Ashford Borough Council (19 002 836)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council is wrongly holding him responsible for unpaid business rates. This is because Mr X’s liability has been established at court.

Westminster City Council (18 013 543)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Jun-2019

Summary: The Council wrongly changed Council Tax liability to Mr X’s company. It wrongly took enforcement action against Mr X and his company for Business Rates. Mr X incurred costs providing evidence to the Council. The Council has poor records and did not give the Ombudsman information we asked for. The Council should apologise to Mr X and pay him £1,080 for time, trouble, distress and his expenses.

West Suffolk Council (19 002 447)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Jun-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about delay by the Council in billing her for business rates on a property. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the claimed injustice is speculative until the outcome of a tribunal decision.

Harborough District Council (18 012 739)

Statement Upheld Other 19-Jun-2019

Summary: Mrs X has complained about the actions of an enforcement agent that visited her home to recover a debt owed by her son. There is some evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Croydon (19 001 889)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council says it paid him benefits in 2015 which he denies. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this matter is out of time.

Salford City Council (19 000 540)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that he received no support for claiming benefits from the Council after he left prison. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (18 010 844)

Statement Not upheld Other 29-May-2019

Summary: Mr C says the Council wrongly used enforcement agents to pursue council tax arrears, as he is a vulnerable debtor. The Council has correctly considered whether it is appropriate to use enforcement agents and has decided it is. The council tax debt is rightly due, and the Council has a duty to recover it. The Council has offered Mr C assistance by entering payment arrangements, referring him for independent debt advice, and sending him application forms for financial assistance. There is no fault by the Council.

Manchester City Council (19 000 735)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-May-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s decision to hold her liable for business rates on a property after she says the tenancy finished. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this is a matter for the courts.

Tandridge District Council (19 000 243)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the amount of business rates she must pay. This is because the complaint does not concern an administrative function of the Council.

London Borough of Havering (19 000 335)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-May-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s decision to remove her business rate relief. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time and the decision regarding rating was made by the Valuation Office Agency which is not within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.