The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the cost of a penalty charge notice as there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to justify our further involvement.
The complaint
Mr X complains he was charged £80, instead of £40, to clear a parking penalty charge notice (PCN).
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 there is not enough evidence of fault or fault causing a significant injustice, to justify investigating (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 PCN that was issued to Mr X was for £80, reduced to £40 if paid within a discount period. The Council is entitled in law to charge £80 if early payment is not made and it is not fault for it to have done so.
Additionally, we have limited resources and must direct them to the most serious cases. The injustice Mr X claims amounts to him having paid an extra £40. This does not represent a level of loss or harm that would generally justify our involvement, in the public interest.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, or fault causing a significant injustice, to justify our further involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman