I had to call the NHS Pension Scheme to change my Bank payment details on the following number

0870 197 1500

I could not find an alternate number and the adviser would not give me a geographic alternative.

With all the call centre delay, waiting for an adviser and security detail verification, the call time was nearly 8 minutes.

So: two questions

1 are the NHS pension Scheme making a profit every time a pensioner calls their office. Wow! that must be a hell of a lot of calls?

2 how can we find an alternative?

Ramon

A Google search for NHS "0870 197 1500" produces, amongst other things, THIS LINK.

Part thereof is:

Quote:

The Paymaster Communications Centre is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.  However, our lines are always extremely busy on a Monday.  If your call is not urgent you may find it more convenient to contact us between Tuesday and Friday.  The number to call is: 0870 197 1500 If you live abroad and want to telephone Paymaster please call: +44 1293 591959 Calls may be monitored or recorded for quality and training purposes. Our address is: PAYMASTER RUSSELL WAY CRAWLEY WEST SUSSEX RH10 1UH Our fax number is: 01293 604024 Our e-mail address for general enquiries is: nhspensions@paymaster.co.uk

Although the "If you live abroad ...." part is obviously intended to discourage use by UK residents, I am sure a lot of people need to phone +44 1293 591959 whilst they are abroad on holiday.

They may even realise that they could dial that same geographical number upon their return to the UK by simply substituting a zero for the +44 part and dialling 01293 591959.  Dialling 14001293 591959 might be a good idea though!

wrote on Jan 27^th, 2005 at 1:53pm:

14001293 591959 might be a good idea though!

141 to withhold one's number. Not very friendly, withholding, but it may aid the idea of seeming to be aborad - if otherwise refused.