London Borough of Hillingdon (19 012 712)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 17-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his request for Council Tax Support. This is because the complaint is late, and it was reasonable for Mr X to appeal to the tribunal.

West Lindsey District Council (19 011 362)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 16-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about what happened when the complainant visited the Council’s offices. He could not achieve any worthwhile outcome.

East Cambridgeshire District Council (19 011 025)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 11-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with his application for council tax reduction. This is because matters appealed to the Valuation Tribunal are outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. The Council has now complied with the tribunal’s ruling, and it is unlikely an investigation by the Ombudsman would achieve anything more. If Mr X disagrees with the Council’s latest decision about council tax reduction, it is not unreasonable for him to submit a fresh appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Coventry City Council (19 011 599)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 05-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council processed the complainant’s council tax support. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Corby Borough Council (19 010 482)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 02-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council has dealt with his council tax support claims. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he had a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal and there is no evidence of fault by the Council. Further, part of the complaint is out of time.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (19 011 913)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 25-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council delayed in sending his appeal, against its decision to recover a housing benefit overpayment, to the Social Security Tribunal. The complaint cannot be investigated because Mr X has used his right of appeal to the Tribunal.

Reading Borough Council (19 003 690)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 25-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to decline his application for discretionary council tax support payment. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because it was reasonable for him to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal which is the proper authority to consider council tax support payment decisions.

Scarborough Borough Council (19 005 957)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 30-Oct-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to deal with her telephone call where she advised them of her new job. She says that this affected the amount of council tax she had to pay. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a tribunal about any matter relating to her entitlement to council tax support.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (19 008 010)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 16-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about benefit applications the complainant’s wife made in 2015 and 2016. This is because it is a late complaint and because his partner could have appealed to the tribunal.

London Borough of Haringey (19 006 217)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 25-Sep-2019

Summary: We will not investigate Ms Q’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her council tax and council tax support. This is because she has, and could have, appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.