Shepway District Council Review

Utterly useless, rude, obnoxious, condescending no customer focus

Tried to make a complaint with the council, what a joke!! So angry I'm now complaining about them! they make it impossible to navigate and register a problem, surprise surprise then they dont have to address it!!

This council are rubbish! They do not call back and they hide when 60+ people are demanding to have a meeting with them about one real community joint concern. They are truly an utter disgrace to Folkestone and Hythe! They have failed hard working tax payers miserably!

Indifferent attitude to problems raised. Blame culture. It's your fault, not ours. Very unhelpful and uncaring.

Stupid Security don't have clue. Treating members of the public with absolute disrespect. Ordering people about. Ridiculous and it just shows what the council themselves stand for.

Probably the best Council that I have dealt with compared with other councils that I have paid council tax too. Their reporting a problem online facility is excellent, the response to a problem online is instant, shortly followed by action to be taken with a reference number.

Would like to say thank you for the very helpful services by the cemetery team. The lady was amazingly helpful and empathetic

The council workers at first class hard working people. They still provide an excellent refuse collection and recycling service. They answer and reply to emails and complaints very quickly. However the big problem with the council is the directors Council leader and chief executive dictate to the locals all the time they never listen they just dictate what they want.having worked in local government for 45 years and now retired I can categorically say they are the worst management team of any Council I have known. As for their planning department it's non-existent they just do as they're told.they go against local residents wishes they go against local surveys of residents wishes they go against councillors wishes it is a total dictatorship.

Well done S.D.C I've tried to call you about my council tax and the stress you have given me but because it was five to five you hang up on me.... If the bailiffs call I'll send them to you!!!!

A very sensible council that doesn't bow to the whims of a few perpetually angry residents.

I have made 3 calls to FHDC and have been waiting for 10 mins each time with no reply

Absolutely no idea why they have the automated service avoiding at all cost go to the office in person they don't like that and will deal with the issues quickly

This council are difficult to communicate with to the point of being obstructive, especially around planning issues. Logging in is difficult, getting passwords reset seems to be impossible. I used to live in Essex and the council that we were under went out of their way to invite communication from local residents.

Not fit for purpose. Dreadfully managed, terrible to awful in terms of how they treat the public (again, managerial issues) and with total numpties of dubious integrity sitting on Council who care nothing for people.

Probably the least effective local authority in the whole of Europe.

Tried phoning then searching website as no answer on phone. Unable to find what I'm looking for after trying several different searches, useless.

Quality customer service system. Staff are always helpful.

The council is a public service run by public servants, as the public, does that mean we can sack the council. The is council is as much good as a chocolate teapot.

The Civic Centre is closed due to COVID-19. I'll post updates as they occur. Contact them via phone or online.

The council service is useless. They do not do their duties. Rubbish collection is zero. They have not been collecting rubbish, because the purple bin has plastic bags in it which contains plastics bottles in them. When you complain they say there is a plastic bag in it we cannot collect them. In theory, how can it be possible or acceptable for an elderly person to go out each time they finish a plastic bottle in order to place it in the bin all the time, realistically you collect all the bottles in one recyclable bag, then you throw them collectively in the bin. Similarly to black bins, we collect them in the kitchen bin and we put them in the rubbish. There is no logic, nor help willing to be given, yet there is a constant encouragement to recycle , ironically however this is more discouraging than encouraging and I am not surprised if individuals choose not to recycle due to the poor attitude the council members of staff uphold.

Appalling council. Happy to put abnormal amounts of pressure on struggling families. Should be ashamed of themselves.

Communications break down. Forty minutes in the queue, only to find no help with the issue. waste of time and our money!

Although the staff are very polite and friendly, it takes an age to get them to act on any problems. That is if you haven't died waiting for the phone to be answered. And when you go through the options (press 1, press 2 and so on) you often end up back where you started from.
They seem to run a postcode lottery as to how long it takes to get any action from them but it you owe them any money, you get a letter threatening court action the next day.
On the plus side when you go their and see them face to face the staff do try to fix the issues you have quickly and professionally.