Archive has 557 results
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Cambridge City Council (19 014 262)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 24-Feb-2020
Summary: The owner of a narrowboat complained the Council had unlawfully billed her for council tax. But the Ombudsman will not investigate this matter as there is no sign of fault by the Council. The owner instead needed to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal to dispute the Valuation Office Agency’s decision to include her boat in the rating list.
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Herefordshire Council (19 017 003)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 24-Feb-2020
Summary: Mrs B complains the Council is demanding council tax she does not owe. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he does not have the legal power to do so.
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London Borough of Haringey (19 000 635)
Statement Upheld Council tax 24-Feb-2020
Summary: The Council delayed in dealing with information on a council tax account and a claim for council tax reduction. Enforcement agents, acting for the Council, did not follow the regulations. The Council caused unnecessary time, trouble and distress to the complainant, who the Council knew was vulnerable. To put this right the Council will apologise, make a payment to the complainant and assess her correct council tax reduction. It will tell the Ombudsman what it will do to ensure in future its officers and agents deal correctly with vulnerable people.
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Swale Borough Council (19 016 475)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 22-Feb-2020
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about council tax. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council, and if Miss X disputes liability, she can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
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Isle of Wight Council (19 009 535)
Statement Not upheld Council tax 21-Feb-2020
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council invoiced him for two years of backdated council tax that he had already paid to his landlord. He says this impacted on his health. The Ombudsman has discontinued this investigation because the Council has resolved the issue.
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Dartford Borough Council (19 010 624)
Statement Upheld Council tax 21-Feb-2020
Summary: Mr X complains the Council gave him incorrect information about a council tax exemption and also delayed in determining a planning application. After sending incorrect bills for three years the Council then demanded a backdated payment of almost £7,000. An appropriate remedy for the injustice suffered is agreed. An alternative remedy, by way of appeal to a Government Minister, was available in respect of the delay in determining the planning application so this part of the complaint falls outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.
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Birmingham City Council (19 006 920)
Statement Not upheld Council tax 21-Feb-2020
Summary: Mr D complains about the Council’s enforcement action for unpaid council tax. The Ombudsman finds no evidence of fault. And, in any case, there is no injustice, as the Council has decided not to collect unpaid enforcement fees.
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Statement Upheld Council tax 21-Feb-2020
Summary: Miss X complains about the Council’s decision to remove her single person council tax discount in 2012, failing to notify her of appeal rights, and a breach of data protection. She says the Council has not charged her correctly for council tax. She says this has caused her distress, anxiety and inconvenience. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault for not telling Miss X of her appeal rights sooner. However, this did not cause Miss X injustice because she was notified of fresh appeal rights in 2019. The Ombudsman does not find the Council at fault for the way it has charged Miss X for council tax and enforcement costs. The Ombudsman will not investigate the parts of Miss X’s complaint about the decision to remove the discount because it is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, and about data protection breaches because the Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to deal with complaints of this nature.
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London Borough of Islington (19 016 049)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 20-Feb-2020
Summary: Mrs X complains the Council encouraged her to carry out work to her home which reduced its value. Mrs X is also unhappy because she says the work meant a higher council tax bill. The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because the complaint is late, we cannot investigate if someone has appealed to a tribunal, and we have no powers to consider decisions taken by the Valuation Office Agency.
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London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 016 300)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 20-Feb-2020
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council starting enforcement action for the late payment of Council tax. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council, so an investigation is not warranted.