Laura Sharman 10 February 2014

Council publishes bizarre calls to call centre

From accusing a toad of harassment, to asking the council to buy them ‘nice’ work clothes, Crawly Borough Council has published some of weirdest calls to its customer contact centre.

To celebrate the call centre’s tenth birthday, the council has released details of some of the strangest calls received from customers. This included one man wanting a frog removed from the communal stairs in a block of flats as it was ‘harassing’ him. Another customer wanted someone to talk them through driving round the town, as they did not have sat nav.

One lady also requested money to buy clothes for a job interview, with someone else asking if the council would pay their train fare into Nottingham as they had to attend a funeral.

The council also revealed that the number of emails has doubled over the last ten years, while the number of telephone calls received has dropped from 300,000 a year to 240,000.

Last year, the Local Government Association (LGA) complied a top 10 list of the most bizarre queries received by councils, including someone asking if it was ok to keep a crocodile in a back garden.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner