Enforcement agents (bailiffs) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with a bailiff employed by a council or other enforcing authority and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Enforcement agents are what were more commonly known as bailiffs. I have a complaint against an enforcement agent. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. If your ...

Guidance on remedies Contents: Chapter index for Guidance on remedies Updated: 17 March 2025 Guidance on remedies search Search this content Submit search Part 9 • Subject specific guidance - Highways and Transport Penalty Charge Notices Introduction We receive complaints from motorists who have been issued penalty charge notices (PCNs) by local authorities for parking contraventions, moving traf ...

Tower Hamlets did not do enough to help family facing homelessness in the borough London borough of Tower Hamlets did not do enough to help a family who were about to be evicted by their landlord, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found. The family’s landlord served them with an eviction notice in November 2021, so they contacted the council for help. But instead of taking action to ...

Billing confusion prompts Barnet bailiff action A catalogue of clerical confusion and billing errors led to a Barnet resident being unfairly threatened with court action for not paying her council tax, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The woman told London Borough of Barnet her daughter had moved out of the home they shared, and requested the council apply the single pers ...

Managing complaints in contracted and commissioned services: a good practice guide Contents: Chapter index for Managing complaints in contracted and commissioned services: a good practice guide Updated: 06 February 2025 Managing complaints in contracted and commissioned services: a good practice guide search Search this content Submit search Part 3 • Complaints about regulated services or where o ...

Business rates This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with some aspect of their business rates account and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with my business rates. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. But there are some matters we are not allowed to look at by law: We cannot look at the level of business rates as ...

Ombudsman and Enforcement Conduct Board sign agreement The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to aid better investigation of complaints and concerns about enforcement agents. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about enforcement agents – more commonly known as bailiffs – when acting on behalf of local authorit ...

Enforcement of road charging schemes (such as Transport for London’s Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zones) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are unhappy with the way Transport for London (TfL) is dealing with a congestion charge or Low Emission Zone related issue and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. It also applies to some other schemes such as the Durham ...

Guidance on remedies Contents: Chapter index for Guidance on remedies Updated: 17 March 2025 Guidance on remedies search Search this content Submit search Part 4 • Subject specific guidance - Benefits and taxation Introduction Councils can take recovery action for money owed for business rates, council tax, parking penalties, and other charges. Such recovery action should take account of the pers ...

Parking enforcement This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns about a penalty charge notice (PCN) that was issued by a council in relation to a parking contravention and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have received a penalty charge notice relating to a parking contravention. Can the Ombudsman help me? Most councils in England operate what is kno ...