Milton Keynes Council (21 018 820)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to exempt the complainant from paying Council Tax. This is because it is not unreasonable to expect the complainant to have used his right of appeal against the Council’s decision.

London Borough of Haringey (21 018 249)

Statement Upheld Council tax 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council wrongly stopped taking his council tax payments in 2021 causing arrears. The Council has resolved the complaint appropriately by explaining what went wrong, apologising for its error, and offering to spread the arrears over this financial year.

London Borough of Croydon (21 009 512)

Statement Upheld Council tax 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council using her old address when recovering unpaid council tax. We found the Council at fault in continuing to use the old address although its council tax correspondence was ‘returned to sender’. Use of the old address led to added recovery costs on the council tax debt, which Mrs X had to pay. To put matters right the Council agreed to refund the council tax recovery costs of £495.50 to Mrs X.

London Borough of Hounslow (21 013 442)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 29-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability and council tax support. It would be reasonable for the complainant to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. We will also not investigate parts of the complaint about fraud and the Council causing him to lose his business. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

Lincoln City Council (21 018 536)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 29-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a data breach by the Council and the compensation it has offered. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider it, and the complainant may go to court if they seek financial compensation.

London Borough of Barnet (21 018 344)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability allegedly caused by the Council’s failure to register a former house in multiple occupation (HMO) as one property. It would be reasonable for the complainant to appeal against the decision at the Valuation Tribunal. The complaint is also late and there are no good reasons to exercise our discretion and investigate.

London Borough of Havering (21 018 094)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability and council tax support. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mr Y to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal and it is not a good use of public resources to investigate this complaint about complaint handling.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (21 002 624)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council discriminated against the complainant and will only let him pay his council tax by direct debit. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Merton (21 018 803)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council requesting payment of council tax from Mr Y, or how the amount was affected by the Council’s decision on Mr X’s planning application for the property. This is because Mr Y had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, he used his right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, and there was no fault in the Council demanding council tax irrespective of what happened to the planning application.

Birmingham City Council (21 017 104)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.