Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (23 001 229)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax bills because the matter has been remedied.
The complaint
- Mr X says that the Council failed to alter his Council tax records following his house move so that he continued to get Council tax bills.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says that he told the Council in July 2022 that he had moved out of his previous accommodation in January 2022 and bought his present property on that date. He said, however, that he did not move into his new house until July 2022.
- The Council says it emailed him in September 2022 asking for more information but there was no reply from Mr X.
- The Council issued bills for the properties. Mr X queried this and after speaking to the Council agree to pass on the information requested. During this time Mr X cancelled his Direct Debit which automatically generated new Council tax bills.
- Mr X is unhappy that payment was taken from his account for a Council tax bill he did not consider he owed.
- The Council explained its actions, apologised and offered £50 compensation for this.
- Whilst I acknowledge that Mr X suffered some time and trouble in this matter, I am satisfied that the apology and the £50 compensation is an adequate remedy and so there are no grounds to investigate this complaint further.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman