Summary: Mr Y complained the Council failed to close his council tax account despite Mr Y telling it that he and his partner were leaving the country to live abroad. This resulted in the Council taking enforcement action against Mr Y, incurring fees. The Ombudsman found the Council was not at fault in this complaint.
Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the way the Council responded to Mr B’s complaint about the action of a bailiff company acting on behalf of the Council. This caused Mr B and his family avoidable distress. The Council has agreed actions to remedy this injustice.
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council made errors in the assessment of his council tax liability. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council has not awarded empty property business rate relief on his property. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs A’s complaint that the Council paid her less housing benefit than she was entitled to. This is because it would have been reasonable for her to appeal to an independent tribunal.
Summary: The Ombudsman does not have grounds to investigate this complaint that the Council unreasonably demanded council tax from a homeowner after telling him he was not liable to make payments. This because it is unlikely we would establish evidence of fault by the Council in this respect which has caused an injustice to warrant our involvement.
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to waive court costs which arose in 2013. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice.
Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to deal with her telephone call where she advised them of her new job. She says that this affected the amount of council tax she had to pay. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a tribunal about any matter relating to her entitlement to council tax support.
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s enforcement action to recover unpaid business rates in July 2017. This is because the complaint is late and it is unlikely we could effectively investigate the matter now.
Summary: Ms X complains that the Council has held her liable for council tax on a property after she left. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because she appealed to a Valuation Tribunal and there is no evidence of fault by the Council.
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to take inflation into account on a council tax refund. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the Ombudsman cannot investigate the Valuation Office.
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council has held him liable for council tax on a property he owns. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
Summary: Mr B complains about the Councils handling of his council tax debt. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it is unlikely we can add to the investigation already carried out by the Council and an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.
We look at individual complaints about local public services and all registerable social care providers in England.
We remedy injustice and share learning from investigations to improve services. When we find a council or care provider has done something wrong, we recommend how it should put it right. We are free to use and make our decisions independently.
