Reading Borough Council Reviews 

Nil stars: Reading Borough Council SCAM bus lane penalty. They have an automatic system that supposedly takes the payment. You tap in all the relevant numbers from your bank card, thinking that's the end of it, but of course it doesn't work. 2 weeks later, they send you another charge, double the amount. They don't have many people answering the phone; eventually got through. I now have to challenge everything. Somebody ought to tell the management the automatic payment systems don't work. Or is that a deliberate SCAM? you can't even pay the doubled up rate You've got to use their automatic system again which doesn't work The scam perpetuates itself round in circles is this the level of corruption the council has sunk. It's no wonder we're going to get a breakdown in society

The Council Tax automated phone system at Reading Borough Council is genuinely one of the worst automated systems I have ever had to use.

I spent over 10 minutes simply trying to speak to a person. The menu options repeatedly send you around in circles, the system seems to detect choices you haven't even made, and there appears to be no straightforward way to reach an adviser.

It is incredibly frustrating, especially when you are calling about something as important as Council Tax. A system like this should make it easier for residents to get help, not actively prevent them from speaking to someone.

Could someone at Reading Borough Council please actually call the Council Tax number themselves and test the customer experience from start to finish? I think you would quickly understand why people are getting so frustrated.

This automated system really needs reviewing and improving.

After a major fire in a council property attached to my privately owned property (no one hurt thankfully) which caused major smoke and water damage to my property and required my roof having to be replaced due to scorched timbers and melted roof lineing. I was amazed that I was not contacted by any one from Reading Borough council to check on My or my 91 year old mothers welfare the next day or since. The event having taken place on October 27th 2025 it now being July 3rd 2026, I have since November 2025 been in contact or trying to contact Reading Borough council via e-mail, Telephone and in person. I even wrote to my MP, when I finally did get in touch via the complaints department (which must be kept very busy). The response I received is virtually blaming me for not trying hard enough,
Reading borough council is nothing but a bunch of lying cheating criminals, totally inept and incompetent and if any of them ever tried to get work in the real world would never survive.

The worst automated system (council tax) that I have ever called. Spent 10 minutes trying to talk to someone. Options route you in a loop, the system detects choices that weren't made, it's absolutely infuriating. If this were a private company they'd be out of business straight away. Can one of the managers please test it out?!?!?

The one star isn’t even given to them
I have experienced the worst service from them when comes too repairing anything, they don’t book in the jobs when the know the customer has no gas in the house due to there mistake in not repairing the gas boiler this has caused a CO2 leak and casing health to my children, they do not care about anything,

How dare u give me parking tickets. im coming down to reading council to have a nice few words with the IC3 staff

best industry in reading is parking ticket and bus lanes maybe??? really? is that the best they can think of? ... i just got a ticket for parking in a bay in front of GP as i was there to get my son checked who was extremely sick , just to find out that in 5 minutes i got a ticket on a street where there is no board or machine to show that i could not park there without paying ... ?? i mean ...argh

Bad Reading Borough Council and Affinity Housing.
All day and currently presently still
I wanted to let you know that my mum and dad is currently experiencing loud music coming from next door. I am very concerned because it feels like RBC, the MP Yuan labour , Affinity housing-and the Police do not believe me or take any action to help us nothing solve.
I know that you have neglected and ignored us for the past 5 years, and this issue has not been resolved because of your inaction.
The GP asked Piyush how she could help. Piyush explained that he had been suffering with migraines and can hear noise at night time from the neighbours without hearing aids. This happens most nights and in the last 5 years Piyush has been struggling with lack of sleep due to the noise from the neighbours and has to go out in his car to find somewhere quiet to sleep. He told the GP that he lives with his parents who are unaffected and that he would like to move into a new flat or have the council tenants next door ejected.
Piyush mentioned that he had approached the council who had put a noise meter into RBC environment protection current home but had achieved no results from that and as Piyush was not satisfied with the response from the council he approached the MP, Councillor, Council, ombudsman all, no one believes Piyush however, still feels that he is not being listened to. Because they think he’s deaf/disability mean nothing. Piyush’s frustrated for long time, and no one believes him no listening to them. Also neglect Piyush again for 5 years. Piyush mentioned that he was almost suicide himself few years ago. Because no one believes Piyush. No one support Piyush.
Piyush explained that he had been informed by someone regarding ‘hypersensitivity’ migraines and ‘sensory processing disorder’ and he may have this. He requested the GP provide a letter or report to support his claim for housing bungalow from the council. Again, Piyush mentioned that MP, Councillor, Council all are neglect him (Piyush) again for 5 years. Piyush say, don’t like RBC attitude to deaf/disability.
This situation is extremely frustrating for me and for my family as well.
We family are really upset and frustrated,
Kind regards,
Piyush

