Laura Sharman 15 December 2016

Council puts crying face emojis on council tax bills

A London Council has shocked residents after it included crying face emojis on an online council tax bill.

Due to a technical glitch, residents accessing their council tax statement on their smartphone were confronted with the image of a character crying floods of tears.

Resident Alice Jones posted a screen shot of the statement on Twitter:

Not sure about Lambeth's use of emojis on my council tax bill pic.twitter.com/OqGikwNQgZ
— Alice Jones (@alicevjones) December 13, 2016

A spokesman for the council said: 'The emojis appeared on council tax notices when accessed on iPhones, due to the way certain software interprets the coding.

'This was an error and it has now been rectified.'

#Social media

Analysis

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.

Opinion

Parks: Councils' secret weapon, not an easy cut

Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd tells LocalGov why councils weighing cuts to green spaces are missing the bigger picture.

Most Popular News

Ex-neo-Nazi quits council race, becomes Badenoch adviser

Devo minister resigns

Future Sheffield: How one city council is upskilling its workforce

Government publishes social cohesion action plan

Digital Transformation, AI and Local Government: The Case for Workforce Upskilling

New Products

Safeguarding Children - the AAT Way

MSL enhances hygiene auditing with air quality testing for Awaab’s Law compliance

Cadcorp launches Mapestry

Bolton Council Upgrades 120+ School Crossings with Smart CMS Control by Lucy Zodion

NEC CONTRACTS HAS GONE DIGITAL: PAPERLESS, TO GIVE YOU MORE

Vent-Axia Delivers Social Housing a Smart Ventilation Solution Ahead of Awaab’s Law

New remotely lockable cabinet will help manage medication for people with mental health issues

Case Studies

Acrospire Improves Safety Across Greenwich Subways with LED Lighting Upgrade

Cornwall’s Coastal Heritage Lighting Upgraded with Acrospire Lanterns

Acrospire Delivers Durable Handrail Lighting Upgrade for Historical Landmark Jacob’s Ladder

Acrospire Delivers Seamless Heritage Lighting Upgrade on Bath’s North Parade Bridge

Acrospire Delivers Retrofit Lighting for Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge

Acrospire Delivers PIR-Controlled Lighting at Ruislip Lido Car Park

Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street revitalised using Thorn Lighting’s Thor Lanterns and Customisable Gobo Projectors

Company Anouncements

Acrospire promotes LED retrofit for structurally viable lighting assets

Vent-Axia Welcomes the Future Homes Standard as Competency Takes Centre Stage

Apricorn Becomes First and Only Hardware-Encrypted USB Storage Device Manufacturer to Achieve AS9100 Certification

AAT helps Councils step up to address children’s social care

CU Phosco Approved as a Crown Commercial Service Supplier

Acrospire triumphs at the 2025 HEA Awards with Sustainable Project of the Year

TRT Lighting retrofit helps Lincolnshire County Council cut street lighting energy use by over 65%

Adults Social Worker - Learning Disability & Autism

£38487 - £51834 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.We're an adult England, Essex, Basildon

Recuriter: Essex County Council