but I just have to say - after factoring in the cost of the postage stamp, was it really worth the bother?  

I filled in the R40 form online so I incurred no postage costs. The R40 form didn't tale long to fill in and as I am entitled to that money back I judged it to be worth it as there would be no financial cost on my part.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Do you pay tax under PAYE as well on the annual payment* from Halifax.

*that's what the £1.25 is deducted from, it doesn't relate to the frequency of the payment.

Bridlington1

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Do you pay tax under PAYE?

No. I am a full time student with a part time job and do not earn anywhere near enough to pay tax on my income.

SiliconChip

Why don't you use the webchat facility to speak to HMRC, that'll be free?

Voyager2002

Email your MP complaining about poor service from HMRC. Ask the MP to investigate why it takes them three months to process a routine transaction.

Obviously it is not worth involving an MP for a sum of £1.25, but if you are getting poor service then probably so are many more people.

Bridlington1

SiliconChip said:

Why don't you use the webchat facility to speak to HMRC, that'll be free?

I've not had much luck with the webchat. For starters I can not find one related to tax on savings & investments and whenever I've tried using one of the other ones I can't seem to even speak to the HMRC digital assistant let alone a human. I have instead greeted by an error message for the past few weeks (see below).

Voyager2002 said:

Email your MP complaining about poor service from HMRC. Ask the MP to investigate why it takes them three months to process a routine transaction.

Obviously it is not worth involving an MP for a sum of £1.25, but if you are getting poor service then probably so are many more people.

I shalln't get my MP involved for now, especially as it is for £1.25 but the idea of complaining is a good one. I shall put in a complaint to HMRC.

MalMonroe

Bridlington1 said:

SiliconChip said:

Why don't you use the webchat facility to speak to HMRC, that'll be free?

I've not had much luck with the webchat. For starters I can not find one related to tax on savings & investments and whenever I've tried using one of the other ones I can't seem to even speak to the HMRC digital assistant let alone a human. I have instead greeted by an error message for the past few weeks (see below).

Voyager2002 said:

Email your MP complaining about poor service from HMRC. Ask the MP to investigate why it takes them three months to process a routine transaction.

Obviously it is not worth involving an MP for a sum of £1.25, but if you are getting poor service then probably so are many more people.

I shalln't get my MP involved for now, especially as it is for £1.25 but the idea of complaining is a good one. I shall put in a complaint to HMRC.

When you log in to your HMRC personal account there should be a facility to send a message if the webchat isn't working.

Send a message and they will respond. It's free. And they don't usually take long to respond. Well, they haven't to me anyway - and it certainly isn't weeks.

Webchat often isn't working. And you can complain about that when you send them a message - or fill in the survey comment form when you are asked if everything went well for you during your visit to their website.

I think the online facility is great. Saves a lot of time, effort and trouble.