Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council taking recovery action for unpaid council tax in 2018 and 2019. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and it was reasonable for Mrs X to appeal to the Valuation tribunal if she is challenging the amount of tax which the Council says she is liable for.

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the way the Council handled Mr B’s complaint about a court summons it issued in error. This caused Mr B unnecessary distress and inconvenience. The Council has accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations to remedy the injustice.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council seeking to collect council tax from the complainant. The complainant could appeal against any decision by the Council that he is liable to pay council tax. We are unlikely to find fault by the Council in seeking to collect unpaid council tax which a court has said the complainant should pay.

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with his council tax support claims. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been settled.

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with his council tax payments. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal, part of the complaint has been settled and there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr K’s complaint the Council has caused him frustration, time and trouble from pursuing his dispute about the Council breaking what he considers to be a ‘contract’ for repayment of an housing benefit overpayment. This is because: we cannot investigate matters which have been decided by a tribunal; we will not investigate matters which it would be reasonable for Mr K to take to court; and we cannot order the Council to take the action Mr K thinks it should so we cannot achieve what he wants from his complaint.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about how the Council has dealt with complainant’s council tax liability. The matter is resolved and investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council is pursuing her for unpaid council tax at a property she says she has not lived at. This is because it falls outside our jurisdiction as Ms B can appeal against her liability to pay the bill to the Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council refused to back date her benefit claim as far as she would like. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because she had a right of appeal to a tribunal.

Summary: Miss T complains the Council was pursuing her for a council tax debt she had already cleared. The Ombudsman has discontinued our investigation, as the Council has made a discretionary payment that has cleared the arrears.

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council failed to rehouse her and has not paid sufficient housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time and there was a right of appeal to a tribunal about benefit entitlement.

Summary: Mr X complains about the increase in his Council tax bill. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this affects all or most of the population in the area.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about council tax arrears. This is because it is a late complaint and because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Some of the matters complained of are out of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction because they are criminal allegations, have been the subject of court proceedings, or another body is better placed to consider them.

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with his appeal for refusal of housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he appealed to a tribunal and the matter is out of time.

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council stopped her council tax support. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council sought to recover council tax for which she denies liability. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council assessed his council tax reduction. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he had a right of appeal to a tribunal.

Summary: the Ombudsman considers there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council regarding its recovery of council tax from Mr K, who is vulnerable.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council sent him council tax bills for different amounts and incorrectly sent him a court summons, which caused him stress. The Council was not at fault in how it recovered council tax from Mr X.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council issuing him with a council tax bill in 2018 for which he wasn’t liable. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: Miss X complains the Council wrongly awarded a council tax exemption and later sent her a bill for over £1,000. This fault by the Council caused Miss X distress and financial hardship as she did not budget for this expenditure. A suitable remedy for the injustice caused is agreed.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council pursuing him for council tax arrears which he says he is not liable for. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because it is reasonable for him to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal which is the proper authority to decide disputes about council tax liability.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council making commercial waste charges to a provider of student accommodation. This is because the lawfulness of the charge needs to be considered in court and because there is insufficient evidence of injustice to the complainant.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment because the complainant could have appealed to the tribunal.