HMRC are officially rubbish

**AptoAccounting** · 25 July 2014, 11:51

I made a written complaint about 3 months ago...

...and I'm seriously considering a written complaint about the time it has take to respond to my original complaint.

Our practice holds the relevant online 64-8 authorisation for a client but one guy at HMRC were really reluctant to provide any help. When I asked him: "Are you refusing to help me?" he did eventually back down!

It's not just me - I read an article a few weeks back that 1 in 5 calls are not answered by HMRC. I know that many of our clients, when they do call, they are often on hold for 30 minutes plus.

Maybe one day they will drag themselves in to the 21st century by using email, refining their working practices/ procedures to improve their ability to handle calls, and by training some of their staff to be courteous and helpful.

Here's hoping!

**LisaContractorUmbrella** · 25 July 2014, 12:33

If it's any consolation I've been waiting almost a year for technical advice on a legal point

**northernladuk** · 25 July 2014, 12:49

Originally posted by LisaContractorUmbrella View Post

If it's any consolation I've been waiting almost a year for technical advice on a legal point

Reboot it. You will be fine.

**LisaContractorUmbrella** · 25 July 2014, 13:25

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Reboot it. You will be fine.

Turn off HMRC and turn them back on again? Great idea......apart from the second bit

**AptoAccounting** · 25 July 2014, 15:40

You trust them to advise on a technical point?

For my own personal tax affairs, I thought I'd humour HMRC by asking for some technical advice about whether I could challenge a bill under ESC A19.

They insisted 'no', 'no' and 'no again'. I put a claim in for ESC A19. Two weeks later they wrote me a letter of apology and granted the ESC A19.

I have the letter framed in my office.

**Rebel Without a Clue** · 28 July 2014, 20:08

Guess DonkeyRhubarb was right all along!

HMRC are officially rubbish