Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about payments the complainant said she made in error for council tax and rent. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Miss X says she made a payment of £1169.68 to the Council that was billed to a third party. She says she had no legal obligation to make these payments and would like the Council to refund her.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide we are unlikely to find evidence of fault. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. As it was Miss X’s choice to pay a bill invoiced to a third party, there is no evidence of fault by the Council here.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman