Preston City Council Reviews

Horrible GREEDY council, Where is our council TAX going you can't even pay for staff with half a brain? 45 minutes to get through to them finally get through to a rude bimbo who only knows how to direct you to their website! Called again at 4:40pm on a Friday, went through all the options to speak to a bimbo which took 10 minutes then to be told by an answer machine our offices are now closed please call back between 8:45am-5:15pm between Monday to Friday but hello it's only 4:50pm and you should be open.

Where is your detailed information on the EU vote?
I got more information on where to vote in person from the newpapers!

And WHY isn't the town hall used as a convenient polling location?
You're an absolutely sham, you care not for the people or providing any half-decent surface whatsoever... Just look at the state of Preston under your government.

What ever problems I've had, they are reluctant to help and give ridiculous excuses for incompetent work . Avoid the area at all costs.

shocking - can't get through to anyone for days on end.

What a absolute waste of space this place is. Started working had to provide proof which I did for them then to say they hadn't received it even though I went in to see advisor so I went back and scanned it all myself and handed it to reception for them to do so as well after all this they still say they never received it. I'm a single mum who works part time and they now want me to pay full rent. All the staff are extremely rude. And if I could of given them no stars I would of.

They are quick to chase you for money when you a bit late with council tax. But if u report any issues to them rubbish, loud neighbours etc they just ignore you and do nothing! Horrible council total waste of space!

cannot get through on telephone. Keeps asking you to go on website. Disgusting

Impossible to get through on the phone - gave up and went elsewhere for a waste collection service.

Avoid Preston City Center - Traffic Cameras will fine you with misleading signs!

Generally ok but as per usual - has decided to close all the public toilets. Fairy typical council - in it for themselves.

You can never contact them. When you ring regarding your council tax, you go through the options and then you get an automated message saying they're busy and it hangs up. Bins have not been collected for two weeks with no way of asking the question as to why. Absolute joke.

What a joke, As a signal occupant you get 25% discount on your council tax bill unless you are unable to move in due to work being carried out. The council has decided that I am not entitled to any discount and for the time I could not live in the property I have to pay the full rate without any discount. The usual scenario where they are protected by the courts and love to threaten legal action at any possible scenario.

being a publican i have had dealings with lots of councils in my time.....Preston is by far the worst

I'm disappointed, that there is no organization and problem solving! I paid for 2 waste collection of furniture, we waited but nobody came. Then came to take furniture when we did not know about this and we were not at home! Our furniture was not taken and money was not returned!

Doesnt even deserve a star. What happened to democracy? We said we dont want fracking and you over turned it. This is a complete outrage and all who took part in destroying our environment for a bit of money should be ashamed of yourselves.

It seems to be impossible to get through on the phone.

rang 3 times on council tax number906902 went through all the options chose the one I needed then nothing poor poor poor ringing again on main switch board line 906900

Very polite and freindly on the phone and very helpful

Im a vunrable person signed off with mental health issue (ptsd) and i have a young child preston council are refuseing to house me because i have disputed housing areeas with countour even though the council know i didnt live in the property at the time countour are saying as they was paying my rent for another property (countour left my rent account open) JOHN CAMERON of preston city council has today told me i have to pay this money or be homeless i dont see why i should pay money that i dont owe as the council know 100%i didnt live there and contour wont take me to court i see this a breach of article 6 of the human rights act as im not being given a opportunity to defend this in a court in my eyes JOHN CAMERON is trying to exstort money out of a vunrable person by threatening me and my child with homelessness if i dont pay, which is basiclly blackmail My opinion is that JOHN CAMERON is a racist and preston council is corrupt and needs investigating by the local authority onbudsman i asked for conyact details of chief executive lorraine norris JOHN CAMERON said i can only complain to him no one higher this man is a bully ,corrupt and a racist not only has he blackmailed me and my daughyer with homelessness if i dont pay hes trying to exstort money out of me and when i ask to go higher than him he tells me i cant RASIST CORRUPT COUNCIL i will be going to the national press with my recordings and exsposing this council and the rasist JOHN CAMERON for wt they are scum

This council is useless. I have today received a liability order for council tax despite having received not one request for payment, having an active direct debit with them in which they take monthly payments and having never received a court summons to allow me the opportunity to defend myself. Do not come to Preston - this council is useless!!!

Absolutely lazy and incompetent at there jobs that's all you need to know

A totally useless and costly call centre whose staff won't let you speak to an officer even though most officers have direct lines with answer phones. A ludicrous white elephant.

Hello,
To those people are vulnerable and people who got special needs. Let's just say don't bother moving down to Preston or Lancashire and Liverpool. I live down in Preston for 7 months and the authorities are complete disgraceful and I'm gonna tell you why I've been stuck in my flat for last 7 months and the company name (Nowcard) has been unreliable I have special needs which include: Learning Disability, Hearing Impairment, Speech Impairment, Asperger and Anxiety Disorder.

Don't worry they'll know I have these conditions and what's more they'd claimed there is nothing wrong with me so I'm not title to a bus pass, but, however, I've seen people with learning disabilties who don't have hearing impairment, speech impairment and Asperger, they have bus passes and they can walk very well.

Another theory, Preston Council they don't take individuals as priority meaning they don't take single person who are risk being homeless e.g. (Only accept the families they will take priorities and get them nice home or emergency accommodations. Let's just say you had nasty relationship with your landlord and the inspector from Preston Council told you to find somewhere to live and you couldn't cope living in your landlord's property because it costs to much money to run or your landlord left you with their debts or he's stalking you e.g. The Preston Council will make it look like this situation is not that bad and they will try everything to not get you accommodation that your needs are met.

Yes another thing I won't bother with, is the social services. Ah yes who cannot forget that. People with special needs I will not bother with the social services because they keep transferring you into different team. Another they will keep claiming they will help you out with the accomodations that will be suitable and safe. However, they don't take your relationship with your landlord as priority even though you are risk being homeless or your landlord keep on lying to get someone like Preston Council to think everything is all good. Don't fall for them.

Since people who are higher paid and elderly people keep voting Tories, I would reconsider myself who got special needs to move out and don't look back at Preston since they will suffer massive consequences from the Tories and they wil have financial problems if they carry on way they are by not supporting people.

P.S thought to tell you before moving to Preston.
Lauren.

This Council really is a bad example of how to run a local authority in my opinion. I was amazed to discover that my ability to pay my council tax was terminated. They closed my account without warning and no matter how hard I tried I could not get past the machine that gives lots of answers and website addresses to reinstate the account. I could not pay them and they had started sending my bill for payment by the Housing Benefit office. Lucky me you might have thought but if left alone it was only going to end badly. After a month of trying I decided to try the main general enquiry desk. of Preston City Council. I spoke to a gentleman called Johan. He was absolutely brilliant and sorted it all out for me within 20 minutes. He even called me back when the line dropped for some reason. Ten out of ten to Johan but I am afraid the jury is still out for what appears to be a badly organised local authority. Come on Preston City Council - get yourselves organised and do us all proud.

Can I say that Preston Council and in particular Ms Phyll Little have been very supportive of my business in Preston and I would like to thank Ms Little for her courtesy and helpfulness during a difficult time. Business and the council need to work together and they are doing their best to keep people trading and in jobs. Thanks Nick Hanley

Online services waste of time.
Ordered a replacement recycling bin online which was damaged by the refuge collectors a few weeks back. Nonresponse
No que system on the phone either.
What a total joke! I pay Council tax. Imagine what would happen if I were late with payment!

Waste of time. Phoned for advice - met with 'go to our website' on repeat. thanks Sherlock , didn't think of that.

When taking money they are very helpful and when giving refunds they don't want to know.

Communication What a complete disgrace city of Preston no phone system and an email response that takes 28 days to respond?

PLANNING DEPT IS THE WORSE DEPT. YOU NEED TO RECORD EVERYTHING WHAT THEY SAY, AS THEY CAN TURN THEIR BACK AND SAY NOTHING I SAID THIS. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING WITH THESE IDIOTS, AS THEY CAN CAUSE YOU SO MANY PROBLEMS GIVING WRONG ADVICE. STAFF ARE NOT TRAINED PROPERLY AND GIVE YOU WRONG ADVICE. STAY CLEAR FROM PLANNING DEPT.

Is there anybody there , Have more chance speaking to a Martian

One of the worst council's I've ever had to deal with, rude, uncaring staff. Horrendous telephone response times. No follow ups on issues raised. I have no idea what they spend our council tax on but it isn't their services.

Pet fish died due to lack of power. I am not happy as it was his 3.512 birthday so thank you very much.

Preston City Council at the hatchery fraud 2006, Criminal Law Act 1967, Misconduct in Public Office, breach 1978Medical evidence regulation legisliation, breach Supplementary Benefits Act 1976, brach Care act 2014 legislation, Harassment and abused outside the private rented sector, breach Human right act 1998 and Human right inqurity, breach International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; Civil and Political Rights; Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; on the Rights of Persons with disabilities; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or..., brach National Health Service Act 1977, breach Welfare Reform Act 2012, breach the Equality Act 2010 - Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice Issued by the Lord Chancellor on 23 April 2007 in accordance with sections 42 and 43 of the Act, Prosecuting Cases of Disability Hate Crime : section 146 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, Disability Discrimination Act 2005 - criminal offense, which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, be motivated by a person's disability or perceived disability, Violation: Code of Practice for Victims of Crime - and the Witness Charter, Prosecuting cases of Xenophobic Hate Crime breach EEA Regulation 2006 legislation : Discrimination Act 4 of 2000, Harassment Act 17 of 2011 and the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 - incident which is perceived to be homophobic by the victim or any other person, unlawful interference in the private life of civilians , misconduct of case and misdemeanor of compliance with Concil procedures, lack of professionalism , pathology, theft, forgery - Criminal Justice 2003, Wilful neglect or misconduct, Abuse of the public s trust, Seriousness of the neglect or misconduct, Without reasonable excuse or justification, Breaches of duty, Dishonesty or corruption, Physical abuse, Domestic violence or abuse, Psychological or emotional abuse, Financial or material abuse, Modern slavery, Discriminatory abuse, Organisational or institutional abuse, Neglect or acts of omission - Restraining Orders - Section 5, Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

You can't get through .it takes half an hour to answer than redirect your call. Things are getting bad everywhere

What sort of organisation is it that cannot staff a switchboard and pick a phone up? For whose convenience are these people actually working?

Absolutely terrible IVR system that makes it impossible to even get through to a human being! Just goes to show how dis-organised councils in the UK actually are as all the dealings I've ever had, have always been a disaster. It's very clear management and directors in place don't know the first thing about how to properly run a council!

Trying to talk to an actual person is absolutely impossible! Shocking phone system.

This place is a beacon of hope for all those considered highly incompetent.... You can all get a job here because all the rest of them did!

Absolutely effing useless, never had recycling bins changed from boxes and they said if we had queried it years ago when they changed we would have received them free but now have to pay on a rental property, seems preston council dont want people to recycle, shame I couldn't give one star as well as they are a disgrace to contact

Poor service. Threatened me with court, liability orders and the right to force entry - without ANY prior requests for (or information about) council tax. I have autism and the stress put me in hospital ... It turns out I am exempt anyway.

Often have to threaten them with liability and a possible summons to Queens Bench to get your rights observed.

Also caught them sending out unlawful demand notices that were already overturned by courts - knowingly (boasting that 'bluff and bluster works')

Some very nice staff, but overall - awfully administrated.

I have just spoken to a ridiculous man called Johan in the contact centre. Whilst trying to make sense of payments that are outstanding, I mentioned it seemed like no one seems to know what is going on - he became defensive and told me the council has done nothing wrong and he didn't accept what I was saying. He told me I was in the wrong and was very rude. He talked over me. He did not help me with my query and he hung up on me. This is after being on hold for about 25 minutes to speak to him in the first place. I am outraged.

i run a business in the city centre which i closed sent an email through there designated website informing them i am closing the business down in good time not received any confirmation rang them many times without success left voicemail messages now i receive a rates demand through the post where do i go.the one star is not through choice

Automated Telephone System is a joke
you loose the will to live

So I phoned from a professional perspective - regarding one of my employees and a deduction on their wages... Phoned the council's main number as I had tried the automated service and it was absolute rubbish. I finally got through to the main number to a nice lady who said she could help me this time. She freely admitted if I had managed to get through to someone on the automated line then I would probably have been put through to herself or one of her team because the staff are "not very well trained!" makes you wonder why on earth they are working there then!!! The nice lady tried to help me but didn't really know what I was asking... Pretty pointless.

Sort the automated services out, get more people on the phone, it shouldn't be this difficult to sort out things through Preston Council!

Excellent service and courtesy.
As usual.

Sultry call to Sue!
She seems to be unable to do anything, but liked my tone! I reckon she should resign and get a better job elsewhere.

Awaiting sultry call from Karen!

These Labour employees always talk online, they should defect to Liberal Democrats Party as Labour Gov is only shadows and all Labour men are gay anyway.

Nick Clegg is waiting for their defection

I've had to deal with these incompetent bureaucrats multiple times. It is HELL every single time.



You call them up and have to endure a ridiculously long automated system, one that will hang up on you at the end of certain choices.

You most likely will not get an advisor, the system hangs up on you if they are dealing with a lot of people (which they always are.)

I went into the building and queued up for ages. The rude staff decided that the conversation between themselves was more important than people waiting, so I ended up stood at the desk in front of them wasting time.

I said I needed to discuss this erroneous summons, they told me they couldn't help, no advisors, 16 in queue on phone... How is it fair to threaten legal action and offer NO way of discussing it? Absolutely sickening.

Why do we pay taxes for this? Council tax is the biggest scam going. We all pay tons to these absolute idiots so they can drive around in their flash cars and we can be ignored and bullied by their system.

Nothing short of SCUM.

I have had very bad experiences with the staff at preston city council housing department i suffer from mental health issues and im signed off on sickness for the forseeable future i was 1st seen by paul westwood who was unhelpful, rude and to put it nicely incompetent he didnt seen bothered that i was homeless even though i have a severe disability then i asked to speak to his boss as i wasnt happy with the way paul was assisting me to find a flat as i was sleeping rough so next i spoke to john cameron who was just as rude and incompetant as paul and to top it off he told me it wasnt his problem that i was homeless

This went on for 1 year twice a week i attendend the council and no help what so ever just used to get lied to so eventually i applied for housing with another council with no problems what so ever and there staff were far better trained and helpful i had to leave my hometown were my family is because of the housing departments useless staff i think they need to get new staff that actually want to help people and dont talk to you like a piece of crap them two muppits i dealt with were hopeless and only in the job for the pay cheque STAY AWAY FROM THIS COUNCIL AT ALL COSTS!!!

waste of 20 mins was cut off twice than given an old No then an answerphone some one needs to WAKE up and respond to an enquirey it's not worth any stars i've had to give it one star to get it published

Worst council ever to deal with - Had dealings with JAMES MERCER in planning dept. - never come across anyone who was so incompetent and further more lies . No credibility whatsoever.

Automated service - where do our taxes actually go?