London Borough of Camden (25 025 558)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 07 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to take enforcement action regarding outstanding debt on Miss X’s council tax account. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
The complaint
- Miss X complained the Council took enforcement action concerning outstanding debt on her council tax account without giving her the opportunity to clear the debt.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Miss X.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Miss X moved out of her property and into temporary accommodation. She gave the Council her temporary address but did not update the Council when she moved into permanent accommodation shortly after.
- The Council sent Miss X a final council tax bill to the temporary address as it could not collect the outstanding amount due to Miss X cancelling the direct debit. The Council sent reminders and a summons to the temporary address before transferring the account to debt collection. Miss X had to pay enforcement fees as well as the final bill amount as a result.
- Miss X is unhappy with the Council. The Council has explained to Miss X why it took the actions it did. The responsibility lay with Miss X to provide the Council with the correct address. The events that occurred took place because this did not happen. The evidence shows the Council followed the correct process before proceeding with enforcement action. An investigation would therefore be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman