Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to use an Attachment of Earnings Order to collect council tax arrears. This is because it is a late complaint.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, complains about the Council’s decision to use an Attachment of Earnings Order (AEO) to collect council tax arrears.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. This includes the complaint correspondence. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X contacted the Council in 2022 to complain it had decided to use a AEO to collect council tax arrears.
6. Mr X completed the Council’s complaints process in January 2024. The Council told Mr X he had 12 months, from the date he first knew about the issues he was complaining about, to complain to us. Mr X complained to us in May 2025.
7. I will not start an investigation because this is a late complaint. Mr X has been aware of the AEO since 2022 and was signposted to us in January 2024. I have not seen any good reason to accept a late complaint especially as the Council signposted Mr X to us and explained the rules about time.

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Final decision

8. We will not start an investigation because this is a late complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman