I TRIED ten times to log into my new council tax account.

I failed each time, sometimes because Durham County Council’s system didn’t recognise my email, despite that they sent an email to me advising me it could be viewed via that email address. Other times it wouldn’t recognise my user name or password, but mostly because the system “timed out” presumably because it was overloaded.

I telephoned the relevant department for help several times right up to 5pm only to receive a message saying they were too busy with queries regarding this tax to answer. I phoned immediately after 5pm only to receive a message saying the offices were now closed.

If Durham Council is that hapless to resolve a simple problem with its council tax payment system one can only imagine the utter chaos that will ensue with the proposed relocation of County Hall.

I’m going to switch back to paper, which won’t be too bad as DCC will be the only one over 50 companies I deal with who can’t manage a simple electronic task.

B Jackson, Sacriston