Tips on how to make a complaint

Don't delay

• Make your complaint as soon as possible after the event as the Council may not investigate matters that are over 12 months old.
• It is better to make your complaints as soon as you can so that you can remember all the details.

Make checks

• Make sure that your complaint is about a service that the Council provides or commissions.  For example, bin collections and council tax complaints are dealt with by local borough or district councils, not the county council
• Ensure that you have read the information on the complaints webpages so that you are aware of the types of issues that are excluded from the complaints procedures.

Be clear and brief

• Cover all the relevant points, but be as brief as you can. Avoid writing long letters or emails - you may feel you need to write in great details but in most cases this is not necessary.
• Make your complaint easy to read - lengthy correspondence with unnecessary historical information will mean that it will take the Council longer to assess your complaint.
• The Council will contact you if it requires any further information.

Be clear about what you want

• Explain clearly what you hope to achieve by making a complaint.