Birmingham City Council Reviews 322

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.5

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 43 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people expressed significant dissatisfaction with the staff, describing them as rude, unhelpful, and unprofessional. Customers also reported extreme difficulty in contacting the company, with long wait times on the phone and unanswered emails, leading to a general sense of incompetence and disorganization. The customer service was frequently criticized for being dismissive and unsupportive, with some individuals feeling unfairly treated. Some people were dissatisfied with the service, citing issues like uncollected rubbish, poor road conditions, and confusing signage leading to unexpected fines. However, some reviewers were happy with specific individuals and services, particularly "Support through Court" volunteers, who were described as helpful and understanding.

What people talk about most

Staff

Users describe negative interactions with staff. Many reviewers report staff being rude, dismissive, and... See more

Service

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about service. Many customers express strong dissatisfaction, citing... See more

Location

People report ambiguous experiences with location. Many customers express frustration with Birmingham's... See more

Customer communications

Customers consistently express frustration with contact methods. Many report extreme difficulty reaching a... See more

Customer service

Clients share negative opinions on customer service, often finding it nearly impossible to reach a person on... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I'm appalled that Equans employees are paid to stay home, provided with vans, and receive good wages. It's even more frustrating knowing that Birmingham Council is responsible for covering these ex... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely the worst money grabbing overpaid bunch of wasters I've ever had dealings with!!! Fines for everyone, paid council tax for what? They don't empty rubbish, police never turn up, god forbid... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This is a council targeting non-local drivers with a penalty system designed to extract money, not improve air quality. Upon leaving and following the SatNav and getting confused by the multipl... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

cant respond to complaints or deal with them properly whilst lodging court claims when the debt was already being paid off. They think they are eclever by scamming people by increasing debt. Di... See more


Company details

  1. Charity
  2. Non-Profit Organization

Information provided by various external sources

Birmingham City Council is the local government body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974.


Contact info

1.5

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

322 reviews

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Kind staff

12th April 2025
Received a visit from staff around approx 10:30 for an electricity check from private company from the City Council. I want to thank the polite staff who did an amazing job and who was very professional and worked hard. I hope his hard work will be recognised by his company and that he will be promoted :)
Thank you again to the father of cats Tim and Tommy

April 12, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Incapable of serving the public sack them ALL

Just imagine our council tax cost has gone to an exorbitant increase yet the managers and above have increased their wages. Still waiting for our bins to be collected, our streets are never swept, not one street light works on our street.

Gone are the days where our money that is collected is being put to use. Why is no one investigating these horrible civil servants?? BCC needs a financial audit done as this is beyond a joke at this point and it is so obvious that public funds are being misused.

We demand new leadership for BCC!!

April 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Clean air zone and new car

Purchased a vehicle from Birmingham, upon leaving and following the Sat-Nav and the poor road markings and confusing directional signage and not being from anywhere near Birmingham I received a letter today with a fine attached. I had entered the clean air zone.
I was more stressed trying to look for signage to the motorway than “a cloud on a sign” as they have so elegantly put it in the fine.

Great way to deter tourists from coming back.

£8 a day leads to a £120 fine, I’d like to know how they got to that figure, clearly needs a court case.

March 17, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Joke of a council

Was on the telephone to the council tax department for 2 solid hours yesterday.Got cut off 3 times by the auomated system everytime an advisor tried to take personal details. An advisor stated that he couldnt confirm or deny that there was a problem with the automated system. Eventually I got cut off from the 4th advisor. I sincerely hope that the change in details was implemented this time but sadly I suspect maybe not. No wonder this council is in a dire financial mess.

March 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Second city housing are the biggest…

Second city housing are the biggest joke going lack of trust with management lack confidence and lack of personal responsibility and all the workers that go around fixing the problems I been in a a property run by these clowns last 5 years with nothing but problems and when you do report the issues take months on end to fix or they say you havnt report it ! When you did years ago the attitude from workers stinks they are very rude they make sexual harassment and comments to clients and yet they aloud to still work for the company so many issues I have these it’s a joke no wonder they going bankrupt because they don’t care about clients problems they care about is the money or lack of it I can not believe me and my family been treated like dogs in cold Damp flat by these clowns my children got sick and breathing issues due to damp and mould my pets had to be put to sleep again due to on going home conditions and issues are still on going so I would think twice about joining second city because you be treated like animals hopefully me and my family can move out and go court for compensation this had unpacked me my family health and my animals this review been hard to share but I don’t want people go though what I have many thanks to you guys

March 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The worst run council on the planet

The worst run council on the planet.

Haven't had a bin collections for 3 weeks.

Roads are in an absolute state

It's all good though, the council wasted millions of pounds on. the commonwealth athletic village that'll never ever be used again.

Complete and utter shambles

March 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Utterly Useless.

Utterly Useless.

Robots on the phone and cant even get a person to pick it up. They need to bring back a bit of humanity to these places.

March 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Useless customer service

Tried to phone to tell them we had sold my bereaved mothers house. Took ages to answer. Then line was awful, asked them to ring back since if I rang back it would take me ages to get through. was told they couldn't ring back. what sort of system in the modern world cant do that . completely hopeless. Couldn't tell them of the sale of house over email as no email contact provided. Did not want to create an account and give them lots of my information simply to tell them about the sale of a house.

March 17, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Birmingham city Council homeless team

We're in serious trouble and highly stressed with a repossession order in place and bailiffs due.

Brenda got back to me from Birmingham city Council.
Tel: 0121 303 5070
Mobile: 07708289430
brenda.spencer at Birmingham city Council.
Private Tenancy Officer
Private Rented Service
City Operations Directorate

She was great over the phone.
Told me that she's going for breakfast "if that's okay" then I'll get back to you.

That was 2 days ago.

Cut me off completely.

Just terrible terrible people.
Heartless heartless.

Brilliant actors.
Terrible people

March 10, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Disabled parking bay

Needed a disabled parking bay, Alex (technical officer) was very helpful and informative. Updated me accordingly. Thanks for all your help.

March 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

You should be ashamed for employing…

You should be ashamed for employing cowboys to carry out your repairs to customers properties. Equans are costing you hundreds of thousands of pounds in damage to properties due to the lack of either knowledge or ability to carry out certain repairs especially capital investment after flooding a residential tower block by bodging a mains water supply pipe which in tern blew and flooded 7 floors and cost thousands in damage

March 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

FAILING LOCAL AUTHORITY

I would not even give this failing local authority 1 star, they have been persitantly failing the residents of Birmingham for the past 20 years, residents are sick and tierd of these appling services which are getting bad to worse and have been cut to the bone due to failing and poor management from leadership who are paid huge amounts but have failed to deliver, it's the vulnerable and people at bottom scale who have to pay the price, persistant issues with refuse collection as bin men on strike for the past several weeks and no contingency plan in place and surprisingly council tax ever increasing in extortionate amounts each year and going through the roof, A FALING LOCAL AUTHORITY NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE, LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE ASHMED OF THEMSELVES AND RESIGN AND PAY BACK ..

February 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Been homeless since Feb 2024,got placed…

Been homeless since Feb 2024,got placed in a hostel on now called the roughest Road in Birmingham, I have a 3year old who's on middle rate Disability, I'm in a closed room at the top of the building (the attiç), my son doesn't understand danger and has water sensory so he only has baths daily but not available in this place,I have to pay taxi's very regularly because he doesn't like to travel on buses, all of my commitments are 2 buses away. I've had the local MP involved and nothing got solved,my health visitor has been a great help and see's me regularly as my mental health and depression isn't great, my family have to listen to me on my dark days when I'm emotional as they are my best support.i honestly feel like we been placed and left but yet I have seen families come and go before me.i just want my son to have his own room and for me to get space.

February 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If I could give zero stars

If I could give zero stars, I would. I’ve been waiting over a year for a replacement bin despite sending numerous emails and making countless phone calls. Each time, I’m told it will take a couple of months, but here we are, over a year later. Why am I paying taxes for such poor service?

February 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Brumbreathes is a spam

I wish I can give them minus stars. Unable to issue clean air refund even though my wife accidentally and wrongly paid without realising that she never entered the clean air zone.
Spammers

February 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Clowns

if I could give zero or even minus........
What a disgrace of a council. CAZ, LTN's, Bankruptcy, striking workers, empty cycle lanes, oppressive parking restrictions, uncollected waste, constantly increasing council taxes and the list goes on.

February 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had issue with in effect non MOT and…

Had issue with in effect non MOT and tax vehicles parked on pavement.used Birmingham Brum account fowwed their link to find took to DVLA site,put vehicles info in asked for postcode then just tooke back to council site.complained all I received was the same link.Spoke to operative who claimed had reported to DVLA asked for reference number told to call DVLA tomorrow .Put in complaint nothing done contacted local labour councillor Forsyth, basically got same response if it was not for the local police nothing would of been done about it .The council is a absolute joke along with the councillors items time non of them really any knowledge at all yet want 10% rise in community services for doing nothing .Has to be the worse council in the country

January 22, 2025
Unprompted review

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