COMPLAINTS about bills top the list of grievances against Bury social services.

Gripes have grown over the past year, and not just from people complaining about the quality of service they receive.

Others grumble that they cannot get any services at all, because the cash-strapped department is increasingly tightening the eligibility criteria.

During 1996/97, the department received 44 formal complaints, up from last year's 38. A dozen of them were about support services, mainly invoicing of bills.

A further 51 complaints were resolved without formal investigation.

Ms Sue Lightup, assistant borough social services officer, wondered if making people more aware of how to complain had led to the increase.

She added: "Some people are very abusive and it can be difficult to find out what they are complaining about, but the majority do it in a very measured way, which is remarkable given some of the circumstances."

A working party is looking at all aspects of complaints procedures.

Bosses did, however, receive 14 complimentary letters!

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