Durham County Council Arvostelua 

Awful experience with multiple departments following the death of a loved one. Every other organisation, even government organisations, have been great but DCC have been disgusting. Made the process of burial/sorting estate as difficult as possible. Refused to provide information to the NOK/Exec, hiding behind jargon and then not accepting responsibility when wrong information has been provided. They also demanded information that they were legally not entitled to before they would issue a refund for an overpayment.
The most expensive council in the area for Ctax yet offers very little service and when you do manage to actually speak to someone, they fob you off with false promises and jargon.
As a former employee of another local authority, I would be disgusted if I was dealing with people the way that DCC do. I would not recommend that anyone live in any area controlled by DCC.

Recently had to sign up to their bin collection so they are supposed to collect it and return it etc. However they have been constantly missing my bin collections and they not only missed my household waste bin last week just before Christmas but they also missed my recycling collection this week shortly after Christmas. Both bins are scheduled for collection by them from my outdoor storage area which has unlimited access for them every day of the week so there's absolutely no excuse for their lack of competence and it's beginning to feel like the bin collection team is either new or just can't be bothered to actually do what has been asked of them. If you want to discuss anything with regards to benefits or money from work or even just general enquiries etc, the female staff on the phone are incredibly rude, condescending, and entitled. Why does it seem to be that they are always miserable? Literally every time I ever phone them which thankfully until recently isn't that often, it's like any problem you have makes their day a living h*ll and I really don't care if you have abusive customers because even though they state on the phone that any abuse won't be tolerated and that you will be reported, somehow they make it easy for their staff to be abusive and difficult to report such ignorant and nasty scum.

They suppose to keep families together but rip them apart with there lies. My grandson went to care and they keep him there and make lies up and twisting words. Chloe Macalister is the social worker who twisted my words. I am the grandmother. Every section of the report was fabricated. She done the same to my daughter. My grandson complained about his foster mother and I told Chloe. Now the get rid of my grandsons confidence twisting his words. The foster mother Yasmin keeps him a prisoner. He is 11 and it not allowed out or play with friends. He is lonely. She is just out for the money. She does not interact with him. He is all day in his bedroom on his Nintendo switch with just 2 games. Not allowed the Xbox as he is not allowed to interact with other kids. He has been told the area is to rough, but after I complained, now is to to rough with other kids but he can play with her grandkids. She should not look after kids as she is to old too. To lazy to bring him to school or the center. He comes in a taxi. Chloe Macalister and Yasmin should be struck off. This will go further to ombudsment and local councillor. My grandson is already harming himself and cries for us. But social service are cold and heartless

Worst corporation I've ever dealt with.. don't even have any contact or agreement with them

Very helpful. Was talking to two departments! Both of which were really helpful.

WASTE DEPARTMENT IS DISGRACEFUL. I have emailed and spoken to lots of different people and I then put in a formal complaint to be told that they would get back to me by 6/6/2023. I think they meant 6/62024 as they have not responded to my emails or phone calls. I even had a reply from a Refuse & Recycling supervisor but still nothing. I sent them the direct debit forms all completed in March and have just received a letter stating it not set up. How long has it took them. I wonder what happens now

Waste teams are appalling, they fine you £110 for leaving a bin outside your property but funny thing is government allow them max charge of £80. The council is not run properly, they have discriminated against me personally on 3 occasions, They leave streets in a mess, they hire contractors to cut grass but do not do it properly

Extremely rude staff with bad attitudes. They sent me a bill for a full year despite having left the property and threatened action.

As always, the staff are extremely rude with a horrendous attitude.

Bloody Durham County Council have not emptied recycling bin because I put ONE PLASTIC PLANT POT in bin which wasn't recyclable. OOPS!!! It was right on top so why didn't they just take it out and put it on our property. We pay these numbsculls £1500 a year to empty bin now I'm left with a full bin for 2 weeks.im so annoyed

Shocking and unprofessional lost payments other customers account details visible when looking at my account online.
Including their address and payment details and breech of data protection.

