Archived Topic
Topic ID 5260
30/04/2010 by Jaycee
Damaged Brown Bin
[img]http://bestsmileys.com/angry2/6.gif[/img]
I want to have a little rant about our damaged brown wheelie-bin.
After our brown bin was emptied last time, hubby and I noticed that both sides of the bin were badly split… from just above the midline -to the bottom on the front edges.(down the seams)
Hubby suggested that as there were obvious marks on the front and sides where the bin is constantly loaded and emptied on the lorry, that it was probably caused by the loader/equipment. Or, a faulty bin.
After a telephone call (several actually – by the time I was put through to the individual dealing with brown bins/replacements,) I asked very politely, if I could have a replacement bin as during the course of the next few months the split would get increasingly worse and the food (and crud and gunge from the caddy, waste food, etc.) would be oozing out from said bin.
I was informed, in no uncertain terms, that it would cost me £25 to replace it. I reiterated many times that it was evident by the marks on the bin, that it was most probably caused by the refuse collection equipment, and was not due to miss-use, and surely this was the responsibility of the collection department, and not mine.
I appears that you still have to pay the £25 regardless – whatever the reason, for the bin to be delivered to your property. I then, (politely) suggested if it was a case of payment for delivery I would go and collect a new/replacement bin. No! This is not an option!!!
After many minutes of discussion (the chap was most arrogant, rude and quite unmoved by my request ) he remained adamant that the £25 rule applies to all broken or damaged bins.
I said that during the summer months when the bin is totally unusable – what does one do then – he firmly stated that £25 will be required for you to have a new bin. I asked what about environment health issue with rotting food spilling out from the seams – and he more or less told me to take a hike!
I would add, as an observation since noticing our bin, that there were several other *side split bins with those marks on the front* in our road, and wondered if there was a bad-batch when they were delivered.
I would understand completely, their policy had the bin been wilfully damaged, but not when it was damaged by the council's own collection workers/equipment!
Congratulations East Herts Council – you have a wonderful system going there! *J*[img]http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/9.gif[/img]
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 73979
30/04/2010 by Joby
Ours has developed a similar split. I was thinking of trying to get it replaced, won't bother now. I wonder if it would be replaced for free if it "went missing"?
Reply ID 73980
30/04/2010 by Marilyn
There was a letter to similar effect in the Mercury a couple of weeks ago.
It must be a new policy as one of our bins was replaced automatically about 18 months ago when the refuse collectors noticed it was damaged and they organised a replacement, not sure which colour it was black or brown it just turned up one day and only cost us a cup of tea for the delivery driver.
I can't see many people being willing to pay £25 and if everone refuses and continues to use damaged bins I suspect they will have a strike on their hands by the operatives who have to empty them!!
Reply ID 73981
30/04/2010 by codek2
quote:
Originally posted by Joby
Ours has developed a similar split. I was thinking of trying to get it replaced, won't bother now. I wonder if it would be replaced for free if it "went missing"?
Nope; People have lost their bins in near us, gone walkies, and you have to pay for new ones.
Reply ID 73982
30/04/2010 by carlos fandango
We had to replace ours recently for the same reason. Didn't cost us anything. When faced with unmovable call centres or jobsworths I usually try to speak to "your manager or supervisor" which often has two effects:
1) the jobsworth immediately becomes more amenable.
2) you are one step up the tree of frustration talking to someone who is paid to be shouted at and can make a decision outside of the handbook.
Having said that, best of luck getting a new one.
Reply ID 73984
30/04/2010 by Marilyn
Looks like the only time the replace it free now is if it is "lost" into the collection vehicle.
http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=1654&backid=1638
Very clever wording the £25 is a delivery charge and the bin remains the property of the council.
I know a man near us purchased his own bin but they would not empty it as it was not a council one so that doesn't work either!
Reply ID 73985
30/04/2010 by Leo Densian
Our bin also had a split but was automatically replaced without any request from me.
Reply ID 73986
30/04/2010 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by Leo Densian
Our bin also had a split but was automatically replaced without any request from me.
Depends when it was I think this is a new thing to start charging
Reply ID 73987
30/04/2010 by M.O.G.
