So when is the best time to ring a call centre?

There is little more frustrating than being forced to spend an age listening to dreadful hold music when trying to contact call centres.  

And this year has been worse than most. 

So to help make life easier, Money Mail asked firms to reveal the quietest times to ring.

On hold: This year has been worse than most for contacting call centres. So to help make life easier, we asked firms to reveal the quietest times to ring

BANKS

Barclays (0800 400 100) says customers will have the best chance of getting through swiftly during the week between 8am and 12.30pm, or between 3pm and 4pm. The busiest times tend to be lunchtime and after work.

Fraud calls get priority round the clock, but the quietest period is first thing in the morning — between 7am and 9am.

HSBC (0345 740 4404) says its contact centres are busier towards the end of the month and outside of office hours.

Average waits are up to seven minutes but calls about fraud may take longer.

Nationwide (0800 30 20 11) advises you to avoid mid-morning or early evening. Saturday wait times are shortest and average three seconds. You could also try between 8am and 9am in the week, or between 11am and 4pm Tuesday to Thursday.

NatWest (03457 888 444) says to call after 5pm. If the wait time is longer than a minute it offers to call you back.

Santander (0800 9 123 123) says to avoid 11.30am and 2pm or 4pm onwards.

Metro Bank (0345 08 08 500) customers are unlikely to wait more than 60 seconds even during its busiest periods: lunchtime and between 7pm and 9pm.

ENERGY

Npower (0800 073 3000) suggests 12pm to 4pm during the week.

British Gas (0333 202 9802) says its lines are usually quieter after 2pm.

SSE (0345 070 7373) advises 8am to 9am or 5pm to 6pm. Tuesdays are quietest.

Scottish Power (0800 027 0072) did not say when it’s best to call.

TELECOMS

Virgin Media (0345 454 1111) says try first thing between 8am and 9.30am.

Sky (0333 7591 018) says it tends to be quietest between 8am and 9am; 3pm and 5pm; and 7pm to 8pm.

BT (0800 800 150) and TalkTalk (0345 172 0088) refused to say when was best for customers to call.

MOBILE

O2 (0344 809 0202) lines are open 8am to 8pm. Customers are advised to avoid first thing in the morning, lunchtime and late afternoon.

Vodafone (0333 304 0191) and EE (0800 956 6000) would not suggest a quiet time for customers to call.

GOVERNMENT

The best time to ring HMRC (0300 200 3300 or 0300 200 3310 for self-assessment) is before 10am during the week.

The Department for Work and Pensions (0800 169 0310 for Jobseekers and other income-related benefits or 0800 731 0469 for State Pensions) did not say when its lines were least busy.

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This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk