Not fit for purpose and is biased in…
Not fit for purpose and is biased in favour of councils. I followed the council’s formal complaints procedure, encouraged by my MP, without any resolution. I therefore referred the matter to the Ombudsman. Preparing the complaint took several hours, including writing a detailed submission and gathering supporting evidence. I then experienced difficulties uploading the material to the Ombudsman’s online portal, an issue also reported by others. I was informed by email that it would take 3 months for the case to be allocated to a case officer. After waiting the full three months, I received a further email stating that no action would be taken. The explanation cited funding pressures, a reason others have also encountered, and showed clear bias towards the council, despite apparent procedural breaches already having occurred. No attempt was made to contact me, ask questions, or clarify any aspect of my complaint. The decision was simply issued and closed. The entire process was a waste of time and effort. Any confidence I had in the Ombudsman as an independent body was completely undermined, leaving the council free to continue without meaningful scrutiny or accountability. I was particularly concerned to be told that the Ombudsman intended to publish its findings. which I have asked not to happen, as the matter remains ongoing with the council. I have received no response to that request. The mental strain placed on my family over the past nineteen months has been severe and is ongoing, yet this appears to have been given no consideration at all. In hindsight, I regret not having seen the Trustpilot reviews before submitting the complaint. I am not surprised that 98% of complaints are 1 star. The cost to taxpayers of maintaining a service that operates with such evident bias is likely to be significant. The Ombudsman does not deliver justice for those affected by council failings and does not provide effective accountability. As a result, individuals are left without recourse when councils fail to act fairly or lawfully.