Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about Penalty Charge Notice for an alleged parking contravention. Further investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) the Council issued him for an alleged parking contravention. Mr X said the Council relied on signage from further down the road, but those restrictions did not apply where he parked.
2. Mr X said the matter caused him significant distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 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

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained about a PCN which he said the Council issued him in bad faith.
7. In response to Mr X’s complaint, the Council confirmed the PCN had been issued due to a signage issue. The Council cancelled the PCN, apologised to Mr X and said it would review signage in the area.
8. Further investigation by the Ombudsman would not lead to a significantly different outcome here.
9. The actions taken by the Council to resolve this complaint appear to be appropriate and so we will not investigate.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman