A MAN was left "fuming" after his rubbish went uncollected for more than a week and claims he was "fobbed off" by promises to "escalate" the matter to "a bin supervisor".

David Moon, of Queen Anne Avenue, Bromley, was due to have his bin emptied on January 13, but despite calling Bromley Council every day to complain, his waste wasn't taken away until Monday.

The 38-year-old has chronicled his 10-day battle with the council, which involved him speaking to at least five different members of staff over the course of seven telephone calls, where he was told his matter had been "escalated to a bin supervisor".

Mr Moon, who works in television, said: "I've been absolutely fuming all week. My council tax goes on paying for bin services.

"I felt like I'd been fobbed off. Their own words were 'it will be escalated to a bin supervisor'. I was promised it would be collected the next day but yet it was still out there.

"It has been a complete farce. I've had nothing but stress and frustration. I have spent time and money on what have turned out to be pointless phone calls trying to sort this out, only to be met with a wall of incompetence."

News Shopper: David Moon

DAVID'S TIMELINE OF COMPLAINTS

Thursday, January 12 - Called council to check that if I locked my wheelie bin (to stop others using it) it would still be collected. Was told: "Yes the crew have wheelie bin keys so go ahead and lock it."

Friday, January 13 - Called at 4.30pm to report a missed collection. Was told that I would have to wait two working days.

Tuesday, January 17 - Called at 4.30pm to say it still had not been emptied. I was told it should have been collected on Saturday, January 14, and she would arrange for it to be done the next day.

Wednesday, January 18 - Called at 4.30pm and had to explain the whole situation from the start. The woman I spoke to escalated it to a "bin supervisor" and said it would definitely be sorted out asap. I explained about how I had called to check if it was okay to lock it. She advised that I should NOT leave it locked on the day of collection as not all the crews carry keys. So, that is contrary to what I was told originally. I then immediately went and unlocked it.

Thursday, January 19 - Called twice. I am now very angry and frustrated and demand that there must be somebody in charge who can TELL the crews to come and empty my bin. Called again. She said that after it has been escalated to the "bin supervisor" I have to wait until the end of the next day before I can report it again, and that "yesterday doesn't count" because that was the day of escalation. She said that they can do no more than log it on the system. She said she would get an office supervisor to call me.

The supervisor calls and said that she has "got to the bottom of why it was not collected". Apparently it was because it was locked. (I refer you to my call on Thursday January 12) She said that she had sent someone round (not to collect it) and they had reported back that the bin was locked. I said that is not true as I had unlocked it the day before.

"Must have our wires crossed" was her response. She then assured me that it is definitely on the list for tomorrow.

Friday, January 20 - Called at 4.30pm because it still has not been emptied. Asked to speak to (the supervisor), but was told she was off. Was told another supervisor would call me back before close of business. She did. She said that she had spoken to the bin supervisor and was told that the crew were still out and they would definitely get to me today. They didn't.

Saturday, January 21 - Called at 10.30am but offices closed until Monday. Emailed complaint to Bromley's director of environmental services.

Monday, January 23 - Rubbish finally collected.

COUNCIL PROMISES REVIEW

A Bromley Council spokesman said: “The fact of the matter is that our crews did return to pick up the missed collection but unfortunately did so from the adjacent bin serving the neighbouring flat.

"There are some communication issues to work through here given Mr Moon’s comments, and that review is being carried forward.

"We have already met with him to try and make sure this does not happen again. Veolia make 73,500 collections across the borough every day and from time to time, mistakes do occasionally and unfortunately happen.”