We have a stray brown bin in Red House Close, ware. It doesn't seem to belong to anyone, it doesn't have a number on and has been on the grass verge for several weeks now. I even put a note on it telling the bin men to take away, they haven't.
So if anyone wants it and can get it in there car,i would say come and get it.
Reply ID 73989
30/04/2010 by Jackanapes
Our brown bin has a similar split as do about 40% of the (brown) bins I see. Must be a design/materials fault of the brown bins.
Reply ID 73990
30/04/2010 by Firedupinside
Why should we have to pay for something that has been forced upon us by the councils?
If they want us to use these multicoloured bins to place our recycling & rubbish etc. then surely they shouldn't expect us to have to pay for these, isn't that what our council tax is for???
I'm not against recycling but surely a bit of common sense from the Bureaucrats in county hall would be appreciated!!!
Reply ID 73993
30/04/2010 by Woody
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
Looks like the only time the replace it free now is if it is "lost" into the collection vehicle. . .
Mmmm, so if you place your broken brown bin in your black bin as rubbish will that count? [}:)]
There are a number of broken brown bins in our area too. The number and spread of this occuring is too great to have happened by chance and has to be as a result of either poor quality control in procurement or faulty collection equipment/manpower process, each of which is the responsibility of EHDC.
A massive, sarcastic, congratulations to them for training their call-centre staff to handle the invariable complaints they are receiving in an objective and polite manner.
I can fully understand the objection to paying £25 for a replacement bin that has been damaged through no fault of your own. I would not wish to continue using a split brown bin as the accessability of its contents will encourage rats and other vermin, not to mention the stench. Consequently, not replacing faulty/damaged brown bins will surely encourage the black bin to be used for compostable waste, defeating the object of separating our waste.
Reply ID 73995
30/04/2010 by james
Ask them if you can collect the bin for free from their depot. If they refuse then that £25 isn't a delivery charge in my opinion.
However, their depot could well be in the Shetlands, in which cas the £25 is a bargain[:p]
Reply ID 73997
30/04/2010 by SMT
quote:
Originally posted by Firedupinside
[a bit of common sense from the Bureaucrats in county hall would be appreciated!!!
Waste COLLECTION is the responsibility of EHDC at Wallfields, and not the County Council, which is the waste disposal authority.
Reply ID 73999
30/04/2010 by Jaycee
quote:
Originally posted by james
Ask them if you can collect the bin for free from their depot. If they refuse then that £25 isn't a delivery charge in my opinion.
However, their depot could well be in the Shetlands, in which cas the £25 is a bargain[:p]
I did say whilst on the telephone [img]http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/telefona/2007.gif [/img] that I would be more than willing to collect a new bin, thus eliminating the charge of £25 (as per my original post)..but the individual in question said - No, you cannot do that - as to why he would not give me an answer!
I am very tempted to come and collect the errant brown bin lurking in Ware![;)]
Who wrote to the Mercury about the brown bin Marilyn -- anyone know?? I wonder if they got any response..?? *J*[IMG]
http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/telefona/2007.gif
Reply ID 74000
30/04/2010 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by Jaycee
quote:
Originally posted by james
Ask them if you can collect the bin for free from their depot. If they refuse then that £25 isn't a delivery charge in my opinion.
However, their depot could well be in the Shetlands, in which cas the £25 is a bargain[:p]
I did say whilst on the telephone [img]http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/telefona/2007.gif [/img] that I would be more than willing to collect a new bin, thus eliminating the charge of £25 (as per my original post)..but the individual in question said - No, you cannot do that - as to why he would not give me an answer!
I am very tempted to come and collect the errant brown bin lurking in Ware![;)]
Who wrote to the Mercury about the brown bin Marilyn -- anyone know?? I wonder if they got any response..?? *J*[IMG]http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/telefona/2007.gif
I can't remember I am afraid I think it was someone in Ware but can't be sure, but there is another letter in his weeks from someone who had their replaced without charge BUT I suspect like us it was before the charges were started.
This could well become an ongoing topic as to how unfair it is when it is not damage done by the householder but by the way they are handled by the vehicle or a manufacturing problem with the bins themselves.
Reply ID 74008
30/04/2010 by Forbes
As EHDC own all wheelie bins I would suggest sending them an invoice for the cost of storing their defective bin on your property.
Or maybe take it to Wallfields then charge them £25 for delivery.
[}:)]
Reply ID 74009
30/04/2010 by Ewoowar
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
Looks like the only time the replace it free now is if it is "lost" into the collection vehicle.
http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=1654&backid=1638
Very clever wording the £25 is a delivery charge and the bin remains the property of the council.
I know a man near us purchased his own bin but they would not empty it as it was not a council one so that doesn't work either!
So the bin remains council property, they get broken being emptied into the truck and then they want to charge £25 to have a new one delivered. Sounds like a revenue stream to me.
Reply ID 74011
30/04/2010 by Woody
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
So the bin remains council property, they get broken being emptied into the truck and then they want to charge £25 to have a new one delivered. Sounds like a revenue stream to me.
It's an unpleasant stream of something Ewoowar. [:(!]
Reply ID 74012
30/04/2010 by JohnSmith
Find out where your local councillor lives and swap your bin with their's.
Reply ID 74054
02/05/2010 by Ray_by_the_Beane
I noticeed the following is the second committment in the Monster Raving Loony election manifesto concerning wheelie bins. Shame that there is no candidate standing here. (I presume "waist" is a deliberate typo.):
Wheelie Bins:
The idea of weight monitoring chips in wheelie bins should be scrapped, instead the wheels should be removed, this would mean that if people generated too much waist they could not put their non-wheelie bin out for collection. It would also help prevent them being chucked into canals.
Reply ID 74056
02/05/2010 by Joe
One word:
Duct tape [:D]
Don't forget to invoice EHDC for the tape [;)]
Reply ID 74062
03/05/2010 by Joe
quote:
Originally posted by Jaycee
quote:
Originally posted by Joe
One word:
Duct tape [:D]
Don't forget to invoice EHDC for the tape [;)]
exactly Joe... it's been used already. However, Duct tape... two words me-thinks!*J*[img]http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/ride/00037032.gif[/img]
yup me bad. I thought it was one word but even google said it was two.
My only poor excuse is that I'm the north of Spain and the weather is playing havoc with my internet. yup poor excuse [xx(] Glad to know it was tried before.
Pardon my ignorace but when I left Hertford in the mid/late 90's I only had a "green-ish" bin. So what's with black & brown?
Reply ID 74143
06/05/2010 by Marilyn
I see there is an atricle in Today's Mercury, looks like you need evidence that it was the lorry that caused the damage.............................anyone got time to follow the lorries with a camera?
Reply ID 74144
06/05/2010 by Jaycee
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
I see there is an atricle in Today's Mercury, looks like you need evidence that it was the lorry that caused the damage.............................anyone got time to follow the lorries with a camera?
I haven't had a chance to see the Mercury this week Marilyn - and it's not now free to view online!(yes, I'm mean but the paper is usually full of rubbish anyway! IMO)
In view of what you have said, that you now need evidence of the lorry causing the damage -- it will probably entail photographic and forensic proof![img]http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/persons/118.gif[/img]
I've resorted to the good old Duct Tape until the darn thing collapses in a heap!
I have, however, draft written a letter to the council, [img]http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/persons/118.gif[/img] but will wait until the mania of the election passes before I send it off or it will probably be shoved into the *pending* in-tray and it will be shelved indefinitely never to see the light of day!
[img]http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/persons/118.gif[/img] id="Comic Sans MS"> Reply ID 75015
23/06/2010 by Marilyn
Unless they can get new bins that are fit for purpose I hope it stays that way, the number of bins out this morning ALL split in the same place can't be a co-incidence.
Reply ID 75016
23/06/2010 by ~Sarah~
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
Unless they can get new bins that are fit for purpose I hope it stays that way, the number of bins out this morning ALL split in the same place can't be a co-incidence.
I agree totally, our bin split too, the whole lot should have been sent back to the manufacturer in the beginning....
32 replies
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