Manchester Legal & Government Help Lines

Help Lines for Social Security, Legal, Tax & Benefit Information
Relating to Greater Manchester and the Northwest Region

Employment Service Direct

Job vacancies - no benefit enquiries. Tel: 0845 60 60 234.

Community Legal Service

Help with finding good quality legal advice. Organised through the Citizens' Advice Bureaux. Tel: 0845 608 1122.

Disability Benefits Enquiries

Benefit info for people with disabilities. Tel: 0800 882200.

Inland Revenue Helpline

Personal taxation queries Tel: 08459 000444.

Inland Revenue

Website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

• Self Assessment - Tel: 0845 9000 444.
• National Insurance - Tel: 0845 915 4655.
• Working Families Tax Credit - Tel: 0845 609 5000.
• Disabled Person's Tax Credits - Tel: 0845 605 5858.
  
• Ashton-under-Lyne Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre
  2 Booth Street, Ashton OL6 7PL. Tel: 0161-308 5200.
• Bury Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre
  9-11 Minden Parade, Bury BL6 0QN.
• Manchester Large Business Enquiry Office
  Albert Bridge House, 1 Bridge Street, Manchester M60 9BH. Tel: 0161-288 6000.
• Manchester Trinity Enquiry Office
  Trinity Bridge House, 2 Dearmans Place, Salford M3 5BH. Tel: 0161-261 2000.
• Oldham Priory Enquiry Office
  Pheonix House, 44 Union Street, Oldham OL1 1EP. Tel: 0161-345 5000.
• Rochdale Enquiry Office
  Newgate House, Newgate, Rochdale OL16 1XB. Tel: 01706-664000.

Contact for MPs and MEPs

House of Commons: Tel: 020-7219 3000
Members of European Parliament: Tel:020-7227 4300.

Trading Standards

Part of local authorities, they give advice on and investigate trading issues, weights & measures, quality standards, complaints, etc. See under individual Local Authorities below:

• Bury Metropolitan Borough Council - Tel: 0161-253 5578.
• Cheshire Local Trading Standards - Tel: 0845 760 3456.
• City of Salford Council - Tel: 0161-793 2022.
• Derbyshire Trading Standards - Tel: 01629-585858.
• Manchester City Council - Tel: 01161-226 8283.
• Stockport Metropolitan Borough - Tel: 0161-474 4248.
• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council - Tel: 0161-342 3941.
• Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council - Tel: 0161-912 3845.

Utilities - Consumer Protection

• Energywatch - gas and electricity consumers council. Tel: 08459 060708
  
• Ofgem - gas and electricity markets. Tel: 020-7901 7000
• Oftel - telephone communications. Tel: 020-7634 8700
• Ofwat - water services. Tel: 0121-625 1300.

Consumers' Association

Which Magazine and online web Trader Scheme, promoting a code of good practice for companies registered on this scheme. Details at their website at:
www.which.net/shopping/guide.html and www.which.net/webtrader.

HM Customs & Excise

Information and advice on purchasing abroad, and a useful online shopping and duty section, at their website: www.hmce.gov.uk/public/info/index.htm

Accident Line

Help for anyone who has suffered accidental injury. Call free on Tel: 0500 192 939.

Immigration Advisory Service

24 hour service for people who have been refused assylum or who have immigration problems. Tel: 020-7378 9191.

Missing Persons

National Missing Persons Helpline - 24 hour advice and support.
Call free on Tel: 0500 700 700.

Environmental Incidents

To report pollution, damage or damger to the environment call the Environment Agency free (24 hours service) on Tel: 0800 80 70 60.

Floodline

To report flooding or to obtain advice, 24 hour helpline, Tel: 0845 988 1188.

Child Support Agency

Questions and information relating to Chil Support Maintenance.
National Enquiry Line - Tel: 0845 713 3133.
(8.00am - 8.00pm weekdays, and 8.30am-5.30pm on Saturdays).
Website: www.dss.gov.uk/csa.

Benefits Agency National Helplines

Child Benefit - Tel: 0870 155 55 40.
Social Security Abroad - Tel: 0191-218 7777.
Department of Social Security Website at: www.dss.gov.uk

Benefits Agency Local Offices

• Bolton
  Elizabeth House, 21 Back Spring Gardens Bolton BL1 1SJ
  Tel: 01204-367000 (postal Districts BL1-8, M26-28).
• Burnley
  Brun House, Kingsway, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1AG
  Tel: 01282-473200 (postal Districtss BB4, BB8-BB12, OL12).
• Bury
  Humphrey House, Angouleme Way, Bury BL9 0BQ
  Tel: 0161-762 2000 (Postal Districts BL0, BL2, BL8, BL9).
• Cheetham
  31 Cheetham Parade, Crumpsall, Manchester M8 6DH
  Tel: 0161-720 5000 (Postal Districts M8 and M9).
• Leigh
  Roydale House, 2-10 Windermere Road, Leigh, Lancashire WN7 1UT
  Tel: 01942-263700 (Postal Districts M28-29, M46, WA3, WN2, WN4-7).
• Middleton
  Othen House, 7 Oldham Road, Middleton, Manchester M24 1BE
  Tel: 0161-654 2000 (Postal Districts M24, OL10-11)
• Rochdale
  Newgate House, 1 Newgate, Rochdale OL16 1XA
  Tel: 01706-714000 (Postal Districts OL2, OL11-12, OL15-16)
• Rossendale
  Unit 21, The Valley Centre, Ratenstall, Rosendale, Lancashire BB4 7QQ
  Tel: 01282-473200 (Postal Districts BB4, OL12-13).
• Salford
  Baskerville House, Browncross Street, Salford M60 9HP
  Tel: 0161-837 1000 (Postal Districts M3, M5-8, M27, M30, M44).
• Wigan
  Brocal House, 73 King Street, Wigan WN1 1EB
• Tel: 01942-758000 (Postal Districts WA11, WN1-6, WN8).