Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about client contribution payments he made towards homecare he received between August 2020 and October 2021. This is because this complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise our discretion and investigate.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains he was not aware he was making contributions towards home care he received in 2020 and 2021. He would like full or partial refund of the client contributions.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons to investigate. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X would like a partial or full refund of the client care costs for the period between August 2020 and October 2021. He says he did not realise that the payments had been taken from his bank account.
7. We will not investigate this complaint because it is late. The events Mr X complains about took place in 2020 and 2021. Mr X is responsible for his finances and there is no good reason why he could not have come to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman