Source: Vale of White Horse District Council Press Release


Quote:

New number for better service People with benefit or Council Tax queries in the Vale are being advised that from next week they need to ring a different telephone number. From 5 November, the new telephone number for people to call if they have any queries about Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or assisted travel, is 0845 300 6129. Calls to this number will be handled by a larger dedicated benefits and Council Tax team based at a Capita centre in Coventry. This should significantly improve customer service. All calls to the number will be charged at the local rate (call charges vary according to your telephone service provider). The Council is working in partnership with Capita to deliver improved financial services including revenues, benefits and payments. This has led to major investment in these services and the move of the helpline to Coventry, which forms part of the original service improvement plans. At the same time the partnership with Capita will save the Council, and Council Tax payers in the Vale, more than £200,000 a year for at least seven years. Cllr Tony de Vere, Executive Member with portfolio responsibility for finance, said: “People calling this new number will get exactly the same help and advice as before – the only difference they may notice is that it should be easier to get through and that their call is picked up sooner. “Transferring these calls was part of the original agreement we made with Capita as we knew the service we offered needed improvement but we did not have the resources to invest in the new systems and technologies necessary.  Capita is able to offer this improvement without any cost to Council Tax payers. It will also save money as phone calls can be dealt with by Capita at their centre for a much cheaper cost without any impact on the service provided to the customer.” All letters being sent out to benefit claimants or Council Tax payers will now give details of the new number. Calls to the old number will be directed to the new number.

When will these people learn??  ::)

Source: Oxford Mail

http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1808146.0.council_benefits_hotline_goes_live.php


Quote:

Council benefits hotline goes live By Gordon Rogers A new telephone hotline number designed to improve the Vale of White Horse District Council's benefits and council tax inquiry system starts tomorrow. Calls will now be handled by a larger, dedicated benefits and council tax team, at a centre run by consultancy firm Capita in Coventry. Last year, the council signed a £1.3m deal with Capita to run its financial services. The council said the hotline should make a significant improvement to customer service. All calls to the number will be charged at the same local rate, meaning it will cost callers the same as it did to call the old Vale number. The council said the partnership with Capita would save it more than £200,000 a year. Tony de Vere, executive member for finance, said: "People calling this new number will get exactly the same help and advice as before. "The only difference they may notice is that it should be easier to get through and that their call is picked up sooner. "Transferring these calls was part of the original agreement we made with Capita as we knew the service we offered needed improvement, but we did not have the resources to invest in the new systems and technologies necessary. "Capita is able to offer this improvement without any cost to council taxpayers." The new telephone number for queries about council tax or council tax benefit, housing benefit or assisted travel is 0845 300 6129. 6:05pm Sunday 4th November 2007

It might save the Council "more than £200,000 a year", but how much will it cost taxpayers to telephone the new number instead of the 'old' 01 one?

Has Capita suggested that the 0845 number is "local rate"?