As seen in the search bar when you type in 0845 605 5999.  8-)

You are presented with this information

HM Revenue & Customs (Inland Revenue)    0845 605 5999    0161 930 8445    Online Services Helpdesk
Calls from: 01274 894994  :)  :)  :)

If you dial 0161 930 8445, you are told that you have dialled it from the U.K, you are then told to re-dial 0845 605 5999  and the the voices says "goodbye" and the line goes dead.  :'(

If you dial 01274 894 994 this number is now N.U  :'(

Before anybody tries with the 44 wheeze that does not either :'(

Just found this from the main Revenue & Customs page

HM Revenue and Customs    0845 915 8447   0191 213 5000    Main switchboard number for all NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ENQUIRIES

If you dial 0191 213 5000, you are told that you have dialled it from the U.K, you are then told to re-dial 0845 915 8447  and the the voices says "goodbye" and the line goes dead. :'(

Hello scubatony

which specific HMRC Departments are you trying to contact?

I know HMRC is one of the worst offenders with regards to the use of 0845 contact numbers.

Let us know what departments you are trying to contact, and we will see what info is available

scubatony wrote on Jul 13^th, 2011 at 9:17am:

... Before anybody tries with the 44 wheeze that does not either :'(

Did you mean precede the dialled number with 141?  Have you tried that?

141 works.

This number also works, without 141, at weekends certainly - it diverts to the security control person who seemed to think the switchboard answers  it during the week.

I've given up phoning them now.  I write instead.  

On average, it takes them 6+ weeks to answer so I write again after 5 weeks asking if the are 'yet in a position to reply to my letteer of xx/xx/xx"

That results in my letter crossing with their reply but as their reply never answers the question(s) I'd originally asked, that doesn't matter because they then answer again (usually, from a completely different city).

I then write to my MP, with copies of the correspondence, complaining about HMRC ineptitude and he gets a reply from HMRC HQ in Westminster answering my original question(s) fully.

I can confirm the experience of others that using the "overseas" contact number for HMR&C  -  i.e. a geographic no  -  results in a request to use an 0845 number.  However, the good news is that you appear to be able to access the relevant department via the overseas access at weekends.  I have successfully done this on two separate weekends.

I did, however, ask for an explanation in a letter that I sent the HMR&C for the justification of using an 0845 number instead of a geographic one, pointing out that in Bliar's time there were promises to revert to geographic numbers.

The reply was from a Customer Advisor by the name of ** name removed ** from whose letter I quote:

Contact Centres are accessed via 0845 numbers.  As well as being the most cost-effective numbers for the majority of our customers, 0845 numbers will enable us to meet the Department's aim to create a "virtual" access for customers, whereby calls from anywhere in the country can be efficiently handled in any Contact Centre location.  THis will creeate better flexibility for managing call volumes and will Revenue and Customs Contact Centres to better match staffing resources to meet requirements.

The 0845 numbers are used to be fair to all of our customers, many of whom live hundreds of miles from their tax office and were paying long distance and not local call charges.  These numbers were introduced to enable our Contact Centres to use the advanced network functionality that 0845 (and other non-geographic) numbers alloow, thereby creating better flexibility for dealing with telephone calls.

Since deregulation of telephone services, the number of supplier's (sic) and tariffs available has expanded enormously.  Each supplier should include details regarding non-geographic calls in their information, but obviously HMRC can not legislate for individual's preference for supplier or tariff.

Of course many people do decide to have reduced or even free telephone calls for STD numbers whereas others do not.  However using STD numbers would not allow us to supply the flexibility of call handling that we want as a department and as such wider customer service would suffer.   Also our policy is to be fair to all of our customers no matter where they are calling from in the UK, and no matter what type of arrangement they have with their own telephone company.   Consequently, we see the use of the national 0845 number as the best way to achieve this.
[i]



Well Mr ** name removed ** you certainly have once again demonstrated just what a bunch of half wits the HMRC employs, but it's given some of us a bit of a laugh!


[edit]Name removed by Dave.[/edit]

Maxadolf wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 7:10pm:

... you certainly have once again demonstrated just what a bunch of half wits the HMRC employs, but it's given some of us a bit of a laugh!

I fear that the accusation made goes up to the Chief Executive of HMRC, Dame Lesley Strathie, who recently presented similar nonsense when giving evidence to a House of Commons committee.

There are three flaws in the argument presented, in all cases relating to issues which have changed over time:

1. Ignorance of the option to use 03 numbers.

2. Continued reference to now irrelevant circumstances which applied before 2004.

3. A failure to recognise that BT only originates around 50% of residential landline calls.

The significant omission is the failure to acknowledge that the least well off do not necessarily have the same array of choices enjoyed by the rest of us. Those in receipt of benefits who subscribe to BT Basic and those who use mobile phones or public payphones because they cannot get a landline, all pay a significant premium to call 0845 numbers.

It is also quite improper for a public body to suggest that it favours the customers of particular providers in a market.