What is your impression of Calgary's 311 system?

[Drummer]

Just wondering if anyone wants to share their experience with using the 311 app and such?
How do you find the city responds to your issue? Do they normally not respond and close your ticket?
Most of my experience with 311 is using the app to create a ticket, mostly for burnt out streetlights or road issues.
It's neat that they give you a SR# to track the issue but nearly all of my tickets get closed without the issue being fixed or anyone responding to me with an explanation. I then have to submit a new request quoting the old ticket # and then they usually fix the issue, or at least reply, with a new ticket # (in my case mostly streetlights but there have been a few other issues that I've just simply given up on because they don't respond and close the tickets).

I guess what I'm getting at, is the system is a neat idea (the app is pretty cool although the streetlight category has been removed) but doesn't work well when there is no communication back.

[REDVAN]

Using the PHONE, I have never had them ignore me.

[Northendzone]

i recall reading a few months ago that the city/enmax was way behind on replacing streetlights because of something - could ahve just been the fact that the work likley needs to be done at night.

i have only ever called 311 once, as my son found a dead frozen rabbit under our deck - i needed to know what to do with this rabbitsickle.......the answer was call 311, bag the rabbit and label it city of calgary and someone comes by to pick it up.

[WhiteTiger]

Every time I've called 311, never had any problems.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Drummer

Just wondering if anyone wants to share their experience with using the 311 app and such?
How do you find the city responds to your issue? Do they normally not respond and close your ticket?
Most of my experience with 311 is using the app to create a ticket, mostly for burnt out streetlights or road issues.
It's neat that they give you a SR# to track the issue but nearly all of my tickets get closed without the issue being fixed or anyone responding to me with an explanation. I then have to submit a new request quoting the old ticket # and then they usually fix the issue, or at least reply, with a new ticket # (in my case mostly streetlights but there have been a few other issues that I've just simply given up on because they don't respond and close the tickets).

I guess what I'm getting at, is the system is a neat idea (the app is pretty cool although the streetlight category has been removed) but doesn't work well when there is no communication back.

Though it doesn't fix the lack of communication issue, a lot of these things (ie. road problems, street lights, etc.) get triaged and the tickets are closed when work is scheduled to be done (ie. 4-6 weeks down the road).

[WilsonFourTwo]

I think 311 is one of the rare government services that delivers on it's promise. I've used the (call in) service half a dozen times and have never been anything but impressed.

As for the app....didn't even know they had one, that's terrific. Would be nice if there was more communication about the service tickets OP referenced, sounds like a bit of a miss.

[Finger Cookin]

HURR DURR I'm a 311 system UHH UMMM how can I help you? HURR DURR

I'm not good at impressions.

[calculoso]

311 was awesome when I lived in Calgary... wish they had the same system in Ontario

[stampsx2]

I've called in many times and it's been remarkable. Call in with a real city question and they're on the ball. This is one department i don't mind my tax dollars being spent on.

On the other hand i tried calling 311 in winnipeg once, brutal. I think they might outsource overseas.

[Daradon]

Used it a few time via phone. Good service. Occasionally you get wait times but that's generally when something is happening in the city.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by calculoso

311 was awesome when I lived in Calgary... wish they had the same system in Ontario

I'm not sure where you are but I know Toronto and Ottawa certainly have 311. Unsure of other municipalities.

[Rathji]

Called in a few times, always got the info I needed. Used the app to report illegal dumping a few weeks back, and it was followed through on. I really appreciated the fact that I got a picture of the people and license plates and was able to submit it along with the complaint

[devel]

Early last spring when I was walking, I went by a house that was leaking water, down the driveway out onto the street. Making a nice skating rink on the sidewalk to the gutter. I assume the underground sprinkler system busted over the winter. Anyway, I was in a hurry to pick up my son from school, so quickly snapped a picture and submit it through the app. Claim was closed the next day, without explanation but I didn't think anything of it.

The following week I was again walking past the same house. Water still gushing to the street. How the home owners or neighbours didn't notice and do anything is beyond me. Anyway, called and the city was out to fix it right away.

I think the app is awesome but definitely call if it's something important.

[Peanut]

All my 311 experiences have been good. I don't use the app though. Mostly I call with random questions about TIPP, or where to take all our tree branches, or for lost pets. Once a random parrot landed in our yard and we had no idea wtf to do with him. I called 311 and the city only deals with dogs and cats, but the lady was amazing - she looked up emergency vets that were open on a Saturday night so we could take him in somewhere.

It ended up turning into a domestic dispute in my backyard (for real) with some guy screaming obscenities at his girlfriend for accidentally letting the bird escape from their house, while their infant twins waited in the idling car, which he then started kicking the #### out of (the car). We called 911 and had to wait to connect with an operator because all the lines were busy. Good times. So all told, my 311 experience was vastly better than my 911 experience.

\coolstorybro

[moncton golden flames]

311 is fine if you don't mind waiting 1-2 weeks for your answer.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

311 is fine if you don't mind waiting 1-2 weeks for your answer.

I don't mind waiting. In other 311 systems they wouldn't even pass your concern over to the appropriate department. At least in Calgary's 311 they get back to you and follow through on a reasonable request.

[trew]

I've used it once or twice, and have been impressed. Last time, I reported a tripping hazard for a sidewalk. It was fixed in two days.