Customer care standards

Customer care standards show our ongoing commitment to providing high quality, efficient and consistent responses to all our customers.

What to expect when you contact us

In writing

• We'll respond within 5 working days either to answer your query or to let you know when a full response will be given

By phone

• We'll answer your call as soon as possible
• We'll say 'Good morning/afternoon, East Renfrewshire Council/or the service and person's name' when answering your call

Through social media

• We'll display the hours all social media accounts are monitored as well as our approved house rules

• We'll respond to messages as quickly as possible and will do our best to help residents, but we expect users to offer us the same level of courtesy. When responding we will either answer your question or direct you to further information. At all times our social media house rules must be followed.

In person

• We'll greet you at our main public reception areas within 10 minutes of your arrival.
• All employees will wear an ID badge and/or council uniform at all times.
• We'll help you to complete forms when and where appropriate.
• We'll respect your privacy and arrange a private location for you, if you ask for one.

Please note, these standards don't apply where other established statutory timescales exist.

For more complex complaints needing investigation, we'll respond within 20 working days.

What we expect from our customers

The Council is aware that almost everyone who contacts us acts in an acceptable and respectful manner. When, very occasionally, this is not the case it can be difficult to deal with the enquiry or issue.

Read our Unacceptable Actions Policy (PDF, 254 KB) which helps support and protect our employees and ensures consistency in the steps we take to deal with such occurrences.

How are standards monitored?

We monitor performance against these standards through mystery shopping and reporting the results to senior managers and elected members.