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Please note: our decisions are published six weeks after they are issued to councils, care providers and the person who has made the complaint. The cases below reflect the caselaw and guidance available at the time of issue and the individual circumstances of each case.
Report Upheld Council tax 28-Mar-2023
Summary: Ms B complained about how the Council dealt with her council tax for 2019/20. She said it wrongly closed one account and opened a new one, then took 10 months to identify the error and correct it. In the meantime, it sent four bills showing the account was in credit and saying that she could get a refund. It reissued the correct bill in March 2020 demanding payment in full within weeks, wrongly obtained a liability order and referred the debt to bailiffs, who traced the account to the wrong address. It also delayed in sending complaint responses, sent them by email rather than post and did not answer all of Ms B’s points.She was caused significant confusion, distress and time and trouble in trying to understand her account.
Statement Upheld Other 28-Mar-2023
Summary: Mrs X complained about how the Council took recovery action for unpaid business rates, including using enforcement agents. There was fault in how the Council failed to update Mrs X about its decision in February 2020 but this did not cause an injustice to Mrs X.
Statement Upheld Council tax 28-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax because the matter has been remedied.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to pay a Council Tax Rebate to help with energy costs in a couple’s case. This is because there is no sign of fault by the Council regarding this matter.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability as he appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.
Statement Upheld Council tax 27-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council taking recovery action for council tax she did not owe. At my recommendation, the Council has agreed a suitable remedy.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability as Mrs X had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X being held liable for council tax for his late parents’ property. He has used his right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about notification of a Council tax liability because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 26-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council is chasing the complainant for council tax while she is waiting for the Valuation Tribunal to consider her appeal. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 25-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s council tax account. This is because it was reasonable to expect the complainant to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Mar-2023
Summary: There was fault by the Council when it failed to offer Mr B a late appeal to dispute an overpayment of housing benefit. Later the Council considered this and decided not to allow the appeal. However, it was fault when the Council did not pass the dispute about whether Mr B could appeal, to the Tribunal. The Council has agreed to remedy this.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council calculated Mr X’s housing benefit entitlement. It is reasonable for Mr X to use his right of appeal to tribunal.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 23-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a landlord’s liability for council tax. This is because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal and we could not achieve the outcome the complainant wants.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 23-Mar-2023
Summary: Miss X complains about the Council’s decision to create an overpayment of housing benefit in 2016. We will not investigate this late complaint as it was reasonable to expect Miss X to complain to us at the time. Even if we did decide to investigate it is unlikely, we would achieve much as Miss X could have complained to the specialist tribunal that deal with appeals about housing benefit.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 23-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse his applications for COVID-19 local restrictions support grants. This is because the complaint is late and there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 22-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not giving Miss X a discount on her council tax even though she is a carer for her mother. This is because it is out of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction as Miss X’s mother has a right of appeal and it is reasonable for her to use this.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 22-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a spelling mistake on a council tax bill. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 22-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s council tax liability. It is reasonable for him to use his right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 22-Mar-2023
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled Mr X’s personal data as it is best dealt with by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
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