I get the impression the HMRC office just has a few old desktop PCs with Office 97 installed and no network connectivity. If they need to share data they pass a floppy disk around the office.
Yeah, I would have kicked up a lot more of a fuss if I was still in the UK. I just couldn't be arsed with it because I was out of the country, and dealing with incompetent solicitors over the sale of my flat in Brighton at the same time. There's only so many CJTCs I can handle at one time.
The last time I had to deal with HMRC I had a case file opened by the women I spoke to. The next time I called her to get an update and provide some information, I was referred to someone else who told me she only worked part time, 2 or 3 afternoons a week. This other person then refused to help...