Bielefeld is German authorities runner-up

Last year, the regulatory office in Bielefeld came under criticism. Some Bielefeld people complained that it was encroaching, even violent. The immigration office is hardly better off. To this day, people complain again and again that they don't get their affairs settled there. The admissions office? Also under criticism.

Man and the authority - they are not made for each other. Or is it? In any case, people in Bielefeld are amazed at the results of a survey by the Berlin-Brandenburg consumer protection association. He combed through 43,973 online ratings from 350 authorities in the 40 largest German cities - and lo and behold: Bielefeld ranked second. (The winner is Augsburg.)

So what is the administration: top or flop? Probably like this, like this. Complex world! In any case, according to the ranking, Bielefeld is the German authorities' runner-up and one of three cities that have been rated more than four out of five possible stars by their customers on average. The average is 3.57. Not particularly good, commented Angelika Menze from the consumer protection association. "A pizzeria with this rating would certainly not appeal to me."

Further west in NRW you will surely be amazed too. On the other side of the table - in places 37 to 40 - are Duisburg, Cologne, Bonn and Mönchengladbach. If it were about football, the cities would have to be relegated to the second official league. But there isn't, and that's why motivation is the only thing that helps. At the bottom, "it's high time that the negative feedback from our own citizens was taken seriously," recommended Angelika Menze. Perhaps the authorities should also take Menze's restaurant analogy to heart and offer free pizza to raise the spirits. Four stars at least, of course.