Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council Tax arrears. Mr X knew the Council intended to recover the arrears in 2019 and could have complained to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council is wrongfully pursuing him for council tax arrears and associated debt recovery costs from 2018/19.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. 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

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. We usually expect people to bring complaints to us within 12 months of the date they became aware of the issue. Mr X knew about the arrears and recovery costs in 2018/19 and contacted the Council about it at that time. The Council explained that its calculations were correct and would not be withdrawn. Mr X should have made a formal complaint to the Council at that time and then come to the Ombudsman if he remained unhappy. I have seen no good reasons why he did not. Therefore we will not investigate this complaint now.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman