Charnwood Borough Council (19 018 692)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 15-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a council tax bill for an empty property. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault, and if Mr X disputes liability, it is reasonable for him to appeal to the tribunal.

London Borough of Croydon (19 018 630)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 14-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because Miss X has appealed to the tribunal and so the complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Reading Borough Council (19 019 101)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council enforced a Council tax debt. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

Salford City Council (19 013 676)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 13-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council is paying his housing benefit direct to his landlord and failed to get his landlord to deal properly with anti social behaviour. The Council has not caused Mr X injustice. It has agreed with the Ombudsman that it will act to ensure that housing benefit decision letters clearly explain rights of appeal to an independent tribunal.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19 017 985)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s enforcement of a business rates debt and Council tax. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council and disputes about liability and the amount of the bill are for the courts.

Manchester City Council (19 018 071)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 13-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council has dealt with her Council tax payments and its subsequent enforcement. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council and part of the complaint is out of time.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 018 135)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 13-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainant’s council tax account. This is because it is unlikely he will find fault or that an investigation would add to the Council’s response.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 018 194)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 13-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council failed to act on the information he provided and delayed dealing with his council tax dispute. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Islington (19 015 554)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 13-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council refused a council tax exemption on two flats and was wrong to say it had no discretion to do so. There is no fault by the Council and part of the complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction being made late.

Wealden District Council (19 016 434)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 13-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that the Council failed to handle her housing benefit and council tax accounts properly from 2016. Much of the complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. The Council has reviewed the council tax position and agreed to refund to Ms X the costs of a court summons as a gesture of goodwill.