Today has been a frustrating day.
Trying to get a letter from the British Tax system has so far proved impossible, and I have been trying for months.
Today I tried again. I telephone the help line to be greeted by the inevitable, “All our agents are busy, please try later.” then the line drops, as I am cut off.
Eventually I get through to get “if you want this or that, press button one………”, after what seems ten minutes I get to talk to a human, who tries to be helpful, but even after talking to someone else, tells me to contact my tax office, and gives me the same number I had just telephone him on.
I search for the tax offices’ telephone number holding my details, this is in Ireland, and me, I am in England. On finding the number I telephone, and it is answered by a young lady, who says I would have to telephone a special number, again I was given the same number I originally called.
Calm, I informed the lady that I had called the special number and they told me to telephone her office. I was told that they were not allowed to take telephone calls, and that I would have to go to the inquiries desk. Still calm, I said to her I was in London and her office is in Ireland.
I thanked her and ended the call.
I rethink my problem, and decide to go to the local tax office, yes a local office, but not one that deals with my tax returns.
On arrival, still very clam, keeping state, I relate my problems to a lovely lady, who is at a loss as what to advise, and says that the local offices do not have tax officers, that all tax affairs are now and have been for years centralized in large offices such as Ireland. She gave me a number to telephone, it was the same telephone number I had started with.
She kindly offered me a choice of two telephones that I could use in the office. I picked one and got the “if you want this or that, press button one………”, which I pressed, but nothing happened, and I gave up that phone.
When I tried the second phone I got “All our agents are busy, please try later.”
Eventually I got through, and a nice guy listened to me and said he would organise my letter.
I wonder.