Manchester City Council (21 018 010)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the delay by the Council to forward Mr X’s housing benefit appeal to a tribunal. This is because the complaint is late and the complainant has now used his appeal rights.

London Borough of Haringey (21 008 103)

Statement Upheld Other 18-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council incorrectly applied a retail discount to his company’s business rates account. The Council was at fault. It incorrectly applied the discount on the account, then billed Mr X’s company without proper communication and then withdrew an offer to cancel some of the debt after Mr X had made a substantial payment. The Council has agreed it will pay Mr X £300 to acknowledge the distress and frustration this caused him.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (21 004 705)

Statement Not upheld Other 10-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains the Council unreasonably charged him for court costs and enforcement agent fees for collecting business rates when it sent all relevant information to the wrong address. We found fault as the Council’s enforcement agents did not serve Mr X with a new Notice of Enforcement to his current address. This caused Mr X an injustice as he has paid avoidable enforcement fees. We have recommended a suitable remedy and so are minded to complete our investigation.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (21 016 215)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Citizen’s Advice as they are not a body within jurisdiction.

City of Doncaster Council (21 015 339)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about recovery action by the Council for unpaid business rates. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Manchester City Council (21 015 454)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to hold him liable for business rates as the issue is more appropriate for the courts. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council misrepresented its reasons for holding him liable as there is no evidence of fault.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (21 015 076)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about recovery action for a business improvement district levy. There is not enough evidence of fault that prevented Mr X knowing the payment was due. We cannot consider parts of the complaint about court proceedings. Mr X could also have taken court action to seek the setting aside of the liability order.

London Borough of Croydon (21 007 276)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s use of bailiffs to collect council tax arrears. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Birmingham City Council (21 014 972)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about recovery action for business rates. We cannot consider the court action resulting in the liability order and, after that, Mr X could have taken court action if he believed the liability order was wrong.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (21 006 370)

Statement Not upheld Other 05-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s decision to bill her for empty business rates. We discontinued our investigation as the courts are best placed to determine disputes about liability to pay business rates.