This in from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), in their words – Ed.
Tax office phone number is now 0300 200 3300
Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) have collected 403 signatures calling for the retention of the HM Revenue & Customs tax office.
St Thomas Square
PCS members engaged with the public on Wednesday 15 May 2013 in St Thomas Square, Newport and collected 341 signatures in a 3 and half hour period. Despite the wind and the rain PCS Members working in the Tax Office Enquiry Centre in Broadlands House, where the enquiry centre is based, used their lunchtimes to leaflet and ask the public to sign a petition to keep the enquiry centres open.
There was a very positive response from the public to the campaign, with members of the public telling of how they had been helped by the staff in the Enquiry Centre.
These were added to the 62 signatures already collected by PCS members on the Isle of Wight
The petition will be part of the PCS response to the proposal to close the enquiry centres.
Smyth: “Telephone will not answer all their questions”
Patrick Smyth Branch Chair PCS representing members who work on the Island said, “There was a great response by the public who value the service delivered by our members. They realise that just using the telephone will not answer all their questions. If you have documents you cannot show them to a voice on the phone. They want to be able to sit at a desk and speak to a tax officer.
“If the enquiry centre closes the alternative will be to seek help from charities and Citizens advice. However these organisations will only be able to contact HMRC by phone. This is a false economy.
“PCS will be keeping up the pressure to keep the service and urge the public to make their opinion known by using the PCS template letter available from the PCS website. We urge the public –make your voice heard- if this service is taken away it is unlikely to be brought back.”
Image: craftivist-collective under a CC BY 2.0 license
