The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, We are the final stage for complaints about councils, all adult social care providers (including care homes and home care agencies) and some other organisations providing local public services. We are a f...
Is LG & SC Ombudsman legit?
LG & SC Ombudsman (www.lgo.org.uk) has a 1.1 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 100 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Public & Local Services and its reputation is poor. 98% of reviews are 1 star, a relatively high share; The business has not yet replied to negative reviews; 62 of them were added in the last 12 months. Last updated 2026-09-05.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Consumers frequently highlighted the exceptionally poor service, pointing out that response times took many frustrating months or even years to arrive without proper updates or clear explanations. People frequently mentioned that communication could be improved, noting that some concerns felt overlooked and that greater transparency would be appreciated.
Some reviewers were happy with the staff, noting polite interactions and isolated instances where investigations were handled smoothly and justice was successfully served. A few individuals also found the initial communication pleasant before encountering deeper procedural frustrations and template responses during their appeals.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
I turned to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman ("LGSCO" / "LGO"), hoping for an impartial referee. Instead, I found a body that bends over backwards to defend councils while stonewalling disabled complainants like me.
1. Dismissive, box-ticking “investigations”:
1.1. Despite the London Borough of Newham Council admitting multiple faults (wrongly recording my name, delaying a Stage-2 review by nine months, giving unclear instructions about student council-tax discount, failing to grant my student council tax discount, etc.), the LGO refused to investigate because the “likely fault has not caused significant injustice.”
1.2. The investigator decided that a then-unpaid token £100 from Newham Council was a sufficient remedy and closed the case without even asking the council to put things right or prove if/when they paid said remedy.
2. Equality Act? What Equality Act?:
2.1. I repeatedly asked for reasonable adjustments (plain-English emails only, numbered paragraphs). Instead I received unreadable portal messages and generic letters.
2.2. When I complained, an assessment manager, coolly replied that the Equality Act does not require the LGO to answer as many questions as I might want to ask. That contemptuous tone tells you everything about their attitude to disabled people.
3. Threats instead of answers:
3.1. After I requested a review, the LGO warned that if I tried judicial review, they would pursue me for £2,000 to £3,000 in costs — an intimidation tactic more befitting an aggressive law firm than a public-service ombudsman.
4. Stonewalling service-complaint process:
4.1. When I lodged a formal service complaint under the Equality Act detailing unreadable correspondence and an unqualified “readability analysis” of my disability-related emails, the response ducked every substantive point and blamed “human error,” offering only another hollow apology.
5. Forcing litigants into court:
5.1. Their own solicitor later bragged that the Ombudsman’s findings show my claim is “trivial,” and threatened cost orders if I pursued the matter.
5.2. The watchdog’s default stance seems to be: Save councils money at any cost — even if that means crushing the citizen.
6. Bottom line:
6.1. The LGO markets itself as “independent and fair.” My experience shows it is anything but.
6.2. If you are disabled, expect patronising brush-offs, procedural hurdles, and veiled cost threats.
6.3. The organisation that should champion accountability has instead become a gatekeeper, shielding local authorities from scrutiny.
6.4. Use with extreme caution — and don’t count on them for justice.
Absolutely useless, don't waste your time dealing with these people.
I spent a lot of time explaining the issue and in jumping through all of the bureaucratic hoops to submit the case. 3 months on and they will not even look at it : "It would not be a proportionate use of our limited resources to investigate this
matter further." I agree with many others in their criticism of this organisation and that it should be scrapped as it is clearly not fulfilling it's purpose.
Since my last review nothing has happened except more dumb ignorance from Hampshire CC who just keep telling me to contact the LGSCO. They have been no use at all and after two letters to "THE OMBUDSMAN" Amerdeep Somal who never answers or acknowledges personal mail why waste your time. Have now written to Mrs Williamson CEO of Hampshire CC and again never replied or acknowledged my communication. Could not even get her to answer why Hampshire CC have ignored the Ruling by the Ombudsman. I have now been unemployed for a year due to the dumb ignorance of both bodies. Amazing how when you get paid by the Public Purse any principles go out with the rubbish. The only positive from Hampshire CC was a Order of "No Contact" with me. That was after the Ombudsmans ruling which they never even mentioned to me which questioned their action against me. Why does it need one useless organisation to police another which then takes no notice. Ms Somal it would be nice if you would give me the validation of your ruling and inform me of how to get an Independant Review. Something Hampshire CC refused me after never giving me any Due Process of allowing me to Appeal. The Leader of Hampshire CC, Adams-King has also been as helpful as a dead dog ignoring my communications. Better to be ignorant than to have to be seen to be pro-active in something.
