London Borough of Barnet (21 017 894)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled a housing benefit appeal. The Council has already investigated and provided a remedy where it identified fault and we would not achieve a different outcome.

London Borough of Hackney (21 006 884)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 23-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr B complained about the way the Council dealt with his claims for housing benefit and council tax reduction. We found the Council delayed for a year in revising Mr B’s claims once he had provided the necessary information. While the delay (due to the cyber-attack in October 2020) was largely outside the Council’s control, it was service failure which caused Mr B financial hardship and distress. The Council has agreed to pay Mr B £200.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (21 010 196)

Statement Upheld Council tax 23-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains the Council passed her debt recovery on to Enforcement Agents (bailiffs) prematurely. She complains the bailiffs were aggressive and rude towards her even though she was vulnerable and suffering with the effects of long Covid. This caused her distress. We find fault with the bailiffs for a phone conversation they had with Ms X. They have apologised and no further remedy is necessary.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (21 011 318)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 23-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate the Council’s handling of a previous complaint relating to Mr X’s Council Tax liability dating back to 2017.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (21 016 875)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 23-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint the Council is holding Mr X liable to pay council tax on a property he owns and seeking to recover the debt. It is reasonable for Mr X to use or have used his right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Ipswich Borough Council (21 016 915)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 23-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax and rent refund. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because we have no power to investigate complaints about rent accounts.

Vale of White Horse District Council (21 017 839)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 23-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to accept her student status for council tax purposes because she could appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Northumberland County Council (21 017 475)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 22-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the suspension of the complainant’s housing benefit. Ms G has a right to appeal against this decision at the Social Security Appeal Tribunal.

City of Wolverhampton Council (21 005 392)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 22-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council wrongly refused his business a COVID-19 business grant, causing financial difficulties. We will not investigate this complaint as we have not seen evidence of fault in how the Council determined Mr X’s application.

London Borough of Havering (21 016 790)

Statement Upheld Council tax 21-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about errors by the Council in the handling of the complainant’s council tax. This is because the Council has offered a satisfactory remedy.