I am posting on here as a last resort and a plea for any advice from anyone.

I have been trying to contact the ABRSM on this number, 020 7467 8261, since the 1st of June about what has now become an urgent issue regarding an exam pupil. Every time I phoned (and I must have phoned on at least thirty separate occasions every single day since the 1st of June without exaggeration) I either get an engaged tone, or a message saying that their voicemail service is being updated.

As time went on I was advised by several colleagues to get in touch via email using londonandnorth@abrsm.ac.uk, which I did on the 8th of June. I still haven't had a reply.

So as a last ditch effort last night I sent a message via the online contact form regarding online services, http://www.abrsm.org/process/contactform.h...W5lIFNlcnZpY2Vz, and STILL no response.


I appreciate that this is a busy time of year, but telling everyone that it's a busy time of years on the front page of the ABRSM website doesn't excuse the fact that I have gone to every length to try and get hold of the ABRSM for nearly two weeks. The ABRSM must realise that exam entry isn't always as straightforward as we would like to think and of course issues out of our control do arise from time to time, but as the ABRSM are offering a service in exchange for money they need to be on hand to sort out these issues, regardless of what time of year it is.

I hope that everyone can see that I can't do much more to try and get hold of them. I realise that an online forum might not be the best or most appropriate place to vent my frustration, but as I can't get hold of the ABRSM I'm running out of ideas. Any guidance from anyone would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Jo Hirst

Jo - have you seen the thread on the teachers' board on similar problems?

I haven't checked the details, but there is a number there that some have had success with.
(edit)

It's this one

(quote)
I finally got through after ringing this number-

(0)20 7636 5400

They will transfer you and after 15 mins of waiting I finally got through!

(quote)

It seems you are certainly not the only one having problems! I hope you get somewhere.

...and if you want to read the whole thread - here is a link - it's not at the top of the list of topics at the moment -

http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=50916

Thanks for that, apologies as I hadn't seen the other thread.

I am not keen on the idea of ringing the other number and waiting for 15minutes until they pick up but needs must, and I appreciate the response.

I think that exams are a lot of money and I have no sympathy with the ABRSM if they are sounding stressed, maybe they should use our hard earned cash to buy some more staff to answer the phones!!!!

Sorry - my post was a bit garbled, as I edited several times. !

I do sympathise - it seems they have more problems than usual this time. Whether there has been a change of staff??? I know not. You must be tearing your hair out.

I'm just waiting for my exam date - although they have changed (twice? possibly) their published timetable of appointment notification. So that was something they didn't manage to fulfil.

I've no idea where you got that number 020 7467 8261 from. The number I always use is 020 7636 5400 and I normally manage to get through immediately or at least within a few minutes. Sometimes I've found that if you're put on hold, pressing the star button on the phone connects you to someone straightaway.

020 7467 8261 is the number on my applicant card, it gets you through to your specific region when dealing with exam entries. I have tried 020 7636 5400 as it's the number on the website, and I've tried this number a few times without success, though granted I haven't tried it anywhere near as many times as the other number, I will pursue 020 7636 5400 tomorrow and see how I get on. Thanks for your suggestion

http://www.abrsm.org/contacts/examentry.html

It's been a bad session : usually the ABRSM are a lot better. I'm still trying to get a pupil's exam moved : which is due today, so I'm more than a little concerned

I wouldn't be surprised if the problem of people struggling to get through is going to be compounding the whole issue of rearrangements. I spent a week trying to get through, and only on Monday managed to rearrange an exam which was due tomorrow. That meant the board lost a whole week of opportunity to make use of a Grade 5 slot at a major centre, and I wonder if I'll find it still vacant when I get there.