Norwich City Council (25 001 962)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 24-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to backdate his council tax reduction to February 2024. We will also not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council issuing a court summons when he had not received the council tax bills. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council for us to investigate these matters.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (25 005 134)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 16-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council charging him full council tax. This is because it is reasonable for Mr B to challenge the Council’s decision by putting in an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Birmingham City Council (24 003 718)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 15-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s council tax reduction decisions in 2021. This is because the complaint is late, and Mr B could have appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (25 003 586)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 15-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability and Council tax support because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (24 013 910)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 10-Jun-2025

Summary: Mrs B complained the Council told her she was entitled to council tax support (CTS), but later told her she was not, resulting in a large overpayment. There was fault by the Council. It delayed reviewing Mrs B’s CTS entitlement after it had received a notification her circumstances had changed, from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Because of the fault, Mrs B suffered distress and worry, and it has put a strain on her finances. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment to Mrs B, and provide us with evidence of the actions it says it has already taken to reduce delays.

London Borough of Hillingdon (25 001 293)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 10-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council refusing her application for council tax reduction. This is because Mrs X could reasonably have used her right to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Northumberland County Council (24 023 496)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 05-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the recovery of housing benefit overpayments because it was reasonable for Ms X to appeal to the tribunal.

Woking Borough Council (24 017 234)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 04-Jun-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to process a change of council tax liability in a timely manner. She says the Council’s actions caused her avoidable distress and negatively impacted her mental health. We have ended our investigation because Ms X has appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.

Liverpool City Council (24 022 835)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to make an ex-gratia payment after it made an error in calculating the complainant’s council tax support. This is because the Council has already provided a satisfactory remedy.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (24 017 545)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 30-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council charges for council tax, or the amount of council tax reduction the complainant receives. This is because these matters carry a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal which the complainant could reasonably exercise. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council with respect to its consideration of any additional support it could provide the complainant to address her concerns.