ARGYLL & BUTE Council has announced a new customer service text line for any council-related enquiries. The new facility from Argyll & Bute Council comes a month after it took part in a national Twitter event called What We Do, which used the social network to show users the range of services offered by the local authority.
Users can text the council’s customer service centre on 07624 808 798 at the cost of a sender’s standard network rate text message and can expect to receive a text back or a phone call to follow up any query.
Argyll & Bute Council leader Dick Walsh said: “The new text service will make it easier to report about things like potholes or find out more about opening times in some of our buildings.
“You should add the number to your phone in case you are out and about and spot something we can help you with.”
The customer service centre is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday although users can send texts at any time. Texts should be kept below 160 characters to make sure senders are charged the cost of one text only.
In October, North Ayrshire Council became the first in Scotland to introduce a mobile phone app which can be used to report issues such as dog fouling, broken street lights and littering, as well as offering a live tracking facility for reports submitted by users. Councils across Scotland took part in a one day national Twitter event in September to raise awareness of the work carried out by councils and the services they offer. Argyll & Bute Council is under the username @argyllandbute on Twitter and has almost 1,400 followers.
ButeBites says: The HaveYourSay On Bute Facebook page has thrown up exactly the kinds of issues that a text line number would be useful for. Dog fouling is a persistent problem and one that regularly irks residents on the island. Instead of a time-consuming phone call to the council whenever the foul issue is spotted, a quick text message from the scene of the crime could prove a much more efficient way of reporting the problem. From road and parking issues to waste and fly tipping problems or general enquiries, a text line service could be a much easier technology-friendly way for users to interact with their local authority – as long as reports are given the same attention as a telephone call, letter or old fashioned visit to the office.
Tags: app, Argyll & Bute, Argyll & Bute Council, Bute, Dick Walsh, Dog Fouling, North Ayrshire Council, technology, Text Line, Twitter
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