Problems with new phone system at Town Hall - automated service misdirects callers

Published: 23 June 2011
by RICHARD OSLEY

IT’S all about button 8. Councillors say people trying to phone Camden Council are going straight to that button on their handsets to avoid a misfiring automated service which offers them departments they don’t want. 

Problems with the new phone system at the Town Hall will be raised at Monday’s full council meeting by Tory councillor Jonny Bucknell.

“Press button one for something you don’t want, press two for something that is of no use, or press three for something that is irrelevant,” he said. 

Cllr Bucknell said that word was getting round that you should press “8” to get to speak to a human being rather than a recorded message – and the deluge from that could bring the system down.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are aware that our new system has had some initial teething problems and we apologise for any difficulties residents may have had in contacting us. Since launching, we have seen significant improvement in our service levels.”