Council bin collection

Blue_Mermaid

I lost some money, as my recycle bin was not emptied on the day it should have been. I use a bin cleaning service and they were unable to clean the bin that day, due to it still being full. I reported the missed collection to the Council online but they didn't come back to empty it, until a week later, when they emptied the general refuse bin. I pay up-front annually for the bins to be cleaned. There are no refunds unless the bin cleaning service are at fault, which they were not. They offered to come back if the Council emptied the bin in the following 48 hours but as I said, the Council didn't come back until a week later. I have complained to the Council and asked them to reimburse me but I am not holding my breath. I know I haven't lost much (around £5) but I can't afford to lose anything. Would the Council be legally obligated to reimburse me, does anyone know? I expect it won't be straight forward and probably not worth the effort in the long run. Annoying though. Not the first time that they failed to empty my bin (and a neighbour's) recently.

elsien

I wouldn’t imagine the council are legally obligated to reimburse for anything. 

They’d also likely to be asking for proof that your bin was out at 7.30 or whatever time Haringey tells you they need to be out for which I wouldn’t imagine you can evidence either. 

If money is so tight though that you can’t afford to lose a fiver could you not just cancel the service and sloosh the bin out yourself?

Jenni_D

What sort of recycling? If it's food/garden waste then I can understand the need for regular cleaning - if it's paper/plastic/glass/tin recycling then missing a clean (whilst not ideal) is not the end of the world.

You'll probably also find that the council are not liable for consequential losses, so I think this is one of those cases where it's best to take a pragmatic approach - you'll stress yourself over a battle you're unlikely to win.

And as you pay annually in advance, you haven't actually lost £5 - you've merely paid for a service that was unable to be provided on one instance. (If the service had been provided as normal would you have bemoaned spending that £5?)

Blue_Mermaid

I do have proof my bin was out, as the bin cleaning service will be able to verify that. 
No, I can't clean it myself, as I have a long term health condition.

Jenni_D

Sorry - it seems you've misunderstood my post ... I wasn't in any way at all suggesting you clean it yourself, nor was I suggesting you didn't put it out. Perhaps re-read my previous post?

I see now that you weren't replying to me. (A post appeared whilst I was typing).

Blue_Mermaid

I was replying to Elsien.

Blue_Mermaid

Jenni_D said:

What sort of recycling? If it's food/garden waste then I can understand the need for regular cleaning - if it's paper/plastic/glass/tin recycling then missing a clean (whilst not ideal) is not the end of the world.

You'll probably also find that the council are not liable for consequential losses, so I think this is one of those cases where it's best to take a pragmatic approach - you'll stress yourself over a battle you're unlikely to win.

And as you pay annually in advance, you haven't actually lost £5 - you've merely paid for a service that was unable to be provided on one instance. (If the service had been provided as normal would you have bemoaned spending that £5?)

I don't really understand the last part of your reply. Of course, I wouldn't bemoan spending the £5 if the bin had been cleaned but I have paid for something that didn't happen. I paid for 12 cleans and will now only receive 11 cleans (or even less if this keeps happening with the Council). I get that you are both saying, if I can't afford it, then why use the service in the first place. I won't be renewing it when it runs out, as I can't afford it any more.

Blue_Mermaid

Anyway, thanks for your replies. I knew it was a long shot and I guess I was annoyed out of principle as well, as it isn't the first time they haven't emptied one of my bins (and neighbours in my row. Weird this time, as it was just 2 of us in the row). I will be interested to see if I get a reply from the Council at all but I am fully expecting them to say no, if I do.

Aylesbury_Duck

Whilst it's unfortunate, I agree with Jenni.  You haven't lost £5, you've lost the bin cleaning service.  The £5 was "lost" whether or not the bin was cleaned.

I'd let it go, it's probably too much trouble for the sake of trying to get £5 back.

Blue_Mermaid

Thanks for your reply.

I will let it go if they say no, which I am sure they will.

Was worth a try. Nothing tried, nothing gained, as my dear dad used to say.

IvanOpinion

"£5 for a bin clean.   The guy that does ours charges £1.80 and that includes a sloosh of disinfectant.