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HMRC - like going back in time 30 years
- Thread starter Guinness Boy
- Start date
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 16,062
I thought you were talking about the website, [MENTION=616]Guinness Boy[/MENTION] 
Gazwag
5 millionth post poster
They are a nightmare, for agents (accountants) have to ring the same number for PAYE matters, at least there is a quick agents number for Self Assessment, and 20 minutes is the minimum on hold time whatever time of the day it is.
I think they have a system in place that doesn't put a call through to a human for 20 minutes and then you go into a queue to be answered, I have tried ringing them at 8.15 and late afternoon with the same result.
Even when you get through to them you get a monkey who doesn't know anything so they have to send an internal email to the correct department who will then ring you in 3-4 working days.
Just don't write to them, letters take 6-8 weeks before they are even read.
I think they have a system in place that doesn't put a call through to a human for 20 minutes and then you go into a queue to be answered, I have tried ringing them at 8.15 and late afternoon with the same result.
Even when you get through to them you get a monkey who doesn't know anything so they have to send an internal email to the correct department who will then ring you in 3-4 working days.
Just don't write to them, letters take 6-8 weeks before they are even read.
I believe our Tory overlords think 3000 staff chasing a maximum £2 billion welfare fraud and 250 staff chasing minimum £20 billion tax fraud (possibly £130 billion) is the right balance.
severnside gull
Well-known member
RexCathedra
Aurea Mediocritas
It's probably world-wide.
Spent 35 minutes two weeks ago Friday on the line with our own IRS on a tax issue -- super-friendly people, fixed it in about three minutes -- but a long wait.
Spent 35 minutes two weeks ago Friday on the line with our own IRS on a tax issue -- super-friendly people, fixed it in about three minutes -- but a long wait.
Lifelong Supporter
Well-known member
This and those that are left have their jobs significantly under threat.
Have to sympathise a bit with the HMRC. Had the rug pulled out from under their feet. Staff numbers drop yet I believe it was shown that that was economic stupidity. That is, the more staff the more tax collected that covered the cost of the staff. Secondly, they have massive cut backs so who is going to pay for state of the art voice recognition or even online systems. Personally I have no problem with the online system although readily admit my tax affairs aren't overly complicated.
- Thread starter
- #29
I'm not in any way a conspiracy theorist but I do feel the Tories have a policy of cutting back on public services, watching them deteriorate and then proclaiming "Look! We were right! They're totally inefficient!".
willyfantastic
New member
- Mar 1, 2009
- 2,368
their website used to be a complete ****fest - no way anybody could figure out how to use it. its definitely improved, but still could be better
SouthCoastOwl
New member
If you think the UK is fun try getting involved in the French tax system!!!!
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
So that they can be privatised, like the Probation service?
larus
Well-known member
Don't worry. If/when Corbyn gets to become leader, that'll screw labour for years. Be like Michal Foot again. It's a shame, as the country needs strong opposition.
Hampster Gull
Well-known member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 13,465
Had mixed experience. Have wited for ages and ages, but once got through immediately. Luck i guess
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,273
Believe me, HMRC do not use the word 'fiscal' re personal tax - unlike the Chancellor who uses it all the time.
This is the same Chancellor who said Tax Returns would be abolished "in this parliament", I.e by 2020/21. He'll no doubt say he's taken some people out of Self- Assessment but this is due to changes he's made to tax rather than changes to the IT / software / procedures. He has no idea how poorly integrated the software is across HMRC.
Lyndhurst 14
Well-known member
- Jan 16, 2008
- 5,243
Agreed - always find the IRS very helpful if I have any issues and I always get the State and Federal refund in my bank account within days of filing my return
desprateseagull
New member
They do seem understaffed, though people I have eventually managed to speak to, are quite helpful, even if they can't explain how a 7 year review was needed (though it did kick out a nice rebate, a while ago!)
Have to disagree with you there. Recently had dealings with HMRC on behalf of my daughter, who has been given a job 'on a self-employed basis'. It isn't, it's paid employment, but the employer can't be arsed to do the PAYE and wants to dodge employers' contributions to NI.
There is a tool on the website you can use to establish whether it is self-employment or not. I used that to verify my own findings, then phoned HMRC.
The person I spoke to was obviously very annoyed that the phone on his desk had rung and he had to answer it. Not conte3nt with me using the website to establish employment status, I had to go through all the questions again, verbally, with him. At the end, he said, "That's not self employment". I pointed out that I already knew that, and the reason I was phoning was because the employer had told my daughter just to fill out the forms for self employment anyway; everyone else did.
OK, I said, we've established that the employer is in the wrong. What should my daughter do?
"Speak to her employer".
She's done that; he's not budging, so what should she do next?
"Fill in the forms to declare self-employment".
So, the employer's breaking your regulations, what are you going to do about it?
"If we did an inspection and found something amiss we'd take it up with the employer".
So, when are you likely to do an inspection?
"I can't tell you that".
Well, if a breach of the regulations was reported, would you inspect them then?
"It would have to be reported".
I've just done that (details handed over). Now, what are YOU going to do about it?
"I'll pass it on o the relevant section".
And they'll investigate and make an inspection?
"I can't tell you that".
Yep, we certainly get the service the Tories are happy to pay for. I know from sources that billions of unpaid tax are written off each year because there aren't enough resources to chase them up; probably great news for Tories' chums in business and the city. Somebody's breaking the rules? Don't tell us, we're not going to investigate them (unless you're some poor little sole trader struggling to make a living who makes a mistake on his tax returns that we can nail without any fear of a fancy lawyer turning up to give us a hard time).
Freddie Goodwin.
Well-known member
I know staff and it's much as said above. The whole eggs are in the 'digital' basket and there will be just a few 'super locations' up North, no more local offices all done on line or on phone. Apparently it's "What the public want", maybe the result of an online survey?
Too many experienced staff have gone, so much so that new, cheaper, staff are taken on and answer your calls, small wonder some knowledge is lacking. Staff are moved off their own roles, like answering post, to tackle phone calls where they may well advise you to write in.
And then they tell me the Performance scheme takes hours as each staff member has to 'self assess' and then there's the 5 days of training they all have to do. Sounds a mess, it is a mess.
Too many experienced staff have gone, so much so that new, cheaper, staff are taken on and answer your calls, small wonder some knowledge is lacking. Staff are moved off their own roles, like answering post, to tackle phone calls where they may well advise you to write in.
And then they tell me the Performance scheme takes hours as each staff member has to 'self assess' and then there's the 5 days of training they all have to do. Sounds a mess, it is a mess.