The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council wrongly pursued Mrs X for unpaid council tax. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. The Council has written off any court costs and any outstanding amount. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mrs X complained the Council wrongly pursued her for council tax on a property she rented out. She said the Council sent reminders about the unpaid council tax to that property, instead of her home address. She said she then received a letter from the Council threatening bailiff actions, because of a significant outstanding debt. She said that letter caused her significant distress. She wants the Council to pay her compensation.
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: further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
(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
The Council’s complaint response states that after Mrs X contacted it about the council tax arrears, it contacted her tenants to set up payment of the council tax and wrote off any court costs that had arisen. It initially continued to charge her for five days of council tax it assessed her as liable for, before writing off that amount. The Council also apologised for writing to Mrs X at the tenanted property, instead of her home address. It explained how that error had happened.
As the Council has fully investigated the complaint; taken corrective action and apologised for using the incorrect address, we will not investigate this complaint. That is because further investigation will not lead to a different outcome. There is not significant outstanding injustice that justifies us investigating.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman