Guildford Borough Council (19 015 794)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 03-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint the Council has sent a council tax demand although she is a full-time student. Ms B has a right of appeal to an independent tribunal and it is reasonable to expect her to use this.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 016 957)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 03-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to refund council tax of £17.87. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice. In addition, it is unlikely he could add to the Council’s response.

Durham County Council (19 017 119)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 03-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms B and Mr X complain about the way the Council has dealt with Ms B’s council tax liability for her second property and about its communication with them in connection with this matter. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 017 129)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 03-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council made errors with her housing benefit and council tax support claim but failed to look at it again. This is because it was reasonable to expect Mrs B to pursue her right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal and the Valuation Tribunal.

Liverpool City Council (19 017 136)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 03-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his council tax bill. This is because the complaint is late, and if Mr X disputed the amount owed, it was reasonable for him to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (19 017 718)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with his complaint about a refund. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council’s proposed remedy is satisfactory.

Telford & Wrekin Council (19 011 271)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 02-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to pay part of her housing benefit direct to her landlord in 2015, and to recover overpaid housing benefit in 2016. Mrs X said the Council refused her request for it to reconsider its overpayment decision. The Council was not at fault. It considered Mrs X’s request for reconsideration in line with the relevant regulations and decided her request was late. I have not investigated the Council’s decision to pay the landlord directly, or the circumstances around the overpayment as those matters are late.

West Lindsey District Council (19 017 148)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 02-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a council tax exemption because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. In addition, there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

London Borough of Ealing (19 016 579)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The complaint is about the Council asking Mr B to pay business rates and court costs. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council is no longer asking Mr B to pay anything. Further investigation would not achieve anything significant.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (19 016 711)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s pursuit of unpaid business rates between 2016 and 2017. This is because the complaint is late and it is unlikely we would find fault by the Council.