Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the rate of a penalty charge notice Mr X had to pay as the Council has indicated it is to reconsider Mr X’s case. I am satisfied with those actions.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains he had to pay an extra £140 to clear a parking penalty charge notice the Council had issued to him when the initial payment of £70 he made to clear it did not go through due to a technical fault which Mr X was unaware of.

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The Ombudsman’s role and power

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)

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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. Following our initial enquiries to the Council, it advised it was to reconsider Mr X’s case. Had we investigated, it is likely this is broadly the most we could have achieved and as such, I do not consider our further involvement is warranted, in the public interest.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council is reconsidering Mr X’s case.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman