The council has apologised to adults with learning disabilities after their closure-threatened centre was left off a list of care options for the coming year.
Kemback Adult Resource Centre does not appear on a letter sent to service users by the social work chief last week.
Dundee City Council has been forced to rerun an earlier survey which was slammed in a critical Care Inspectorate report. The local authority wants to close Kemback Centre and provide alternative care.
A letter sent out last week by the director of social work, Alan Baird, said: “I am writing to tell you that the council charges for services arranged by the social work department will change from April 8 2013.”
On the back is a full list of social care providers, but Kemback Centre is not included.
Joseph McDonagh, whose 32-year-old daughter uses the centre, said: “I was disappointed that Kemback was not an option because we don’t know yet whether it’s going to shut.”
Kemback Street Action Group chairman George Stewart claimed Mr Baird’s letter had unsettled vulnerable adults who use the centre, including his son.
“The council officials have botched up the consultation process and they’re continuing to create havoc among service users with this letter.”
Opposition politicians also rounded on the council over the controversial letter.
Labour MSP Jenny Marra said: “It’s despicable. They’re steaming ahead with closure by the back door.”
Lib Dem councillor Fraser Macpherson wrote to council chief executive David Dorward demanding an explanation.
Mr Macpherson said: “If the social work department was wishing to create an impression that the closure of the centre was a done deal they certainly succeeded by this embarrassing mistake.
“I was astonished during the autumn when the director advised me he was moving forward with a report recommending closure of the Kemback Street Resource Centre when the assessment process had not been concluded with service users.
“The latest faux pas with regard to the review of charges has simply exacerbated that concern.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said the error is “a simple matter of timing.”
He said: “When the charges report was approved the council had taken a decision to close Kemback Street Resource Centre.
“However since then that decision has been revisited and in the meantime the charges letter was issued as per the original charges report. We are sorry if this has caused any confusion or upset.”
Kemback Street Action Group has received assurances from the council that service users will not be moved from the centre ahead of a consultation on its future.
The campaigners threatened officials with a court order after it emerged three people were given alternative care.
Mr Stewart said: “The interim interdict is on hold at the present moment.
“We have an email from the council more or less agreeing with or demands, but the language is somewhat ambiguous, so the legal department at the council and our lawyer are in discussions.”
This was confirmed by Mr Dorward in an email to Mr Macpherson that has been seen by The Courier.
Mr Dorward wrote: “I can confirm that the city council and social work department are not continuing to progress any other individual plans, until the renewed consultation on the Kemback Street Resource Centre has been concluded.
“This will result in 31 people continuing to use the centre.”
Proposals to carry out a new consultation will be discussed by politicians at a council meeting on March 25.
Mr Macpherson said: “I do think it has to be impressed upon the department’s directorate that they have to strive hard now to prove to service users, their families, elected members and the wider public that the new consultation is genuine.”