Birmingham City Council Reviews 

Where to start. I have lived in Birmingham for just over 2 years. I have worked for local authorities myself. I have to say BCC are not fit for purpose. In the 2years I have had to ask them to deal with issues THEY are responsible for with no joy whatsoever… passed from one idiot to the next (when you can actually get through to speak to one) that has no idea what they are talking about but say it with conviction and confidence… as there is no accountability for them it seem…I have to say I have never come across such a useless pointless authority. The government seriously need to intervene and try to pull back some of what Birmingham as a city no longer has… BCC need a clear out of incompetent staff to be replaced by people that care what happens to the city and that know what they are doing/talking about. Apologies, the star for one thing they are good at “taking money”.. the mismanagement of it that follows goodness only knows… as there appears to be only consequences of this at the expense of Birmingham residents… as soon as I can I am out of this city and it’s a shame as Birmingham used to be and could be a great city.. unfortunately no longer the case due to BCC incompetence (putting it politely).
Also, the hub in Northfield (only place open for face to face contact within the council)… beware if you need to visit you will potentially be traumatised! Staff dressed scruffy and unprofessional by sight and by approach… smelly dirty carpets… no privacy for all to hear your personal details and business… disgusting place and avoid if you can…

This review may sound a bit desperate, but its true, and all the fault of BCC.
After living 8 years next to drug users/dealers. and being assaulted a total of 4 times.
Of which three of the assaults were spontaneous, and began by myself getting head butted.
The police than charged, arrested, and locked me up for assault, because I beat the first attacker.

I was later found not guilty, but all the 4 perpetrators were never even charged.
After 8 years I accepted another house within a 4-way swap, and was told that because it was an end house there was only two people, living
there and they were out at work all day, and so quiet that you never knew if they were in!
Completely fabricated treachery..!

First night there I wanted to end my life, it was complete hell and there were three couples in there working 24/7.
Put up with it for around one and a half years then finally complained to BCC, due to deep depression.
Council fobbed me off and responded that they had complied with Birmingham City Council's complaint policy with regards to both stage 1 and
stage 2 of my complaint and even asked if I was satisfied!

They contacted no-one, they took no action whatsoever and I'm still suffering whilst coming up to a decade of lies and ignorance shown by BCC.
I truly believe that a law should be passed that all government workers should be drug tested, because you just cannot deny the insulting
mannerisms of their staff that come across as none empathetic, clueless, with cavalier attitudes...
They have made up stories to which I have proof of, and even won several cases by using the Ombudsman service, but even they seem to duck
any real responsibility and make very little usage of their results.

Personally I feel that BCC should be closed down and replaced by private firms, that won't waste tax payers money by denying people justice..!
Even their so-called environmental services are completely pointless in both action and similar attitudes.
They never even turned up at all..!
It feels as if you give them all the evidence and they simply reply, 'we have no time for this, ask someone else'?
Disgusted, because basic human rights seem to have been overwritten by fools...

This is a council already under fire for financial collapse, mismanagement, service failures like rubbish collection, and repeated allegations of corruption. Despite being functionally bankrupt, they are now targeting non-local drivers with a penalty system designed to extract money, not improve air quality.

Their CAZ enforcement raises the fine by 50% if you try to appeal, punishing people for exercising a legal right. In my case, I submitted medical evidence of a recognised condition. They ignored it, issued a template rejection, and failed to consider their legal duty under the Equality Act 2010.

The vehicle is fully ULEZ compliant in London and enrolled in TfL’s automatic payment system. There was every reason to assume the same applied in Birmingham. Instead, I was penalised for an honest mistake caused by inconsistent and poorly communicated policies.

This isn’t environmental enforcement it’s a cash grab by a failing council. The scheme lacks transparency, consistency, or accountability. It’s a disgrace, and Birmingham City Council is unfit to run it.

Pointless contacting BCC, they no longer reply to complaints in regards to refuse collection, so reporting missed collections is pointles. They referred me to Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that was also a waste of time. They told me because other people are experiencing missed collections then theres nothing that can be done amazing. So we will continue to pay council tax for a services we dont receiv.

Planned a long weekend in Birmingham with my wife, but came home after only I night. The pedestrian area was filthy with cigarette buts all over and overflowing bins. We saw 1 street cleaner but that was no where near the pedestrian area where he should have been.

Final straw was an elderly person pulling a case was stopped by an enforcement officer as he discarded a cigarette but in the gutter. I spoke to him and he told me he was fined £150 for littering! Fair enough he did wrong but a fine of that size plus lots of younger people were smoking but the officer did not approach them - he found an easy target! He told me he would never come back.

Council should be ashamed of themselves, they are bankrupt, cannot keep anything clean, then look to raise money by targetting elderly visitors.

Good luck with that strategy!

Birmingham City Council – A Complete Disgrace

Dealing with Birmingham City Council has been one of the worst experiences I’ve had. The level of unprofessionalism and disorganisation is shocking — it genuinely feels like dealing with a council in a failed, neglected country. When you ask for help or guidance, you're met with indifference and finger-pointing: “Not our responsibility.”

The city is falling apart. The streets are filthy, rubbish is everywhere, and rats are becoming a common sight. Roads are riddled with potholes and dangerous to drive on. Birmingham has become a clear example of how mismanagement and lack of care can destroy a city.

We deserve better. The people of Birmingham deserve leadership that actually does its job.

I have a chair lift.
It broke down on Friday 2nd may.
I reported to the council, and the repair engineer from Dolphin came.
He said a wire had broken, he would put on repair A.S.A.P.
Being, it was holiday weekend, my first contact was on Tuesday 6th May.
First Birmingham council to ask for update, then Dolphin.
Was, told for approval from council to purchase the parts needed.
Today, Thursday 8th May,spoke to council, who have approved the parts..
So, got back þo Dolphin, saying the parts have been ordered.
Will, phone when engineer coming to fix the chair.
I am a 82 year old man, who has struggled to get up and downstairs, for almost a week.
Disgusted.

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

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!!

Oh dear. Just watched something on YouTube. As I say "Oh dear"!!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Tax rises and further cuts to children's services, what's next Birmingham - can you stoop any lower?