To want to be able to actually talk to HMRC?

[Orangeanddemons]

Currently on hold for 23 minutes. Tried to phone 9 times before due to unusually high volume of calls.(yeah right, bollocks ). Is this normal FGS?

I think unusually low volumes of staff might be more of a problem.

I nearly wept on the phone to them once.

Pop into your local tax office. They have. A special phone which means you jump the queue. Always found everyone very helpful. X

They're utterly useless, takes forever to get through and when you do they take forever to sort the problem if they actually do. I've been ringing them for over four years to sort out a problem and all I get told is "we've sent a letter out, we can't do anything till the company reply", drives me nuts and has cost me a small fortune in phonecalls.

they are utterly hideous. I've been trying to register for self assessment for 3 months and still havent managed it. i'm waiting for an activation code - again.

Finally got through, after 32 minutes. This is bloody outrageous. They take the money off us fast enough....twats

Really? I called last week with an unusual query - and both the advisor, and then the online helpdesk answered within 10 minutes and solved my problems wonderfully..

In fact, every time I've called them they've been as prompt as can be expected, and always very helpful... perhaps I'm just lucky.

You're lucky, Chunky, DH seems to spend forever trying to get hold of them, but they certainly are quick enough to be in touch if they think you owe money and none-so-quick if they've made a mistake ......

Badkitten
I have been successful with SA this evening, there is hope... (It was a fair few months though)!

m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22567656

This man worked out that HMRC has one of the most torturous automated phone services, taking the longest time to listen to options before you get to speak to a real human being.

m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22567656

Sorry - proper link

That is really good to hear kukeslala! They and energy companies (see another thread) are one of the very few things that reduce me to swearing.

They put that message on if they're in training or if a staff member is having their leaving presentation

Have you got the right number? I got through in a few minutes yesterday on an 03 number?

Was on hold for 45 minutes a few weeks ago. Arseholes, I bloody hate them.

Had a debt relief order last year, and money I allegedly owed hmrc was included. They arent supposed to contact you for a year whilst he dro goes through, yet they did repeatedly. Then they sent me another letter saying actually I owed them money from different years, years I hadn't actually worked. Now after months I finally get a letter admitting they were wrong. No apology though, oh no that would be too much. Fuckers.

Oh & yanbu!

I used to work for them - SouredStones, that's utter bullshit.

It's definitely a low volume of staff issue. And an overabundance of targets. And a distinct lack of proper training.

The deadline for posting back self assessment forms is looming, which is probably why they are so busy. I have always found the staff helpful and knowledgeable, although the system is fairly unpenetrable, but it is only to be expected that at peak times their phone system will be overloaded. Is it anything a normal accountant could help with? You can often get a snippet of advice for a small fee which is galling but at least gets the issue resolved before the deadline.

I have been doing accounts for years.
They are dreadful. Don't know their stuff. Make endless mistakes. And have had me on hold for ages and ages, 25, 45 minutes, on the phone.
Shockingly unprofessional and incompetent.

Nah, first time I called them I ended up with someone who repeatedly told me I was talking bollocks (Steps to Work programme issue, I was getting my NI paid while doing a business start-up and he told me that programme didn't exist), the second time I never managed to talk to a human.

I just write to them, takes up less of my time. I wish you could manage your details digitally.