Royal Borough of Greenwich (18 011 395)

Statement Upheld Council tax 20-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms E complains about how the Council has enforced an old council tax debt. We question whether the Council correctly issued the summons. And, in any case, Ms E can no longer get records to prove her assertion she paid the debt at the time. So, our view is it is not fair to now collect the debt.

East Hertfordshire District Council (19 018 098)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 20-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council wrongly took legal action against him when he had paid his council tax. The Council has apologised for its fault and cancelled the costs of the court summons. There is no remaining injustice.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (19 019 035)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about an alleged overpayment of housing benefit. This is because Miss X’s complaint is late, and it was reasonable for Miss X to have appealed to the tribunal.

London Borough of Lewisham (18 017 068)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr X complained on behalf of his friend Ms Y about the Council’s decision to evict and discharge its housing duty to Ms Y in November 2018. He also complained the Council failed to respond to his appeals about decisions around Ms Y’s housing benefit. Ms Y had a statutory right of review around the Council’s decision to discharge its housing duty and it was open to her to use that right. Therefore, I have not investigated that matter any further. The Council was at fault for failing to formally respond to Mr X’s appeals on behalf of Ms Y and for failing to pass them to the tribunal. The Council has now reconsidered the appeals and has formally written to Ms Y explaining its decisions which is an appropriate remedy.

London Borough of Ealing (19 017 436)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about her housing benefit and council tax. This is because much of the complaint is late. There were appeal rights available to Ms X and it was reasonable for her to use them. Fresh appeal rights will be available to Ms X if she disagrees with the Council’s most recent decision. There is no reason she should not use them.

Telford & Wrekin Council (19 017 756)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council’s contact with him about the non-payment of council tax by a person who occupies Mr X’s property, was bullying. This is because it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (19 018 987)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 19-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council taking enforcement action against him for council tax arrears. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because past events fall outside our jurisdiction and there is no evidence of fault in the more recent action the Council has taken.

Tamworth Borough Council (19 006 686)

Statement Upheld Council tax 18-Mar-2020

Summary: the complainant says the Council failed to properly calculate a refund of council tax, explain its calculation or comply with the complaints’ procedure. The Council recognised its fault but says it paid the refund promptly. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault.

Birmingham City Council (19 017 696)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council is holding her liable for Council Tax for a property she never lived in. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because it is reasonable for Ms X to exercise her right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Tendring District Council (19 017 830)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 18-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because the complainant could have appealed to the tribunal and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.