Unfortunately I can't give 0 stars
Disgrace way this council is run the street wardens are bullying harassing & believe they are better than rest of us.
They are not police yet act as if are they need to be retrained & made aware not only they have cameras they extort crazy amounts &:the one who is in legal department wants to give her self a shake looking forward to day in court for the harassment & abuse of rights
Durham county council where they look after themselves & stuff the rest of us
they earn respect no wonder they get none it's a old m8s club protecting each other
Physical & mental health issues are regularly abused by the fools

Durham co council do only for those with money no matter how badly they treat people .got no support at all from Durham co council ..left does not know what the right is doing and sorry to say they all stick together to back up bad behaviour .shocking

Durham county council is absolutely ridiculous.they Never empty anyone's rubbish or recycling on correct days. They saying its my fault that I dont put it out in right place. Which I alll ways do put it in correct place and so do people down my street.just bone idol. Getting paid for doing nothing all.
been going on for months. just come when the can be bothered.

well, after being asked before how the council can improve let the public take over. i am registered blind and have a failing transplant so am in the position of having a really low immune system so cannot afford to have general waste in my house festering. i called last week and told them the bin hadnt been emptied s...now notice i said bins...and they said they had 3 days to empty them...still hasnt happened so i called them again yesterday and was told the same thing so now i am looking up to a week tuesday before i will have to wait to see if they have been done. as a few others on here have said they are useless and ALL be dismissed it isnt good enough.

Enviromental Health puts peoples lives at Risk, if your a Livin Tenant they dont want to know. My Bungalow is so Disgusting, my Health is getting worse and this Council dosnt give a Damn about no one but themselves.
Local Councils and Housing Associations need to be made accountable for putting people in Disgusting properties that are not fit for rats, never mind people. Durham County Council is a Disease to us all.

Like the majority of council tax payers we receive very little in the way of services from Durham County Council. And we are increasingly concerned by the way resources are being used, abused and wasted. E.g. the excessive salaries being paid: chief exec (£204,786); 5 corporate directors receiving £154,959 each; the director of “integrated community services” in receipt of £142,467; and the twenty five heads of service in receipt of salaries between £84,000 -£114,000 and directors/ managers services.

The Durham City Lumiere may be appear popular and no doubt provides a short term transformation for the city. However, it is very expensive, with an estimated cost of £3 million, and the claims made by the council in relation total return on investment, e.g. 1,374% in 2015, are at best questionable.

Our council tax this year is an eye watering £2,944.87 and it is inevitable that the council will raise council tax next year. And there is no doubt that the police, and town councils will also push for high increases.

Like most people I speak to I do not support any rise in council tax, police or town council precept without major reform.

Terrible council.
Refuse team are incapable of bolting my gate, I’ve lost count of how many times they have allowed my dogs to escape. I have to get friends to go get them as I’m disabled and on palliative care.
The Chief Exec can’t ever be contacted, presumably he thinks we plebs are below him, he needs to get rid of his god complex !
The neighbourhood warden doesn’t care how sick one is, he gleefully persecuted me despite being informed of my health issues, even going so far as to ask if I was diagnosed terminal, nasty little hitler he is.
I have begged for help to find a place to live for 2 years as my privately rented property is not fit for any human to live in never mind a sick one but I have received no help.
Don’t expect anything from this bunch of muppets because nothing is exactly what you will get

Having completed the rebate request months ago (including the unnecessary uploading of bank statement) I have phoned the council to ask why I have not yet received the rebate. I have not yet spoken to anyone as I could not stay on the line for over one hour. I have now realised that I have been charged over £10 for the pleasure of listening to the council's telephone hold music. Disgraceful service.

Well done Jacqueline Morrow, but her valuation team are useless. 4 failed turnups, finally turned up, but taken 6 months for the surveying and valuation to come up with any offer - they want the property to house the homeless, but want to do NO work

No wonder the council is in a mess. These people are time wasters and use covid as a huge excuse. They definitely dont turn up on a Monday or Friday. Stop paying them!

Durham council tax expensive. After buying a house under the £50'000 did not expect my council tax to be the same as a friend living an a house in the region of £200'00.
Thought the services must be exceptional 😂😂😂😂😂.
Love living in Durham but feel the council let the people down by charging what they do and the bad service and lies when explaining what we get.