London Borough of Bexley (25 024 264)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 19 May 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling a Penalty Charge Notice. This is because the alleged fault has not caused injustice to Mr X.
The complaint
- Mr X complained that he did not receive any response from the Council following formal representations he made regarding a Penalty Charge Notice issued for a vehicle he was driving. He says this caused him distress.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the @complainant @and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X stated that he made formal representations to the Council following the issue of a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for a vehicle he was driving. He says he did not receive a response from the Council.
- The Council explained that it sent its response to the formal representations to the registered keeper of the vehicle, who is the legally liable party.
- As Mr X is not the registered keeper and therefore not liable for the PCN, we will not investigate this complaint, as any potential fault has not caused him a personal injustice. Furthermore, the Council is not required to respond to representations made by Mr X, as he does not have the right to receive a response in his capacity as the driver of the vehicle.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the alleged fault has not caused injustice to him.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman