London Borough of Croydon (21 015 640)
Statement Upheld Other 28-Apr-2022
Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to tell bailiffs that he had cleared his council tax liability. This resulted in an unnecessary call and visit by bailiffs. We found there was fault by the Council that warrants and apology and a payment to Mr X.
London Borough of Haringey (21 008 103)
Statement Upheld Other 18-Mar-2022
Summary: Mr X complained the Council incorrectly applied a retail discount to his company's business rates account. The Council was at fault. It incorrectly applied the discount on the account, then billed Mr X's company without proper communication and then withdrew an offer to cancel some of the debt after Mr X had made a substantial payment. The Council has agreed it will pay Mr X £300 to acknowledge the distress and frustration this caused him.
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (21 004 705)
Statement Not upheld Other 10-Mar-2022
Summary: Mr X complains the Council unreasonably charged him for court costs and enforcement agent fees for collecting business rates when it sent all relevant information to the wrong address. We found fault as the Council's enforcement agents did not serve Mr X with a new Notice of Enforcement to his current address. This caused Mr X an injustice as he has paid avoidable enforcement fees. We have recommended a suitable remedy and so are minded to complete our investigation.
Redcar & Cleveland Council (21 006 370)
Statement Not upheld Other 05-Jan-2022
Summary: Miss X complained about the Council's decision to bill her for empty business rates. We discontinued our investigation as the courts are best placed to determine disputes about liability to pay business rates.
Fareham Borough Council (20 011 159)
Statement Upheld Other 09-Dec-2021
Summary: Mr X complained the Council made a refund of business rates on a rented unit to the landlord even though Mr X is the registered rate payer. The Council acknowledges it should have contacted Mr X before paying the refund to the landlord's bank account even though this was the account from which the business rates were paid. The Council has offered to now make the payment to Mr X.
Tewkesbury Borough Council (20 010 018)
Statement Upheld Other 06-Sep-2021
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council's failure to properly assess his claims for small business rates relief and issue timely and accurate business rates bills. We found fault by the Council in its handling of Mr X's liability for business rates, which led to backdated bills of about £14,000. What happened caused Mr X avoidable shock and distress for which the Council agreed to apologise and provide financial redress. The Council also agreed to arrange an affordable payment plan with Mr X for the outstanding business rates.
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (20 006 580)
Statement Not upheld Other 19-Aug-2021
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council's refusal to pay his company a grant and its decision to bill the company for business rates. We found no fault in how the Council reached its grant and billing decisions.
London Borough of Merton (20 009 370)
Statement Not upheld Other 27-Jul-2021
Summary: Miss B complains about enforcement agents disposing of items seized from her property for Council Tax debt. She says the Council failed to reimburse her the full value of the items. We discontinued our investigation into Miss B's complaint because we are satisfied with the Council's proposed actions.
London Borough of Camden (20 009 202)
Statement Not upheld Other 29-Jun-2021
Summary: Mr X complains the Council refused to decide on his charity's applications for mandatory charitable rate relief which he submitted in November 2019 and August 2020. We have no jurisdiction to consider the complaint about the application submitted in November 2019. We find no fault with the Council's actions in relation to the August 2020 application.
Statement Upheld Other 03-Jun-2021
Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for how it handled the decision to take continuing enforcement action against the complainant for unpaid Council Tax, and for the delay in communicating with the complainant about this. This caused the complainant and her family distress. The Council has agreed to pay the complainant a financial remedy and carry out a service review.