Durham County Council

Charges extortionate money for family records that should be free because it's my family history! You DO NOT own my ancestors' history so how dare you charge me to have a copy. Stupidly paid and now I have a long wait to receive mailed copies. Too slow, too expensive, pretend they own my family's history, very expensive service, and I could really go on.

Avoid going for a job here

Highly disingenuous and impossible questions to Answer; even Giving a correct answer is not enough.

3 people to interview for a Temporary role is excessive.

Will only call at the end of the day to reject you.

They will only hire the Internal staff so be sure to find out BEFORE you go to the interview whether they have internal candidates for the role.

This a dodgy practise used time and time again; you have zero chance at the job if Internal Staff are in the running.

Beware

And so much for “Safeguarding” when they build your hopes up only to drop you with very poor excuses.

If you can’t LIE your way through the interview then they don’t want to know.
Your OWN personal experience is not what they want; they want Lies.

I live in the Durham area and have had various dealings with the Council over the last 40 years. The responses of this organisation to my suggestions and complaints have been very variable - from outstanding to indifferent. There in no consistency from one department to another. Replies depend on who you speak to and how the contact is made (e.g. 'phone, email or letter). Those higher up in the Council have more flexibility and, very often, much more common sense. In this respect, Durham County Council is no different to other large organisations. Although it may take longer, my advice is always to contact the Council by letter; if necessary with a copy to the Chief Executive.

Contacted them weeks ago regarding an issue in my road but haven't heard from them......NOTHING.
If I stop paying my council tax will they contact me then? Bet you b*%$#cks they will. Good for nothing Jobsworths the lot of them.

A caring council who struggles on limited resources. The angry villagers will always be angry, no matter what.

Terrible. Greed driven service. Council tax continues to rise whilst service nose dives. Awful customer service, and the roads and refuse are particularly badly maintained. Also Killing off the city via student lets, constant works, pricing out small businesses and as a result creating ghost towns. North Road is unbelievably bad since the disaster that is the bus station.

I work for the council and work Christmas eve and boxing and yet the binmen can't collect the bins 2 days after Christmas?

You are not doing too well are you DCC? Only 2.5 stars out of a possible 5? I am not surprised. Recently returned to this county I find that most roads are in an appalling state of repair ... I wonder why you do not have the money to repair? After all, surely you get your fair share of the road fund license ? And what a high level of disparity. Why are you spending so much on new premises when what you have now is adequate in times of national emergency? Why do you hide behind using the internet which is no excuse for proper communication with the people you are there to serve?