By the end of April 2010, the local switchboard numbers for all Jobcentres will have been discontinued. All calls will be directed to the new central switchboard whose number is 0845 604 3719.
The number 020 8465 8604 presently goes through to the same place as the 0845 number and is therefore a suitable alternative for JobCentres in all areas.It's up to you if you wish to follow the guidance below to find a direct number at your local Jobcentre. I suggest that if time is of the essence, then you might be better off using the 020 number.
Should the 020 number not work (be aware that it can be not recognised when they are closed), then please do post on this forum thread to let us know, so we can stop others wasting their time trying it. Alternatively, if you do use it sucessfully, then we would like to hear from you as well.
Guidance for finding an alternative directly to your JobcentreThe best advice I can offer with regards contacting your local Jobcentre is that it may well have a group of sequential numbers, of which the 'old' published switchboard number is the first and that usually ends 00.
For example, the main number for Bexley Heath Jobcentre was 020 8218 4700 and this now has a recording redirecting to the 0845 number. The next number, 020 8218 470
1, has been found to get through to that branch.
If you change the last digit from a 0 to a 1 and get no answer, or perhaps get through to a fax machine, then try 2, 3 and so on. Remember, these will probably go through to direct lines within the particular office they relate to and if someone does answer, he or she may refuse to put you through. In addition to the number being someone's direct line, it could be the phone in a room such as a meeting room or a fax machine.
Jobcentre Plus
published a spreadsheet (available via WhatDoTheyKnow.com) which lists each branch, giving the date that each was due to change over to the main 0845 number. For those that hadn't done so at the time of its compilation, which is the majority, they have the old 01/02 number listed. Use this and change its last digit as I suggested above.
If you have any questions or require any help with this, then post here and someone will help you. Where you find a suitable alternative, then please post it here and I will see that it is added to the database for our visitors to use.