to be raging that after 3 attempts still not able to get through to tax credits

[Thecleaninglady]

20 minutes yesterday morning on hold waiting and had to give up and go to work

20 minutes at lunch time today ended same as above

4 minutes there now of options before being told they are too busy.

Exactly how am I meant to tell them I have a new bank account?

I know it is renewal time but that doesn't stop the fact I need to tell them this change or my money will be paid into an account I can't access.

I think they rage is worst for the 'sorry we are busy at the moment, please call back later beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep'

YANBU tax credits are horrible to get through to. I find I get straight through if I call at about 8.20am

YANBU. They are dreadful to get hold of. I'm steeling myself to call next week because we're moving...

YANBU. I spent similar time yesterday. I did however get through at about 8.20am this morning coincidentally!

What grates me even more is I'm sure I read it is a premier rate line? Please someone tell me I didn't read that? because if so that's even sodding worse.

YY, call really early.

Try writing to them?

YANBU. They're sneaky and greedy. The tax people are the first to chase you up if you're late with something, but it doesn't seem to work both ways at all!

I was wondering that about the new phone number. I now have to phone an 0345 number.

Is it a free number?

I also spent 3 mins 30 secs on the automated selection bit before being transferred to the actual phone line where you get to spend 25 minutes of your life listening to very bad music

YADNBU

I spent the best part of a week on hold to them and finally got through about 2.30ish (school run time I think!)

I hate the automated selection bit having memorised the numbers I need to get through to the queue I need. I felt absolute rage every time I heard that crap music!

If you have a tax office nearby, you can go in and use their phones and you get straight through to an ACTUAL PERSON shock horror

Nothing boils my blood like having to speak to them, also I find them incredibly rude and patronising on the phone.

I hate having to speak to any department of HMRC. They are rude, always right and god forbid if they owe you money, you'll not see it for months but if you owe them well isn't that a different story . They also don't know their arse from their elbow.

If you want to get through quickly there is a number for claimants living overseas which you can find on the website.Just be sure to dial 141 first so they can't see that you are calling from within the UK
hth

+44 2890 538 192

We've never had any problems getting through, and always found them to be incredibly helpful on the phone. That said, it is "down to the wire" for renewals just now, so you're porbably caught up in all the people who've left it til the last minute to bother.

or actually i think this is the number i used

01355359007 again use 141 first

Keep going though - I was told they could backdate claims for 3 months if you delayed telling them of a change in your circumstances, and it is not true - it is only 1 month.

Just a warning. Keep trying...

They give me a headache whenever I speak to them. Which recently has sadly been a lot, due to restarting work last week. I have been ringing at about 6pm, and getting through fairly quickly. They are open til 8pm according to the website.

03 numbers are charged as landlines, which is why they were introduced, so no need to use the international number any more.