Below standard when it comes to the complaints

I would be interested if any other readers have experienced a strange new phenomenon when trying to register a complaint to the Barking and Dagenham Council.

Among other complaints, my refuse has been missed three times in the last four weeks.

After numerous phone calls to no avail, the important grievance now is not the missed refuse, but the dismal standard of service from the call centre staff.

The new ploy appears to be that the operator either cannot access the system, or is not suitably qualified to deal with your complaint, and after taking your contact details, promises a return call by a manager.

I can only say that the silence is deafening.

I was promised a return call several times, and as this did not happen I now have a corporate complaint ongoing about this.

Even for the corporate complaint I was promised a notification in five days.

I realise the council have a lot to deal with, but the plain fact is that they are falling below the standards expected from their own charter.

Also, there was a dead fox on the green outside, and two girls knocked at my door rather distressed, saying that boys were doing unmentionable things to the poor thing.

I phoned the council and was told to bag it up for them.

This I did, with due regard for 'elf 'n' safety. Two - yes two - weeks later the men in high-vis jackets called to collect said fox.

I told them it had decomposed, the truth being that I had dealt with it myself.

Just another example of the council's efficient service.

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