Replacement Wheelie Bin

so, lucky for us, someone half-inched our recycling wheelie bin (just after the council started charging for replacements, funnily enough ) and i've just called to try and get a replacement sent out.

blimey, what a palarva! 

firstly, there's the £30 charge (remind me exactly what it is we pay a council tax for...), then there's the fact that an "Outreach" officer apparently needs to visit to make sure we're eligible for a replacement (actually, when i challenged this, i was told that it's not to see if we're eligible, but to determine whether our bin is actually in one of our neighbours gardens or in the vicinity) and to determine the size we're allowed. This can, apparently, take up to TEN WORKING DAYS to happen. Once they've done that, they'll call us and take payment. Then, and only then, will they "order" us a new recycling bin.

seriously, on top of being mugged by this council for a parking bay suspension for a skip ON TOP OF A SKIP LICENSE (incidentally there are tens of skips on the ladder and, it seems, we're the only plums who have had to fork out over a grand for this suspension) i have to ask whether Haringey council are just profiteering now.