Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s service of a summons for unpaid council tax. We will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council’s service of a summons for unpaid council tax.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
5. The complainant had an opportunity to comment on my draft decision.

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My assessment

6. Ms X says that she has made up to date payments of council tax but, despite this, the Council served a summons upon her (with costs).
7. The Council says that the summons was issued because there were earlier debts. Nevertheless, the Council agreed to remove the summons costs if Ms X made agreed payments to remove the debt (which she has now done).
8. I am satisfied that this is a remedy to the complaint and there are no grounds to warrant investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

9. I do not intend to investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman