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.

Halton Borough Council (26 003 749)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 05-Jul-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the actions of the Council’s enforcement agents as Mr X sought a remedy in court about this. We will not investigate Mr X’s broader complaint of illegal activity by enforcement agents as this is a matter for the police.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (25 023 278)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council used an enforcement agent to recover council tax. We are unlikely to find fault with the Council.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (25 018 216)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the date used by the Council to calculate Mrs X’s business rates liability. This is because the injustice Mrs X claims stems from the Valuation Office Agency’s decision rather than any action by the Council. If Mrs X disagrees with this decision she may appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Oxford City Council (25 021 901)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 22-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mr X’s business rates accounts. This is because it is unlikely investigation would achieve any worthwhile outcome for Mr X. The Council has already taken the accounts back to an earlier stage and apologised to Mr X and we cannot say it must agree to waive any further business rates it may decide are due at a later date.

Hart District Council (25 003 805)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled a business rates account. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Cheltenham Borough Council (25 023 148)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 17-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council conducted a Business Improvement District renewal ballot. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision to justify investigating.