I am a Hounslow Council tenant. When my bathroom switch failed, I reported this via Freephone on Monday, October 13. The soonest they can send an electrician?

Tuesday, November 4.

The broken switch is not an emergency, but until it is fixed the bathroom light/extractor fan cannot be used. A few days delay from the time of reporting is reasonable, but three weeks inconvenience/loss of amenity is not - assuming that the appointment is kept.

Last year - because those concerned could not understand what 'not Monday, and not am' means for an electrician to call - I had to wait three and a half months for two faulty light sockets to be remedied. That delay was wholly due to problems with the appointments system.

This has yet to improve, and I do not intend to wait until Christmas before I can turn on my bathroom light again.

J H BORROWDALE Brookwood Road, Hounslow.