The Chairperson of the Revenue Commissioners to scrap the 1890 number which is costing PAYE customer’s substantial amounts to avail of essential tax services.
The calls comes from Fianna Fáil Dublin-Central General Election candidate, Cllr Paul McAuliffe.
He said, “In today’s age of technology, we e are primarily encouraged to visit their website or make contact with the Revenue Commissioners by email but in many instances that is just not feasible for customers.
“Members of the public are not necessarily aware that it is costing them a chunk of phone credit or running up a sizable bill to avail of Revenue services by phone line.
“Those who think they have unlimited calls to landlines with their network end up using credit or getting a surprise when they get their next phone bill because an 1890 call is 'out-of-bundle.'
“This was clearly foreseen with the Local Property Tax helpline which adopted an alternative 'in bundle' geographic 01 number for those with a phone plan or bundle that include unlimited calls to landlines. The National Car Test (NCT) also have followed suite.
“Often, those who are seeking to get in contact with this key public service assume that it is a free telephone service until their credit runs out or when they receive their bill at the end of the month."
He added: “It can be convenient to make tax arrangements or request information over the phone if on the go but when someone’s credit runs out mid-call they’ll be expected to follow up all over again."
The Ballymun-based Councillor concluded, “Government Departments and State Agencies should stop using these 1890 numbers or at very least lobby phone companies to include them in bundles.”