This has to be one of the most difficult councils to deal with when it comes to council tax. They issue court notices very quickly, yet take an extremely long time to take any meaningful action. Since August, I have been trying—unsuccessfully—to amend several accounts for properties where we’ve placed new tenants. I’ve called and emailed numerous times, only to be told, “We will contact the back office and ask them to amend it.”
The complaints process is ineffective. No one from the back office ever calls me back, and I’m left having to chase them every week and send repeated follow-up emails.

The worst Council in the UK. They share to me pcns even if I was in the hospital , thay charged me £105 every month, they hit the vulnerable with no remorse.

Kn0bheads. Never in my life known a town that gets off so much on giving people fines. Every street, every bus lane, every yellow box- has a camera. I Just walk everywhere now cause it's an absolute joke. The only reason anyone lives in this sh!thole is purely cause they have no other choice, no one would willingly choose to live here. Reign in the tickets seriously, take a good look at yourselves and maybe stop thinking "how can we profit off of people that dont have much already" If you're thinking about coming to reading. dont bother, Im out of here as soon as my tenancy expires.

The parking enforcement is a joke. All weekend the roads outside my house are blocked with non residents and not a traffic warden to be seen. During the week when there’s nobody around you can’t go ten minutes without seeing one of them. They put up signs for roadworks and made half the street “off limits” but the workers came five days late leaving the residents with nowhere to park whilst a traffic cone occupied 20 spaces. These people are clowns.

Council tax website is still in the 90s. It couldn’t verify my identity or let me log in but let me set up a direct deposit … not sure how that is even possible. Can’t log in to view and adjust the direct deposit amount but happy to take the money with insufficient security in place.

Contacted the council regarding a complex problem with noise nuisance From early morning deliveries to a local Tesco and Co-op with vans parking in residential area. I spoke to a really helpful and considerate person called Aaron on the phone today. He really could not have been more obliging and was a real asset to the team.

RBC issued me a fine for driving in a bus lane during road works when they forced me to drive in the same bus lane. They refused to apologise and refused to discus the problem. They now have an automated phone system that does not include an option to complain or recognise council failures.

Totally incompetent.
An external productivity/efficiency audit is urgently needed.
No replies to emails, even after chasing 3 times. 2+ months to issue a permit.
It can't all be down to a lack of staff.
And where has the money come from for the huge extension they've just had built?
Whilst citizens are living in sheds and on the streets?

Formally complaining to RBC is completely ignored
from March 2025 - have only asked 6 questions but they are all "In Progress".
Thank heavens I do not have to go to reading often - it is a dangerous place and very unpleasant thanks to the council
They will never become a city, just an awful town controlled by wfh people

Permanently on hold with them for Council Tax. The fact is: I have neither wish nor desire to pay council tax. RBC broke down what they use it for: I don’t approve, I’m afraid.

So shame about the Reading Council after the city is starting to be a shite hole and after the Cost of living is starting to be so HIGH for every single person in this country this useless administration is trying to grab in money from every thing after one year by surprise the idiots is charged me for a non parking bay 190£ and is putting the Bailliffs to come to collect the money so disappointed and dishonest people

I’ve been trying to help my daughter, a student renting a house with other students, secure a parking permit from Reading Council. The house is allocated two permits, but the process to actually get one is a complete nightmare. My daughter plays a sport and has to walk home late at night, which makes her feel unsafe. She just wants the option to take her car up occasionally for safety reasons, but the council’s criteria to obtain a permit are utterly unreasonable.

My daughter doesn't own a car but is a named driver on her father’s insurance policy, as he is the registered keeper. In order to get a permit, Reading Council insists we change the car’s registration and insurance details to match the rental address. This is not only impractical but also unlawful. On top of that, the council refuses to accept more reasonable proof of residence, such as a Student ID or a tenancy agreement, which would easily confirm her eligibility.

What makes the situation even worse is that the council is more than happy to take payment for the permit online, only to then reject the application based on their unrealistic and outdated requirements. It's completely unprofessional, and it feels like the system is set up to make things as difficult as possible.

It’s beyond frustrating that a service meant to help residents ends up creating more stress and confusion, especially for students who are already dealing with a lot. The council should rethink this process, make it more accessible for students, and stop charging for permits they have no intention of approving.