Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax communication because there is no evidence of fault causing injustice.

The complaint

1. Mr X says that a letter from the Council about a Council tax discount was threatening and unreasonable.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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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. Mr X says that a letter from the Council asking him to notify them of any changes to his circumstances which could affect his single occupation discount was threatening.
6. The Council says that it is important that all changes of circumstances are notified to the Council to avoid possible overpayments and loss of Council tax payers funds.
7. I am satisfied that the Council’s review was not fault and the letter itself was not threatening. In the absence of fault causing injustice the Ombudsman would not investigate this complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman