Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about demand notices the Council sent Mr X over unpaid penalty charge notices. There is no evidence of fault and Mr X did not experience an injustice.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council sent him two demands for unpaid penalty charge notices he received in 2020.
2. He says the demands were unexpected and caused him shock and emotional distress. He wants £1,000 compensation.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. Mr X received two parking charge notices in 2020. He did not pay them and so they were recorded at the County Court and Orders for Recovery of the Unpaid Debts were served on Mr X.
7. The Council contacted Mr X about these debts in 2024 but took no further action.
8. Subsequently, the warrants for both debts expired and the Council wrote to tell Mr X this in January 2025.
9. We will not investigate this complaint. Mr X received two parking charge notices which he did not pay. The Council was entitled to contact him to seek payment. It later informed him the warrants had expired and so the debt could no longer to recovered. There is no evidence of fault and Mr X did not experience an injustice. Indeed, it could be argued Mr X benefitted from the Council’s actions as he no longer has to pay the fines he owed.

Back to top

Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is no evidence of fault and Mr X did not experience an injustice.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman