London Borough of Hackney (25 025 629)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 11-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his business rates account. Part of his complaint is out of our jurisdiction, and there isn’t enough evidence of fault by the Council in the other part of his complaint. There is also not enough evidence of significant personal injustice to warrant further investigation.

Manchester City Council (26 011 543)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mr X’s request for a refund of business rates. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

Stafford Borough Council (26 012 724)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a report of fraud. This is because the complaint is made late.

City of London (25 018 019)

Statement Not upheld Other 30-Jul-2026

Summary: We have discontinued the investigation. The complaint concerns a substantial dispute about legal entitlement to a business rates credit. We consider a court is better placed to resolve that dispute and provide an enforceable remedy. The Council has already corrected the correspondence and recovery issues, withdrawn the liability orders and paid Company A £500. Further investigation is unlikely to achieve a different outcome.

London Borough of Harrow (25 019 349)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about business rates relief. The Council has now awarded rates relief. It is unlikely we would achieve significantly more now.

Rutland County Council (25 018 860)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 23-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax arrears. This is because we could not add anything further to the Council’s response. Of the remaining elements, there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (26 001 814)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax enforcement this is more appropriately a matter for the Information Commissioner.

London Borough of Barnet (25 025 183)

Statement Upheld Other 13-Jul-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about enforcement action related to council tax. The Council agreed to resolve the complaint early by issuing an apology and paying Mrs X a symbolic payment to acknowledge the injustice caused.

Torbay Council (25 013 033)

Statement Upheld Other 12-Jul-2026

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained about the Council’s management of their business rates accounts, resulting in it taking payments from the wrong bank accounts. This caused them significant frustration, distress and inconvenience. We decided the Council’s symbolic payment offer as sufficient to recognise their injustice. The Council has agreed to formally apologise to Mr and Mrs X to recognise their remaining injustice.

London Borough of Newham (25 012 581)

Statement Upheld Other 06-Jul-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to apply a vulnerability marker to her council tax account despite disclosures about domestic abuse. The Council accepts it failed to apply its procedure consistently and that the service received by Ms X fell below expected standards. As a result the Council took unnecessary enforcement action and Ms X incurred extra costs. The Council has agreed a remedy which includes removing costs, a symbolic payment to Ms X and taking action in respect of her account.