This is regarding Incapacity Benefit

Today I needed to speak to the I.B. department regarding my recent application for I.B. renewal.   ::)
According to the past 3yrs paperwork I have, Basildon, Essex are responsible for my claim.
I keyed in Incapacity Benefit in 'Search to find an alternative number' and was really surprised
to see only 3 entries - http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php  :o

I called 01452 366292, listed in the database:  A recorded message said that "We are sorry but due to circumstances beyond our control we are not able to answer your call, sorry for any inconvenience, please try again later."  :(
I then called 0114 203 3183,  listed in the database: A chap answered, saying Job Centre Plus (I thought that's good) but after I explained I wanted advice re my existing claim, he asked me where I got the phone number!  I reeled off the usual about how my phone is banned from calling 0845's, 0844's, etc and to my surprise he said that he shouldn't really transfer me, but he did.
I was pleasantly surprised that he transferred me to the correct branch, but I strongly suspect that 99% of the time he/they tell people they can't transfer.   >:(

It would be ideal to have a U.K. A - Z list of towns for all the Incapacity Benefit departments.
I guess if this site can't find the geo numbers, the so and so's are doing a good job forcing hundreds of thousands of people needing advice to call their 0845. (I don't care if it's local rate or premium rate - I only dial geo numbers as I get them free
on my mobile.)  

Several months ago I emailed them on: contact-us@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk asking them to phone me...
it took them a whole week to ring my number, pathetic!  

*

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~ Edited by Dave: Thread split off and retitled

smileyeyes wrote on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 2:52pm:

(I don't care if it's local rate or premium rate - I only dial geo numbers as I get them free on my mobile.)

You will get 03 numbers free as well. That is why DWP (and others) should immediately swap over, or at least enable all of the 0345 equivalent alternatives to work in parallel.

DWP now has a clear policy of invarably offerring to call back immediately to mobile callers when they have got through on a 0845 number. This is a totally silly approach, because it would be cheaper both for taxpayers and for callers if they offered the 0345 numbers.

(If anyone knows of any case where the callback was not offered - please email or PM me with details.)

smileyeyes wrote on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 2:52pm:

I keyed in Incapacity Benefit in 'Search to find an alternative number' and was really surprised to see only 3 entries - http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php  :o

Entries are generally listed under the company/organisation name. However, the search engine picks up on text anywhere in the entry (including the Other Information column). In this case, by chance, the entries had the words "incapacity benefit" in the Other Information field, and thus were picked up. Similarly, some entries appear when income support is put in to the search box.



smileyeyes wrote on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 2:52pm:

I called 01452 366292, listed in the database:  A recorded message said that "We are sorry but due to circumstances beyond our control we are not able to answer your call, sorry for any inconvenience, please try again later."  :( I then called 0114 203 3183,  listed in the database: A chap answered, saying Job Centre Plus (I thought that's good) but after I explained I wanted advice re my existing claim, he asked me where I got the phone number!  I reeled off the usual about how my phone is banned from calling 0845's, 0844's, etc and to my surprise he said that he shouldn't really transfer me, but he did. I was pleasantly surprised that he transferred me to the correct branch, but I strongly suspect that 99% of the time he/they tell people they can't transfer.   >:(

These numbers have now been removed. I removed a load of DWP numbers last month, most of which played redirector recordings to 01851 76xxxx numbers.