Didn't even investigate... why do they exist!? Pointless.
Didn't even investigate! This is their response -
"We will not investigate this complaint about the Council closing the complainant’s council tax account in error. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault causing injustice."
The Council stopped my direct debit after receiving information 'in good faith' from Purplebricks that I had left the property. I had not left.
I didn't noticed this until 6 months after they cancelled it. In the end I had to pay back a whole years council tax because of their error, due to them using incorrect information 'in good faith'. Sounds like a robust system, doesn't it! Ridiculous!
At the end of the day I didn't do anything wrong, except fail to notice my Council Tax wasn't being taken.
Ombudsman couldn't even be bothered to investigate this, apparently due to lack of evidence, despite the emails from the Council stating they had acted on third party information 'in good faith' which led to them cancelling my direct debit, isn't that alone enough evidence?!
If I had the money to take this to Court I would. This was not my fault, it was theirs. Injustice.
Quasi Quango setup by central government to say you can complain about councils leaving the elderly alone to die, when in reality the councils know they never go against them. Starmer now abolishing all these quangos, leaving this one alone proves it is the central government way of protecting these councils starved of government cash.
Very poor indeed in outcomes, the organisation either needs to be defunded or revised. It certainly does not represent the people who need help! It fobbs you off at every turn even though you have facts and concrete evidence. This organisation requires regular Audits by a non-biased body as they side more on the wrong doings then the right. Waste of Tax payers money! They mislead and fail to represent you in gaining justice!
The LGO, HSE and the Charity Commission are all unfit fit for purpose.
UK Parliament and the PHSO know this.
My advice is take the time and effort to draw up your own detailed plan of action. Include factual evidence of misconduct by the concerned parties. Images where necessary. Inform those you have tried dealing with that you will make it public knowledge.
Don’t be afraid of contacting the hierarchy.
Beware of MP’s though.
Good luck and keep fighting.
Yes, the country has gone to the dogs. These regulatory bodies are a major cause.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) is an absolute disgrace—a pathetic, useless organization that exists only to protect councils and screw over the public.
They don’t investigate properly, ignore evidence, twist facts, and make excuses for corrupt councils. I sent them clear proof of wrongdoing, and they couldn’t be bothered to look at it. Instead, they dismissed my complaint without any real effort, and when I challenged their pathetic decision, they shut down communication entirely—because they can’t handle being called out on their incompetence.
This is not an ombudsman. It’s a spineless, biased, back-covering operation designed to rubber-stamp council lies. The whole system is rigged against complainants, and these cowards know it. They hide behind bureaucracy, waffle on about “fairness,” but in reality, they are just puppets for the councils they’re meant to regulate.
If you’re thinking of complaining to the LGSCO, save yourself the stress. They are a complete waste of time, and the only thing they’ll do is gaslight you into thinking your complaint was never valid in the first place.
The LGSCO is a disgraceful, corrupt, and utterly incompetent bunch of bureaucratic clowns. They do not care, they will not help you, and they are not fit for purpose.
I’m sickened to know these people are using PUBLIC money for doing nothing. My complaint was valid, even the Council upheld parts of it but the Ombudsman declined to investigate. When I spoke to the assessor she spoke to me like a child, was rude and had the audacity to say ‘so you want compensation?!’. She was horrid and condescending. Reading these reviews, why is something not being done with this corrupt set-up I’m shocked! Local authorities are getting away with so much due to the Ombudsman. Shame
on you and your incompetent and unprofessional staff.
Absolutely appalling and useless case workers. Close the case without proper investigation. Bribed by the Council surely.
Allowing useless people to be in position of power instead of the unemployment office were they belong.
Appalling cover up. The problem is that if one uses the Council's complaints procedure then you end up having to deal with this Ombudsman. However it consistently covers up what has gone on. In the latest example we have had flooding and even sewage on our road arising from the failure to deal with breaches of conditions yet the incompetent investigator found no fault. There are numerous outstanding breaches of planning control, some of which the Council has yet to even respond to me on yet in the parallel universe of this Ombudsman it is claimed that everything is resolved. Hopeless.
Totally corrupt and Patronising, treat you like you was born yesterday, Totally biased towards the Council's Libraries where are picking on and discrimination with disabled, treated able body people with no learning with a VIP, exemption from house rules, free to take liberty and abuse the system. Rude staff bias staff towards the public sector.
Complete waste of time and emotional stress on behalf of my late mother in law. I spent hours and hours putting together evidence of the failings of our Councils Adult Social Care Services and although the ombudsman did investigate and found fault in the council processes they said there had not been any injustices! They even said that the council had changed 3 of their processes and procedures because of the way we had been treated and employed more resources, which surely shows that their administration is not fit for purpose as to get extra funding in these tight times for councils is near on impossible. Incorrect information was given to us both face to face and on the phone by the council. Letters and communications were not sent to us by the council. If these had been sent to us it would have provided us with the information we needed to make informed decisions on our late mother in law care. We are now faced with a care bill of over £7500 that originally we were told by the council would be funded. I wish I had read the reviews before going to the ombudsman.
It is a waste of tax payers money and not worth wasting your time as it will not be pursued with any effect if at all and biased towards the councils.
Disappointing Experience with LGO - waste of time and money
I should have checked their rating before seeking their help—what a waste of time and money. I find that the U.K. is in decline, with public services being incredibly ineffective. The LGO and other standards bodies are no better. What a shame.
This is the body that's supposed to hold Local Authorities to account and ensure standards are kept, they are an absolute Joke ! Reported the poor delivery of a frontline service by Calderdale Council after I received excuses and unaccountable responses to my complaints. The LGO decided it wasn't worth investigating even though on one occasion the recycling team where caught on CCTV throwing recycling/ rubbish in my garden. Clear corruption and further two tiered govt body. This body is funded by Local Authorities through our taxation and Council Tax, therefore i wonder why they are clearly not investigating issues from my experience and other reviews. The LGO is not fit for purpose and the sooner these useless and ineffective quangos costing tax payers alot of money get closed down. Let's hope Reform Party get elected in 4 years because such bodies / quangos are already on their radar and stated they will be closing down and or totally reforming these ineffectual costly govt bodies funded by us the tax payer !!!
Is it not possible to give a minus rating?
Shocking and disgraceful service, I went to them for help over my mums nursing home who had mistreated my mum. The home admitted fault and think a simple sorry is adequate.
There answer? They can't help! Pointless and complete waste of time and space.
LGO NEEDS SCRUTINY BY NEW GOVT. AS IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.
I had a situation where a Local Authority was denying that a local dog boarding kennels never called in vets. They took money from a so called Rescue who imported dogs from Romania and stored them there The Rescue owner paid no one to take care of the animals , or to prep them for adoption , and the kennels took no care of them either, to the extent of dogs dying on site, or becoming feral as became unadoptable.,A dog I adopted was sent out ill , not rehabilitated at all and had to be returned.it had not seen a vet since arriving from Romania and died August 2023 in suspicious circumstances at the kennels. Vets were not called.
The LA dismissed my FOI request re if they had had sight of vet records at the kennels. it's obligatory that records are kept . They responded with misleading data , with a lie in fact. So LGO was the last resort at this stage .
I approached the LGO despite reading the dire reviews as had no place else to go as the RSPCA just rubber stamped the LA response and dogs were suffering. DEFRA referred me to the LA!
LGO read my case notes but decided not to progress my very strong case, supported as it was by 3 reports of neglect from ex volunteers. Even worse, they then told the LA all was well!
NOT to call in vets is entirely against the regs for boarding kennels.
The dogs continue to suffer as there is no regulation of the Rescue owner in England so it is vital to have LA'S who truly scrutinise kennels. and if they do not . then the LGO should be investigating . The LGO needs scrutiny.
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