Hi
I need to phone the tax credits people but I live in Australia and it costs about £2/per minute to call a UK 0845 number. I've seen the other geographical numbers on the main list but are they region-specific? I don't really know what region I need to phone... so could I just use one of the geographical ones off the list?

Thanks in advance

tigurr

tigurr wrote on Jun 13^th, 2006 at 4:47am:

I need to phone the tax credits people but I live in Australia and it costs about £2/per minute to call a UK 0845 number. I've seen the other geographical numbers on the main list but are they region-specific? I don't really know what region I need to phone... so could I just use one of the geographical ones off the list?

I can't say for certain cause I don't know how HMRC Tax Credits offices work (does anybody?), but if you dial the 0845 from the UK, it may (or rather can do if they want it to) put you through to the office local to you. Because you are calling from outside the country, it would stand to reason that there is no 'local' office for you. So, I would just call one (geographical number) and see what they say. They may transfer you or they may be able to deal with your query.

I'm suprised that there is no international alternative as it is my understanding that, 0845 especially, cannot be dialled from many foreign locations.

Thanks :) I was surprised, too, at the lack of international number - most companies publish one deep down in their t&cs.

I *can* call an 0845 from here - just have to dial 001144 845 xxxxxxxxx but it costs a small fortune.

I phoned the Newcastle one in the end and that worked just dandy :)

Thanks again :)