Surrey admissions

[sun1234]

I have been trying to call Surrey admissions and transport team for three days. I have the direct number of the person I need to speak to and its on speed dial. I must have tried in excess of 100 times in the last three days but I just cannot get through. Admissions have been centralised on the LEA but they seem overloaded and I just can't get through. Sometimes I sit for up to half an hour just pressing redial.

I presume that you have used 0300 200 1004. My temption would be to send an email to the admissions manager saying that as you cannot get through you feel that you will have no alternative to report this to the LGO as it is severely disadvantaging your child, unless they phone you in the next 24 hours.

The people on the 0300 200 1004 are lovely but they can't help. They gave me the direct 01383 number for the person who would deal with the schools in the are we are moving to. Her phone has an automatic answering message on it. It either says:-

1. I am taking calls between 2-5pm today. If you need urgent help call 0300 200 1004

1. I am either away form my desk or on another call. Please call 0300 200 1004

1. Something to the effect of I am working today but not taking any calls. Please call 0300 200 1004

The 0300 200 1004 gets answered usually after an 9 minute wait. I have called it several times. First to get the application forms and then later to try to use it as a way to get to the person who I need to speak to. They can only advise me that I need to speak to the person on the 01383 number and to keep pressing redial.

Obviously I need to call during 2 -5 pm on the days when she is taking calls, but I tried several days this week with no joy and yesterday I was really determined so I dialled the number constantly from 2pm until 3:15pm (when i had to go out for the school pick up) and I just got the same message each and every time. Its on speed redial and I always hang up two or three words into it, so I must have been redialling 3 times a minute. Luckily I get free calls from home during the day otherwise it would have cost me a fortune on the mobile.

I didn't get through though despite dedicating myself to getting through.

Have you tried sending an email to her address? Ive noticed all the Surrey emails seem to be their first name then a dot,then their surname at surreycc.gov.uk so for example [email protected] might be worth a try. If not if you send a general email to [email protected] it will then go to the central database, it will get read then they will forward it to the correct person,make sue you get read receipts when you send emails, that way cant deny it has ever been read!!