I am spending a fortune calling (& holding) to income support and the number is 0845 6088615
I cannot find the std code and it is making me mad.

How can the goverment give this number out which cost us so much!!!!  I have tried to get though to them for the last week and has costed me well over £20.00 so far and have not spoken to anyone as yet.

~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended

Income support is handled by Jobcentre Plus.  Although 0845 608 8615 is not in the database, there are lots of geographical numbers there for various Jobcentre Plus offices all over the UK.  Suggest you try one nearest to you.

Thanks for that advice but unfortunately I have tried my local jobcentre plus and no joy there.

Income support is though chippenham social security and there 01 number is a switch board and always say phone the 0845 number.

This is mission impossible

tall35man wrote on Mar 1^st, 2007 at 9:21pm:

Income support is though chippenham social security and there 01 number is a switch board and always say phone the 0845 number.

What is the switchboard number and what is the address in Chippenham?

the switchboard number is  01249428000 and the address is  

Income Support
St pauls House
1 Marshfield Road
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN15 1LA

The phone number above use to be for income support but now it is a switchboard and always ref people to the 0845 if you live in Dorset when they call.

tall35man wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2007 at 10:48am:

the switchboard number is  01249428000 and the address is

Assuming that the calls to the 0845 number are answered at that location then it may be one of the numbers following that one.

I notice it ends 000. Perhaps it is a clue to their direct dialing in (DDI) numbers. I suggest you try other 01249 428xxx numbers.

trubster put in a request for his Jobcentre in Sheffield. They replied (see here) with the 0114 numbers for income support and JSA at the Sheffield Jobcentre office. You could try the same.

I Have asked them many times and all i get from thme is " this is a new phone system we have put in"

This is so crazy :-(

Oh weel
thanks anyway

tall35man wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2007 at 1:35pm:

I Have asked them many times and all i get from thme is " this is a new phone system we have put in"

The 0845 number probably routes to one or more of the 01249 numbers (depending if one is engaged etc). The switchboard operator has obviously been told to refer callers to the 0845 rather than put you through to the relevant extension.

As the direct 01249 numbers won't be listed anywhere, the only way is to call through many of them. If it answers with a voicemail/recording when the office is closed, then you might be able to track it down that way.

ok, well thats for you help.

And if i get it i will put it on this site so it will help everyone.

I just rang 01249 428 000 and asked for income support. They asked where I lived, I said Chippenham. They put me through.

I live in Bournemouth, Dorset .

Mention that and they will not put you though.

tall35man wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2007 at 4:30pm:

I live in Bournemouth, Dorset . Mention that and they will not put you though.

So perhaps the 0845 number is for the income support office at the Bournemouth JobCentre. Which means that you should call the Bournemouth Jobcentre.  ::) ::)

Jobcentre Plus
185 Old Christchurch Rd
Bournemouth
BH1 1JT
Tel: 01202 276000

Also, on Bournemouth Borough Council's website, see this leaflet (PDF).


Quote:

For more information about Income Support or Minimum Income Guarantee, you should contact the Benefits Agency, Westway House, Westway Road, Weymouth (phone: 01305 328000).

The Bournemouth Social Security office switchboard number is 01202 446000.

I called 01202 276 000, as Dave suggested, and asked for the income support section for the Bournemouth area. They said the number changed to 0845 ......  I then said that numbers starting with 08 are barred by the switchboard my calls go through and in any case it is unfair that people who receive income support should be calling a higher than normal rate number.

They put me through.   ::)

I suppose the kindness of the operator comes into the picture here, so there is no guarantee that they will put you through, but it is worth a try.

Thats great I will try that on Monday.

Thanks  ;)

Hi all re this matter.
I have just tried to call  01202 276 000, as Dave suggested  and tried to get transferred to income support and told them what dave said about the switchboard only letting me do 01 and 02 number and they said we cannot tranfer you and the only number we have for them is 0845 6088621.

Oh well right back at the start again.  :'(