Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s enforcement of a parking penalty charge notice. This is because the Council has reoffered payment of the charge at the discounted rate, which is the outcome the complainant sought.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains she was unable to pay a parking penalty charge notice (PCN) the Council had issued to her at the discounted rate as the Council’s online payment system was not working. Mrs X wants to pay the PCN at the discounted rate.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or further investigation would not lead to a different outcome (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council has told me it has reverted the PCN to the discounted rate.
6. We will not investigate as this is the outcome Mrs X sought and it is unlikely we can add to this.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the Council has provided the outcome she sought.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman