Try telling them you dialled the 0845. 

Why? Well there's a few explanations that spring to mind: It is an overseas number. If they can see your number, they know you are not overseas. 141 to withold your number.

It may be the wrong department.

the number in question was 0845 3000627, the inland revenue
my personal phone number is always on permanent withhold (ex directory) so he would not have seen that and my mum gave me permission forty years ago to lie to anyone other than the taxman !
old habits die hard,i hope you understand my dilemma

jo

I like the French camel music idea, but as Dave suggested, the only way to make them think that you're from OVERSEAS is to withold the number by putting 141 in front of the number you call. It comes up on their as overseas - I get it all the time. I realise that you have enabled on your line, but as I do this all the time, I can confirm that 141 works better.
The only lines I've had difficulties with were Inland Revenue and , and that was only because they asked me where I was calling from.

Additionally it depends on which dept. you're calling at IR, but in your case, it says it's Chapel Wharf area & I had no trouble when I rang to confirm the number. Maybe it's the supervisor's number ! We may have to call a number or two around that same number to check for others.

Don't forget that we (in most cases) only give you one alternative from what may be a group of upto a hundred. Sometimes we can provide a choice of maybe ten, but any of them could be busy on a call, or not even logged in that day, so you don't get an answer. systems select from a group of offered (working or logged in) numbers at that location. 

Try again and see what happens this time - & try fibbing as well !!