A weekly update on benefits and taxation decisions

London Borough of Hillingdon (19 003 608)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to ask bailiffs to collect a council tax debt. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Blackpool Borough Council (19 004 555)

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council seeking repayment of a housing benefit overpayment from his former partner from 2015. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because it was reasonable for Mr X’s partner to appeal against the decision at the time.

Sunderland City Council (19 004 586)

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council sending a letter about council tax arrears and enforcement to him when it was intended for someone with a similar name. He was concerned about this because it was the second time such an incident had occurred. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of significant injustice which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Barnet (19 004 773)

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council is seeking council tax payments from him. He says he should not be held liable. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he had a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal about any dispute over liability or discount for council tax.

London Borough of Harrow (18 007 782)

Summary: Mr X complains about the number of council tax bills and letters he has received from the Council. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he had a right of appeal against all decisions made by the Council. There is no fault in the amount of correspondence because his circumstances had changed and the revised bills were required by law.

Rushmoor Borough Council (18 012 044)

Summary: There is no evidence of fault in how the Council carried out an investigation into whether Mrs X was living at a property and whether it should be subject to an empty property charge.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 000 127)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss B’s complaint about the council tax recovery action the Council has taken. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Leicester City Council (19 004 649)

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council failed to backdate his housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because Mr X had a right of appeal to a tribunal against any decision to refuse backdating. The matter is also out of time.

Sheffield City Council (18 019 609)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about remarks made by the Council in a submission to the Valuation Tribunal. It is unlikely the Ombudsman would find fault by the Council had caused the complainant injustice that would justify his involvement.

London Borough of Harrow (19 004 409)

Summary: Mr X complains about the way his application for a council tax discount and notification of his change of address were dealt with. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been resolved and a right of appeal existed to a Valuation Tribunal for any dispute.

Carlisle City Council (19 004 423)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because the Council has decided Mr X does not have to repay the money. In addition, the complainant could have appealed to the tribunal.

London Borough of Ealing (19 004 458)

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint about the way the Council has dealt with her housing benefit claim. This is because she has told us she has used her right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.

Westminster City Council (18 016 746)

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council handled business rates issues affecting a company.

Middlesbrough Borough Council (19 003 247)

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council imposed costs on her for a failure to notify the Council of her change of circumstances. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been resolved and there are insufficient grounds to justify investigation.

Kingston upon Hull City Council (19 003 755)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council did not give the complainant proper advice about the consequences of claiming Universal Credit. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Norwich City Council (19 003 935)

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decisions to refuse council tax reduction and to recover a housing benefit overpayment. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Fylde Borough Council (19 003 956)

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council unnecessarily sought an attachment of earnings order against her for council tax arrears. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council’s offer of compensation is sufficient to remedy the matter.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (19 004 064)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to pass a council tax debt to bailiffs. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Warwick District Council (19 004 284)

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council sending a council tax bill to her which related to someone with the same names but from a different address in another town. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice to Ms X which would warrant an investigation. The Information Commissioner is the proper authority to consider complaints about data breaches.

Plymouth City Council (19 004 312)

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council did not advise him of his right to an exemption from council tax. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council did notify him and he will have a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal if refused.

London Borough of Barnet (19 004 502)

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s conduct at a business rates court hearing and about additional charges the Council applied to his account. This is because we cannot investigate his complaint about the Council’s conduct at the court hearing and there is insufficient evidence of fault with the Council’s recovery action.

Broxbourne Borough Council (19 003 979)

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council improperly advised him to put a complaint in writing and unreasonably obtained a council tax Liability Order against him. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council has apologised and there is no evidence of fault in the way the Liability Order was obtained, and a right of appeal to a tribunal existed for liability disputes.