Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her council tax case. A further investigation is unlikely to achieve anything worthwhile.

The complaint

1. Miss X said the Council wrote to her about outstanding council tax. She said she responded but the Council accused her of not responding, and at the same time it apologised for not responding to her email.
2. Miss X said she was issued a court summons even though she had paid the council tax. She said the situation caused her distress and a loss of earnings.
3. She would like the Council to offer her a goodwill payment and review its internal processes.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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 no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. The Council has already apologised for not responding to her email and acknowledged the inconvenience this caused her.
8. We note the Council withdrew the court summons following contact from Miss X.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because a further investigation is unlikely to achieve anything worthwhile.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman