ONCE known for its efficiency, the British Council is no longer that way. Sadly, I hold it responsible for making me waste my academic year.

I appeared for three subjects of A level in 2011. As I was a private candidate, my documents were supposed to be posted at my place. However, I never received my general certificate but I did receive my statement of results.

Now in 2012 that I have appeared in one more A level subject and was ready to get my equivalence made and get admission to a medical university, I realised that the document required for my equivalence is the general certificate.

So I called British Council on their toll - free number. They answered my query by telling me to email them. As soon as I got home, I emailed them and wrote in bold that I need my transcript URGENTLY as I have to meet deadlines for university admissions.

When I did not receive a reply for 10 days, I called them every day and no one picked up my call. After 10 days I felt honoured when a lady picked up my call and apologised for the inconvenience after hearing my helpless state.

She took my email and number and said she will get back to me. She never did. Then I got an email saying that I need to apply for replacement certificate which was unnecessary as I had not appeared from the Edexcel board. I called them again every day. After five days a man picked up my call, apologised for the inconvenience and said that my email was forwarded to the wrong department. He took my number and said he will get back to me.

He never did. Then after three days, I got an email asking for my details and scanned documents. I sent those the very next day and it has been many days I haven’t received any reply from them.

They don’t pick up calls. When they do, they say they will get back to me and they never do.

All the deadlines of my admissions have passed. I am left in a lurch just because of the indifferent attitude of the organisation.

My year has been wasted. And with this procrastination I fear losing my other options as well as I can’t do anything without that transcript. Anyone reading this who is associated with the British Council is requested to get my case sorted at the earliest. But not at a tortoise’s pace.

SEEP CHANNER Karachi