Door closed on help

• I HAD the misfortune to mislay my keys last week, including that to the communal door of my block of flats.
Eventually I gained access to my property, having had the foresight to leave a spare set with one of my neighbours. However I did not have a replacement for our communal door and contacted our district housing office to arrange to pick one up from them. I was surprised to learn that the cost of the replacement was £10.
Our local locksmith charges £3, and as a pensioner one has to watch the pennies during this cold spell. I made arrangements to pick up the replacement at our district housing office, braved the treacherous pavements, which Camden had failed to salt, and made my way to the office.
I spoke to a member of staff who was on duty and explained the nature of my visit.
I was asked for some form of identification and I produced my bus pass and my credit card.
I was told that these were unacceptable.
Finally frustrated, bearing in mind I had made arrangements to pick up the key some hours earlier, I asked for them to send the key to my address by post only to be informed that they could not do so as the post office was insecure.
I left without my key and a feeling that Camden’s district housing offices do not care about the interests of their pensioners or tenants – unlike their counterparts at the Town Hall or the Crowndale centre who in the past have gone out of their way to help.
DANNY GALLIVAN
Robert Street, NW1