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Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax Decision : Upheld Decision date : 18 Feb 2026 The complaint
My assessment
Final decision
The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about wrongful enforcement of a council tax debt as there is insufficient remaining injustice caused to the complainant to warrant our further involvement.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council wrongly held him liable for council tax at a property he had vacated and that it took the matter to court, obtaining a liability order against him. Mr X said this caused him stress and wasted time and impacted on his wellbeing. Mr X also said the enforcement action had harmed his reputational standing as he works in the financial industry.
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 any remaining injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council acknowledged that in error it had pursued Mr X for council tax. It apologised to Mr X for the distress and inconvenience caused and confirmed there was no liability and all recovery action had been withdrawn. The Council said it had also reviewed its processes to prevent similar issues in future.
I recognise Mr X remains unhappy about what took place, but given the action the Council has taken, I do not consider there is sufficient remaining injustice caused to him to warrant our further involvement. I appreciate Mr X’s concerns about reputational damage, but a liability order does not appear on a person’s credit file, and so would not have the impact Mr X is concerned about.
For these reasons, we will not investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient remaining injustice caused to him to warrant our further involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman