Family Assistance phone number - anyone ever got through???

It's driving me crazy, this is the 3rd time (ie 3rd day) I've tried to get through to the Family assistance office phone line, because the website won't let me in, and it's constantly engaged. All I want to do is process my claim for the baby bonus, but I can't. Apparently I'm not allowed to use the paper form according to the FA Office I went into, I have to do it online. Which would be fine, if I could get into it. I feel really sorry for the person who does eventually answer the phone, they must get some really p'd off people.

Right, breathing calmly again now - wish me luck for the rest of the day as I keep trying whilst juggling small children :p.

I did eventually get through, but it basically took the whole day. started trying at 8am and didn't get through until 4.30pm (obviously in between doing things!)

I ring them if I need to before 10am & usually its not too bad. I waited on hold for maybe 15 minutes this morning, coz I left it a bit late, but if i ring before 9 I usually get straight through.
I was online fine this morning too. Maybe try online very early tomorrow morning, like before 8am.

The best times to call are usually school drop off and pick up times

I call any of the other numbers and get them to transfer me. ;)

at this time of year, it is damn hard to get through. when the queues get too big, the system closes the lines to allow us to catch up on the people coming through - rather than have people sit on the line for over an hour, it comes up engaged. i would suggest if you need to get through, 8am when the lines open, school drop off or pick up times as mentioned, or after 5pm (lines are open til 8).

FWIW i believe you will be asked to continue trying online services to register your baby bonus claim though. i would try to use online services outside of normal "reporting" hours - so outside 9-5. it is working, it's just the same as the phone queues. can only process so many things at once. when there are too many people logged in, it will close. all newstart customers are now encouraged to lodge their forms through online services (phone and web) so the normal processing times are very busy (office hours). i have had to log into online services myself both during normal work hours and outside those hours - i get in easier from home outside work hours than i do from work...

i have just successfully logged in to online services from home...

Keep trying, I finally got through:)

I would hang up then redial straight away;)

been doing a happy dance....I finally got it sorted :)

Thanks everyone, it was nice to know I'm not alone. It was good to vent, that definitely helped :)