I will again be trying to contact HMRC, previous attempts have seen me giving up after waiting up to 1 hour and still on hold.

 

What is the cheapest way to call a UK landline number, would it be Skype or are there any other alternatives ?

 

Thanks.

Skype if you have credit left, or you'll need a subscription now, or another VOIP app like Yolla, or try localphone.com apparently cheaper 

HMRC have a very good webchat service which is what I use to contact HMRC. I have successfully used it a couple of times to get my tax code corrected on the spot.

Use it during UK business hours.  Initially you will get a "digital" assistant, then you ask to speak to a human. You will go into a queue and you will eventually chat with a "real" person.

I've never had to wait very long and no call charges. You can also save the chat for your own record of the conversation.

 

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-hmrc/chat/online-services-helpdesk

 

www.mytello.com

The HMRC employer enquiries page has a message: 'Due to industrial action between 23 December 2024 and 14 February 2025, you may wait longer

 

Also a waning some may go on 8 week Strike 

 

Maybe a reason for even slower response ? 

Skype I've found is reasonable - and if it's a 0800 number in the UK the call is actually free! (well it is for me YMMV)

22 hours ago, scotty1286 said:

I will again be trying to contact HMRC, previous attempts have seen me giving up after waiting up to 1 hour and still on hold.

 

What is the cheapest way to call a UK landline number, would it be Skype or are there any other alternatives ?

 

Thanks.

 

Skype to Phone

 

UK unlimited, landlines only, is £2.40 a month.

 

https://secure.skype.com/en/international-calls/United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

41 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

Skype I've found is reasonable - and if it's a 0800 number in the UK the call is actually free! (well it is for me YMMV)

0800 Numbers in The U.K are FREE for EVERYBODY !!

+44 300 322 7657

 

I think is the number I use for HMRC. But I haven't had to contact them for some time.

 

I always use Skype for international calls. I hate the interface but it works ok. You can set an auto top up when it falls below a certain level by a preset amount. Or just manually £5, for instance.

16 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

0800 Numbers in The U.K are FREE for EVERYBODY !!

My understanding is that is only if you calling within the UK, if you are calling outside the UK the last time I tried it wouldn't connect.

11 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

My understanding is that is only if you calling within the UK, if you are calling outside the UK the last time I tried it wouldn't connect.

this is correct.

48 minutes ago, bradiston said:

+44 300 322 7657

 

I think is the number I use for HMRC. But I haven't had to contact them for some time.

 

I always use Skype for international calls. I hate the interface but it works ok. You can set an auto top up when it falls below a certain level by a preset amount. Or just manually £5, for instance.

No top up credits anymore, only subscriptions

On 1/9/2025 at 1:49 PM, scotty1286 said:

I will again be trying to contact HMRC, previous attempts have seen me giving up after waiting up to 1 hour and still on hold.

 

What is the cheapest way to call a UK landline number, would it be Skype or are there any other alternatives ?

 

Thanks.

SWYTCH.  Google it.  works brilliant

2 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

0800 Numbers in The U.K are FREE for EVERYBODY !!

Yes, in the UK, not from overseas.

30 minutes ago, CFCol said:

Yes, in the UK, not from overseas.

Unless you use Skype.

3 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

Skype to Phone

 

UK unlimited, landlines only, is £2.40 a month.

 

https://secure.skype.com/en/international-calls/United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

That sounds ideal as it will be a couple or more long calls over a couple of weeks then won't need it again. Thanks.

54 minutes ago, nickmondo said:

SWYTCH.  Google it.  works brilliant

Thanks for your information. I shall keep my eye on this. Appears similar to the VOIP service I use; 'VYKE'. Only difference I can see (from a U.K. user point of view) is that SWYTCH charges 5.00 GBP per month to rent a U.K. mobile number and VYKE charges 19.99 GBP per annum.

You could  purchase a UK Skype number @£38/year. £10:00 credit allows you to call from anywhere in the world @ approx 1.5p per minute. It also allows any call to your UK number to be transferred to your Mobile, anywhere in the world at the UK local rate and no charge to you. If you make many calls to the UK it works out quite cheap. Also 0800 numbers are free. As they say, up to you.

1 minute ago, Surasak said:

You could  purchase a UK Skype number @£38/year. £10:00 credit allows you to call from anywhere in the world @ approx 1.5p per minute. It also allows any call to your UK number to be transferred to your Mobile, anywhere in the world at the UK local rate and no charge to you. If you make many calls to the UK it works out quite cheap. Also 0800 numbers are free. As they say, up to you.

Not any longer I'm afraid. No pay by the minute either. However, subscriptions are cheap.

1 minute ago, The Fugitive said:

Not any longer I'm afraid. No pay by the minute either. However, subscriptions are cheap.

Perhaps when my present subscription expires, maybe. But is still good for 9 month yet.

10 hours ago, Mutt Daeng said:

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-hmrc/chat/online-services-helpdesk

Very handy to know mister. Nice one. 

9 minutes ago, Surasak said:

Perhaps when my present subscription expires, maybe. But is still good for 9 month yet.

The fact you were unaware of the changes would indicate existing service continues for current subscribers?

1 hour ago, nickmondo said:

SWYTCH.  Google it.  works brilliant

E-bikes. Brilliant! OK found it https://www.swytch.com/

8 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

0800 Numbers in The U.K are FREE for EVERYBODY !!

GOSH are they? Well I never! Thanks for pointing that out!

 

FYI other "toll-frees" in other countries are often NOT toll-free from Skype but the Uk ones are.

 

But thanks for watching

14 hours ago, nglodnig said:

GOSH are they? Well I never! Thanks for pointing that out!

 

FYI other "toll-frees" in other countries are often NOT toll-free from Skype but the Uk ones are.

 

But thanks for watching

SARCASTIC BAS***D aren't you ?????

On 1/10/2025 at 7:47 AM, Pumpuynarak said:

www.mytello.com

 

I agree, this is excellent.

 

I will not bother looking for anything cheaper than 6 Baht for a 20 minute call to the UK.

41 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

I agree, this is excellent.

 

I will not bother looking for anything cheaper than 6 Baht for a 20 minute call to the UK.

Re Mytello, you aren't bothered that you can't add your own caller ID?

 

"you cannot customize the caller ID name to your own name or any other name. It will always show as the mytello phone number"

 

33 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Re Mytello, you aren't bothered that you can't add your own caller ID?

 

"you cannot customize the caller ID name to your own name or any other name. It will always show as the mytello phone number"

 

 

 

No.

 

 

It would be a minor advantage but most businesses that I call (Bank, HMRC etc) still run you through a security process.

2 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

SARCASTIC BAS***D aren't you ?????

Beats being a Mastermind contestant - chosen subject the bleeding obvious

On 1/9/2025 at 1:49 PM, scotty1286 said:

hat is the cheapest way to call a UK landline number, would it be Skype or are there any other alternatives ?

Check with your SIM provider for their best international rates, a 10 minute call to the International Pensions Centre cost me B40 using Dtac's 004 prefix, the other providers have similar options.