Contacting VAT Option to Tax Unit

Contacting VAT Option to Tax Unit

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I am starting to lose the will to live!

In early August I emailed the Option to Tax Unit.  I got the usual reply about them being busy but trying to answer within 50 working days.  (Not an excuse that goes down well when HMRC ask us for anything!)

After 70 days had passed (56 working days give or take a bank holiday) I sent a reminder and got the same reply which refers to not asking more than once because it slows things down.

It is an urgent point and there is a fair bit of VAT involved.  So I tried phoning the number show on the website.  Various automatic questions were answered until I was left with two options - the email address or the postal address - neither of which I can use!  The recorded voice did mention forty working days.

Does this chime with anyone else's experience? Does anyone have a direct dial number?

Thanks to all who read and especially to all who reply.  

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By spidersong
29th Oct 2015 16:42

There are human beings there

Last I talked to them I got through to an actual person, this was July/August time.

I did ignore most of the 'proper' options and just hit the numbers that seemed most likely to illicit an actual response. I got through to a nice young lady said I was sorry I'd ignored all the instructions on their phone system because I'd only put in the option three or four weeks before, explained that the seller wanted proof an option had been submitted for TOGC purposes,and she very helpfully stamped up a copy of the form and faxed it back so I had the evidence I'd needed.

The option itself was fairly 'vanilla' and proper acknowledgement came around 5 or 6 weeks later. Unfortunately I can't remember exactly which options I used, but it is possible to talk to actual people (and some are even helpful!).

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