Having now nailed the technique of using 5 different phones and keep redialling them all ignoring the lies regarding wrong number, number not it use etc etc messages until till one gets through exercise, I was connected to the Steam Racket queuing system at 08:37.

Listened to the Steam Racket blurb for 1hr and 21mins and then get to speak to the very helpful member of staff who sorted my booking for me and my mates in less than 5 minutes. (With my wait time being declared as anything between 16 minutes and 32 seconds to 5 hours 20mins, finally being connected having just been informed the wait was now 2hours 40 minutes!!!!).

Not ideal but I have had much worse experiences when booking the TT Ferry so I sat back feeling quite smug and then realised the phone which had connected was my girlfreinds. So I said she would need to let me know what it cost and I'd pay as the Steam Racket charges for these calls. (11 pence per minute!!! x 88 minutes would be £9.68).

Then 10 minutes ago I get a text from her showing her on line bill for £48.32

£7.99 for the steam packet (Not bad, somewhat annoying but at least they make it very clear there is a cost).
and £40.33 for EE kindly connecting her phone to a "Non Geographic Number".

So I have just learned a costly lesson.

Hopefully everyone else is aware we aren't ringing the IOM so the number is Non Geographic and may incur a significant cost dependant upon you phone service provider.

Hey Ho - Nearly time to pack the van for this years TT.