New Single Phone Number Coming for Most Sandwell Council Services

A single telephone number for most Sandwell Council services will go live next week, making it easier for residents to get in touch by phone when they need to.

And for some services, new technology will allow callers to hold their place in the queue, put down the phone and receive an automatic call back once they’re at the front of the queue.

From Tuesday 1 September, the new main phone number for the council will be 0121 569 7474. It will be the single point of contact by phone for the following services:

• Option 1 – Housing and repairs
• Option 2 – Council Tax, Revenue & Benefits and Welfare Rights
• Option 3 – Bins and street cleaning
• Option 4 – Adult Social Care Connect
• Option 5 – Registrars (The Register Office)
• Option 6 – Highways
• Option 7 – Regulatory Services
• Option 8 – Complaints and compliments

Each option will have an easy-to-understand menu directing callers to select the service they are ringing about.

The phone numbers that are being replaced by the new 0121 569 7474 number will all have automated messages directing callers to call the new number – meaning nobody will be left hearing a dial tone.

The majority of council services continue to be available online through the council website and MySandwell.

To report an issue or request a service online, go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/reportit or log into your MySandwell account at www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for Customer Services and Neighbourhoods Councillor Mike Cooper said: “This new phone number will make it easier for residents to get in touch with us when they need to.

“Although most of our transactions and requests are handled online, we know that many people still want to pick up a phone and talk to someone because they don’t have access to the internet, or if they have a complicated issue they want to discuss.

“We’re committed to providing the best possible public services and this new golden number will help people get in touch with us as easily as possible.

“One of our overriding values as a council is for us to be customer focused. Making it as easy as possible for people to contact us when they need to request something or report something is a big part of that.

“I’d urge all residents who prefer to contact us by telephone to get the number saved in their phone, or written down, so it’s there when they need it.”

Separate phone numbers will remain for the following services:

• Sandwell Children’s Trust – 0121 569 3100
• Sandwell Property Care – 0121 569 4539
• Public Health – 0800 011 4656/0121 569 5100
• Taxi Licensing – 0121 569 6655
• Income Management – Current Tenants: 0121 569 7477
• Income Management – Former Tenants: 0121 569 7478
• All other phone numbers for council services not mentioned will remain the same.