ANNOYED Verena Bars-oum has branded the council tax billing system as "inefficient" after attempts to pay her bill failed because nobody was available to take her calls.

Verena Barsoum, of Dukes Ride, Gerrards Cross, says a simple query about sort codes was ignored by South Bucks District Council, who then sent her a letter saying her bill was unpaid.

Mrs Barsoum could not get through to the council by phone, due to a high volume of calls. And when she tried to contact them online she got no response.

But a few days later she received a letter saying she had not paid her bill.

She then sent an irate email to the council.

She said: "Threatening let-ters are more the council's style pay now or else. I just wonder how many other people are in the same situation?"

In the email, she said: "I have addressed this query to you (the council) by email since your offices do not deem it important to give the tax paying public access by phone. Your phone message says you can't take the call because you're experiencing a high volume of enquiries. This cannot possibly be correct since you deny everyone to reach you in this manner. Do I detect a govern-mental pompous attitude we are government offices, we are the law?"

The council got in touch with her within a few hours of getting her second email.Mrs Barsoum is now satisfied but wants the council to be more efficient and accessible.

In the e-mail she said: "People have a right to be dealt with in a civil manner." Tracie Cook, PR and communications manager for South Bucks District Council, said: "It was unfortunate that this happened. We did experience a very high volume of calls at the time. We apologise for not being able to get through as we want to make it easy."