London Borough of Camden (26 005 139)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Upheld
Decision date : 03 Aug 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s issue of a charge certificate for a penalty charge notice. This is because the Council has apologised for its error and offered Mr X £50 and this provides a suitable remedy for the injustice caused.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council failed to cancel a penalty charge notice (PCN) immediately following London Tribunals’ decision to uphold his appeal. Instead, it issued Mr X a charge certificate which increased the amount of the penalty charge from £160 to £240. Mr X says this caused him severe avoidable distress and anxiety and wasted his time.
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 effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council has accepted it issued the charge certificate in error but says it cancelled this, and the PCN itself, immediately following Mr X’s contact. In response to Mr X’s complaint about the matter it apologised and offered him £50.
- Mr X is not satisfied with the Council’s offer but I consider it provides a suitable remedy for the injustice caused by its actions. The Council did not take any further action after issuing the charge certificate or instruct enforcement agents to visit Mr X at home, and the issue is now resolved.
- I appreciate Mr X is frustrated the Council failed to comply with London Tribunals’ decision but any remaining injustice he has is not significant enough to warrant investigation or any further remedy.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the Council has offered a suitable remedy for Mr X’s injustice and it is unlikely further investigation would achieve significantly more.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman