Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a parking penalty charge notice as Mrs X appealed against it to the independent tribunal and the matter is no longer within our remit.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about a parking penalty charge notice (PCN) the Council issued to her when she says she had paid to park and displayed her ticket in her car. Mrs X appealed the PCN to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) but lost her appeal.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal or a government minister or started court action about the matter. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. We cannot investigate this complaint about a PN as Mrs X appealed against it to the TPT. Because of this, as per paragraph three, we no longer have any remit to investigate.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a PCN because it is no longer within our remit as Mrs X appealed the PCN to the TPT and the law says we can no longer investigate.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman