Having had some recent dealings with HM Courts Service over both a dispute on an alleged debt in the County Court (which I dispute is actually owed at all) and over a speeding matter in the magistrates court I thought it was worth nothing the somewhat inconsistent strategy of HM Courts Service on phone numbering.

On the details section of their website for individual courts they in the main list geographic phone numbers, although I'm sure a smart suited salesman for NEG would point out that the call handling facilities of these numbers is often extremely questionable and they are often totally jammed up at busy hours in the morning and at lunchtime so you cannot get through because they have no call queuing facility worthy of the name.

For the central national customers services number of HM Courts Service at www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/aboutus/contactus.htm they list an 0845 number but for their Area Directors Offices they in the main use geographic phone numbers.

Finally for their fine payment number for magistrates court fines (speeding fine in this case) I was literally amazed to find they have adopted a cutting edge 03 number of 0300 7909901 and that the otherwise almost totally e-averse courts system (they do not accept submission of pleas for cases or or any court papers by any means other than hand delivery, post or fax) also has a website (www.direct.gov.uk/payacourtfine) for paying fines in the magistrates court where they take both Visa and Mastercard and Maestro credit and debit cards (but not Amex or Diners Club please note for any cashback payment card fans out there).

So if the otherwise totally antiquated HM courts service can use an 03 phone number and indeed presumably therefore understands that people do object in principle to paying 30p extra to have to pay a £365 fine and costs then why do you think the NHS (meant to be free at the point of need) DWP and HMRC still cannot get this message