Money for nothing. (Canterbury City Council)

Member Name: Dexter01

Product:	Canterbury City Council
Date:	09/07/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I have not seen any yet.

Disadvantages: No customer service skills and no help when you require it.

Canterbury council is the city council runs all things in the Canterbury area and surrounding villages. It's main council offices are located just outside the town centre of Canterbury, well signposted and easy to get to. They even have parking outside for your own vehicle. This parking I have never used, but I have seen signs stating you can park there for free on a Saturday and Sunday, which I think is a pretty good deal.

I have not had much dealing's with the council, other than having to pay them extortionate amounts of money for services that are not actually that great.

My biggest problem I have had with the council is rubbish collection. They collect normal rubbish one week and then recycling/garden waste the next week, alternating throughout the year. I have no problem with the recyling, however, having no where to store a wheelie bin (which you must have) for the garden waste, I have not been able to use this facility.

The rubbish collection though is a different story. The council have for some reason decided all rubbish must go in a Purple sack signwritten with Canterbury City Council. No idea why this is, but that's what they say. When we moved into our property, there was no purple sacks anywhere for us to use and we generated some rubbish during the move process. I had no option but to put the rubbish in a normal black sack and leave that outside on collection day.

Amazingly enough, the difference in colour meant the waste collectors could not even touch the bag for some reason. It stayed there all collection day and until the next collection day as I refused to move it. They did not even use any common sense and think maybe this person does not have any purple sacks and leave some.

I emailed the council about this and asked what the difference between the sacks was that meant they could not take it. I received a reply stating that purple sacks must be used, no explanation of why that is. Very strangely as well, he said we get 2 rolls of purple sacks delivered quarterly in the year and amazingly enough, the very next day after my email, I had 2 rolls pushed through my letterbox.

This has been only contact with the Council and I was not impressed at all. I do not rate them very highly and hate having to give them my money every month to suppost the inflated wages they pay themselves.

Summary: Find a different council.