Government's Future Pension Centre hotline

captainscapegoat

I'm trying to get through to the Government's Future Pension Centre by phone, to check the position of my NI contibutions for 2016/17, which is marked 'pending' on the Gateway website.

However, when I select the correct option it cuts me off. Every time I ring, it cuts me off, whichever option I choose. There is no queue, no wait, no-one to talk to, just rudely cut off.

Is this a genuine number or is it just a bit of a con meant to signpost you to elsewhere?

molerat

Have you not read the news.  The reason that the 2023 cut off has been extended is because the lines are inundated with callers.

If the year is showing as pending it is likely it is HMRC you need to speak to. What were you doing that year ?

Robbo11

The FPC helpline number 0800 731 0175 is correct. I got through to speak to them this morning after waiting around 25 minutes to speak to someone. Yesterday morning I also managed to get into a call queue with them but eventually hung up after waiting almost 45 minutes with no one answering my call. I did try a few times in between those two calls and was cut off after selecting the button options so you have to keep trying until you don't get cut off. My successful call today was made at 9am. 

I was also told by the HMRC agent who provided the 18-digit reference code I needed to be able to pay my NI gap years online via the gov.uk website, that although it's not the norm, it can currently take up to 8 weeks for NI records to be updated. 

johnbb99

I was called this morning by the above number and my phone displayed the name of an IFA. I very nearly ignored the call, assuming it was a cold call. Fortunately I picked up, and was told I was getting a call back from the DWP. This alarmed me as why would an IFA  be calling me about my discussions with the DWP about missing NI contributions? I seriously considered that this was a scam.
The caller then asked for my NI number and date of birth. Although wary of giving out personal information I did give these as I did not think a scammer could do a lot with just those two bits of data.
Having collected that information, the caller concluded the call, but I kept it open while I copied the number and full name of the IFA to make sure I had not noted anything incorrectly.
I then called the landline number given for the IFA, which I found by Googling the 0800 number, and was answered by one of their staff who confirmed who they were, and that they were not the DWP or working for the DWP. They were as perplexed as I was, but said they would try to get the wrong attribution of the 0800 number corrected by Google [or whoever is responsible].
I suspect a lot of people being genuinely called back by the DWP,  are having their calls rejected by folk not wanting to answer a cold call.

BYvonne

I registered for a call back from DWP about paying NI Contributions about 4 weeks ago.

I received a text last week from DWP saying they would call me back on Thursday between 8-6  - no one called.

I then got a phone call today displaying the DWP number but came up as PROSPER WEALTH MANAGEMENT saying they were from the DWP and asking for my National Insurance no. etc.

I gave out no details.

Has anyone else heard or had this?

Thanks in advance.

Marcon

johnbb99 said:

 I seriously considered that this was a scam.
The caller then asked for my NI number and date of birth. Although wary of giving out personal information I did give these as I did not think a scammer could do a lot with just those two bits of data.
Having collected that information, the caller concluded the call, but I kept it open while I copied the number and full name of the IFA to make sure I had not noted anything incorrectly.

They could do plenty with it. It's called identity theft.

ali_bear

This is shocking. Nobody should be calling you and asking for personal details without first authenticating. 

Marcon

ali_bear said:

This is shocking. Nobody should be calling you and asking for personal details without first authenticating. 

That's precisely what scammers do.

johnbb99

Maybe I took a risk at the time, but it is clear it /was/ someone from the DWP.
You all understand that, right?
it's Google who have assigned the wrong organisation to that phone number.

johnbb99

BYvonne said:

I registered for a call back from DWP about paying NI Contributions about 4 weeks ago.

I received a text last week from DWP saying they would call me back on Thursday between 8-6  - no one called.

I then got a phone call today displaying the DWP number but came up as PROSPER WEALTH MANAGEMENT saying they were from the DWP and asking for my National Insurance no. etc.

I gave out no details.

Has anyone else heard or had this?

Thanks in advance.

Yes. Me. In the previous message to yours!

ali_bear

johnbb99 said:

Maybe I took a risk at the time, but it is clear it /was/ someone from the DWP.
You all understand that, right?
it's Google who have assigned the wrong organisation to that phone number.

Shocking that the DWP and/or Google would allow this situation to occur. I don't know enough about your exchange to pass judgement on your actions - that's not what I am about :-):smile: