LG & SC Ombudsman Arvostelua 

Where do I start with this body? Well let's take a look at what they don't do. They don't investigate complaints properly and when the alleged investigator is informed of breaches in law they continue to ignore such and call in the expensive lawyers at Bevan Brittan. In my case I had a public lawyer address matters in which s149 EQA 2010 is a required duty and the LGSO must show evidence of discharge of the duty. They could not and hired a lawyer in the wrong area of law.

They then refused to re-examine their decision process and result so this will be heading towards legal proceedings.

The LGSO as others have detailed simply do not care about people with disabilities. They also do not understand EQA 2010 law nor understand the difference between a proper & "genuine assessment" required under s149 of the Act but cite anticipatory reasonable adjustments as the process.

They do not read emails nor understand nor care about hat which they allegedly investigate.

Appalling body and one which wastes tax-payers money in hiring lawyers to write letters which are not only incorrect in law but totally inappropriate. It is the tax-payer who picks up the tab for their obstinate manner and refusal to examine their appalling service.

This body is not allowed to determine whether a council acts lawfully or not but this is exactly what this body did in my case.

They are not fit for purpose nor should they be allowed to continue

What a complete failure of the system. We opened another case against Cornwall Council with certain officers abuse of position that were proven previously but nothing resolved so went on again for years, these issues continued to date, so forced to open another case with the LGO, as you all may know you are required to go down the long winded process first where you need to open a complaint case with the council you are complaining about, that’s a complete farce as never any outcome and only dismissed. Then and only then allowed to open an LGO case.

LGO would rather pass the case regardless of the strong evidence presented before them and claim they will only investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which they call ‘fault’. And consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint. And provide a free service, but must use public money carefully… and also go on to claim that previous complaints prior to January 23 cannot be taken into context, yet our main complaint relates to issues to date with using historical evidence proving a catalogue of failings spanning years. Surly that’s how we make a case?? To draw all the evidence??

Yes LGO we understand all this and the evidence presented clearly highlights these failures as you’re well aware and obviously the reason we opened the case initially for some possible help and has had a significant affect for the complainant with great financial loss and destruction of our land as a direct result of the council failings and abuse of position of certain council officers that could be clearly seen. and we obviously understand that the LGO claim they try to use our taxes we have all paid in wisely, but what makes our case less important and why would you imply it would not be wise to take on our case? when you can see clear evidence of failures ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’ having a significant impact on the complainant!!

Cannot be bothered service it’s become we feel, what’s the point of anyone trying to resolve issues with the LGO??? When they clearly refuse to take real complaints on… now that’s a waste of the public time and purse itself.. and with your decision to not proceed with the case, the council will yet again continue with their failures and abuse of position for many more years as they have done so from the previous LGO case that proved council failures.

A complete breakdown of the system as usual!!!!!

I had the exact experience of earlier reviewer Blair, with the same LGSCO employees.

My complaint against the Council was closed at assessment by the LGSCO investigator Mr L, who relayed the Council’s side of the story as ‘The Facts’ my complaint (the actual facts) was completely disregarded – when I replied in full and correcting the errors in his report and asked him (officially) to review his decision, I was completely ignored.

He then further ignored a Service complaint correctly submitted via my LGSCO account email and by post.

A month later I submitted a fresh complaint against the Council with new and revised information to the LGSCO – despite my protestations this complaint was allocated inappropriately to the same Mr L that I had a live service complaint against! He closed my complaint within 2 days and with no explanation,

So! the LGSCO is biased, lazy and vindictive.

I forced their hand with another service complaint against Mr L this one sent by recorded/signed for and photographed deposit at Post Office, as well as by email.
The officer dealing with this service complaint (a Ms S) roundly told me off for daring to question the competence of her precious Mr L, finishing her tirade with the mantra of the LGSCO which is also the cloak of invincibility behind which they hide – complete lack of accountability.
‘‘We have now finished dealing with your service complaint. There are no further stages or rights of appeal against my decision about your service complaint. We shall not acknowledge or reply to any further contact from you about it.
Yours sincerely. J.S.’’

I asked the LGSCO for help with an injustice foisted on my family by the local Council, the Ombudsman instead replied with their own version of injustice, which is to always back the Local Government against the citizen - the citizen left with no further recourse or other avenue of complaint.

Shame on them all…

Appalling quality of service and non-existent complaints system.

In early February I wrote to the LG&SCO as follows.

To Ms S

Thank you for your prompt reply, however, it is quite bewildering that whilst Mr L cannot be bothered for respond to my telephone message after more than a week, you are able to dismiss my service complaint the same day.

It also beggars belief that Mr L is able to consider my complaint simply based on a three-page letter sent to the Council in response to their Final Decision. As previously stated, there is no conceivable reason as to why Mr L did not request the other relevant documentation pertaining to my complaint, as required in LG&SCO’s own Guide, before making a Final Decision. Whilst Mr L might well be experienced, it does not necessarily mean that he is either competent, or infallible. With regard to Mr L being responsible for reviewing his own poor decision, there was always only going to be one outcome. Other Ombudsman Services require a review to be undertaken by a senior manager, in order to ensure a consistent and fair outcome is achieved.

In my considered view, the service provided by the LG&SCO fails to deliver a reasonable service to users. The manner in which my initial complaint has been dealt with simply highlights the arrogance of the LG&SCO, in choosing what cases it might wish to investigate and to dismiss many others on a whim. That is not the way to run a well-respected and trustworthy organisation.

I note from your reply that the LG&SCO will ‘not acknowledge or reply to any further contact’ from me ‘about it’. On that basis I have copied this reply to my local MP, with the hope that something might be undertaken in the future in order to ensure that the LG&SCO is properly managed in a fair, consistent and respectful manner, fully focused on delivering the type and quality of service the General Public quite reasonably expects.

Also copied to my local MP.

5 stars Service all around.
Me and my special needs daughter were being treated unfairly so I took our case to the Local government and social care ombudsman and I can't praise them enough.
From the nice lady who called me to the nice lady who did the investigation were wonderful and treated me and my daughter with great care and support.
I provided all the information they asked for and in the end me and my daughter got the justice we deserved.
I am very grateful that they exist.
Thank you very much.

Absolutely incredible. I read reviews and was put off.
But it was a long process. And you got to keep up loading all the evidence you have. You have to put the effort in!!!!!!.
They can't do it all for u.
They can only investigate if u have a good solid case.
If there's no case there's no case.
I'm very happy with the effort and help of staff. Thankyou !!!!!!!

What an absolute pile of crap.
It defies logic how this organisation is allowed to get away with this level of incompetance.
My complaint with Manchester City Council was based, in part, on the two year delay and their inability to carry out the simpliest aspects of the new rental licensing scheme introduced in areas of Manchester. As such a complaint was made to the local government Ombudsman, and their rationale for dismissing my complaint out of hand, was the delay between the beggining of my original complaint and the filing of the ombudsman complaint.
This is for an ongoing issue, which is still ongoing even now... The ombudsman has completely ignored one of the major issues and decided not to investigate further based ON that issue.
This 'Organisation' clearly has procedures in place to find the tiniest minutia of your complaint to use an an excuse as to reject it. What is clearly worse, there are people who worfk there, reading your complaints and see you asking for help, and thier persoanl moral code allows them to be party to such a scandalous and brazenly dishonest practice.

These people are beyond incompetent. Given that they state the only way to appeal their decision if to escalate the issue to the court system, for a judicial review, which will take even longer, this is a prime example of how one government organisation is complict in the inactions and failures of another, and is far to eager to conspire together in a coverup, continually misleading the needy and desperate people who were hoping that the ombudsman would be able to help.

Do not, DO NOT, under any circumstances you can avoid, file your complaint with these people, you will be sorely disapointed and in the process achieve less than nothing.
Go to your local MP, speak to your local press or anyone for that matter. Hell, my hairdresser is more help than these people.

Whistle blowers are needed to make the LGSCO fit for purpose. Government and parliament should know that the LGSCO is not impartial, open or transparent. It has the worst reviews on trustpilot 99% bad. This has been going on for years and election year is the best time to get residents proper justice. Other ombudsman type organisations also have bad trustpilot reviews. Such as ICO, CEDR, FOS etc. These should all be on the bonfire of the Quangos.

Useless. I wrote to LG&SC Ombudsman about a noise complaint being stalled for 8 months despite noise issues despite the law stating noise issues with evidence (of which I have with the noise app) should've only taken 6 weeks. I sent a complaint against my council including evidence my council rejecting my noise complaint via letter. lgo.org.uk response? CASE CLOSED as case still open?!?!?!? Use fackers both lgo and my council.

This failing group of incompetent investigators are motivated by a desire to cover-up the wrong-doing of equally incompetent Councils. They refuse to disclose recognised levels of investigative training expected of staff, appear unable to decipher the most basic evidence and make decisions that appear to ignore the statutory obligations of the Councils they seek to protect from appropriate scrutiny.
And people are dying as a result..!
They are apparently unaccountable for their decisions, thereby leaving the whistleblowers that dare to disclose wrongdoing with no viable recourse.
Safeguarding is the responsible of everyone, but the LGSC Ombudsman appears oblivious to such obligations, preferring to silence as many critics as possible.
Such willful abuse and neglect of power and responsibilities could constitute a criminal offence of Misconduct in Public Office.
It's about time the conduct of the LGSC Ombudsman and his team is subjected to suitable scrutiny if further deaths at the hands of irresponsible Councils is to be avoided.

They are nonentities; full of bribed professionals that have morals for rights. Men and women that can’t afford to say the truth or discern what is good/right. They don’t know what investigation means, not to talk of evidence. They lie for their living and incapable of judgement. Never go there; if you have a meaningful case, go to the court for civil litigation. When I’m done with the council, I’ll expose them the more.

I wish I'd read these reviews before wasting my time with these criminals. Cornwall council had refused to even send a letter to my noisy neighbours, claiming they didn't have to because it's an 'insulation problem'. Amazing that they could identify this remotely-especially since the insulation has been recently checked by our housing association and is fine! The useless ombudsman simply agreed with the council's psychic evaluation of the situation and even managed to be officious and rude at the same time! I can't even now close my account with them!! It's absolutely sickening that you have no right to complain about shoddy public services except to organizations who are obviously paid to shoot you down in flames. Unfortunately my local tory MP is a waste of space, so I literally cannot do anything more but move home.

I can't give a rating lower than a single star but would if I could do so. The LG and SC ombudsman is a simply a laundry service for local council misdeeds - clearly biased in favour of local councils, staff show arrogance and impatience with follow up mails, will refuse to take further mails or phone calls to discuss cases rudely putting down the phone, and will literally excuse themselves implying clearly that they are "too busy to do their jobs".
It is clear that a strong bias exists wherein their decisions are arbitrary, final, with subliminal intention to just reduce the backlog, rather than correctly, methodically investigate complaints.
To add insult and humiliation the Ombudsman advises the local council miscreant of their decision without delay, often before clients see a judgement themselves, giving council further extension and mandate to carry on with mal-administrative policies.
I learned that the LGSCO is a place where unwary ordinary citizens go to in good faith to have their hopes of arbitration squandered as no element of arbitration takes place at all
This department is so clearly unfit for purpose along with it's staff such as Ursula Finch et al that the Minister for Local Government should close the current service down, clear out it's cache of non-cooperative staff and rebuild trust in the system.
The web shows ample comment that Councils are aware that the LG and SC ombudsman's verdicts carry no weight at all and they can either take it for granted that the LGSCO will always err in their own favour or they can simply ignore any forthcoming judgements because there are no consequences.
The system is totally lame and no doubt expensive to maintain - it appears, regardless of it's benign title to have all the hallmarks of an official scam primarily intended to close down council complaints.

I do not know what the public have to do to get any investigation or support from this excuse of an organisation. This time Devon CC have failed to maintain previously walkable verges along a 60 mpg + (as we know) 'A' road. This forces me as a pensioner to walk in the traffic or try jumping up a 3ft muddy slippery weed ridden bank when cars speed past to reach part of my land (or wade across a river!). The general public must do the same to reach bus stops and rambling footpaths. DCC invite reporting of such a danger then refuse to do anything. The LGO under delegated powers meaning some office person shuffles the emails, deny my complaint re FLOODING?? I then talk to a brick wall and they have the power to simply shut down further communication. DCC now say they have stopped a lot of verge maintenance due to climate and biodiversity to encourage flora and wildlife!!! So officially the well being of nettles, brambles, thistles, hogweed, poisonous Hemlock and legally requiring removal Himalayan balsam is valued over human life??? As for wildlife there are rats and a deer crossing where they get killed and a request for a deer warning sign refused by DCC. My life is below that of a rat. Imagine having to walk in the North Circular to reach part of your garden but the LGO have no comprehension. At least i have it documented should i be knocked over. Maybe i shouldn't complain as my card will be marked for the future but over several serious valid complaints in the past every one is refused. One where a Council prosecutes for illegality during an LGO investigation! prior to result, conceals evidence, hides records for years, lies in court then years later writes to admit oops no actual illegality while keeping a resident vexatious for 7 years without review and lies in FOIs receives a 'nothing to see here'. I think it is pointless to try and get help. Save your blood pressure and time and give up knowing the LGO will never act against Local Councils or organisations in the obvious wrong.

Not fit for purpose.spend more time looking for ways to avoid doing an investigation than undertaking one.
Remove any funding they get.

Agree with the other comments on here. It is comforting in some odd sort of way that we're all having the same sort of experience, even though it is tragic at the same time.

Agree with others, that this organization is not fit for purpose.

I had a complaint about my local Chidren's Services. My daughter was taken illegally by her mother, against the court orders, and it resulted in her attempting suicide. Children's services did nothing about the situation, ignoring my regular warnings about the risks of her being with her mother, until it was too late. I believe this was down to institutional sexism and incompetence on their part.

Made a complaint direct to the local authority, they refused to accept responsibility for what had happened, so I kept on going to the next stage. Eventually it got to the LGSCO.

The LGSCO gave the local authority every benefit of the doubt on every decision they took, despite the serious outcome for my daughter. When the local authority didn't meet deadlines to respond to enquiries, the LGSCO just gave them more time.

The LGSCO refused to consider substantial parts of my complaint, dismissing them as outside of their remit, because 'they are not a regulator'.

When I pointed out factual errors and logical inconsitencies in the local authorities' argument as to how they had conducted themselves, the LGSCO just said they were 'satisfied ' that the local authority were not at fault, with no explanation why, or why my argument was invalid, and they made no attempt to engage with the facts whatsoever.

It seems clear that this organisation exists just to try and exonerate the local authorities wherever possible, whatever they may have done. I wonder where their funding comes from?

The (minor) remedial measures they recommended in my case were completely ignored by the council, and after complaining again to the LGSCO about that, they said there was nothing they could do! Absolutely no teeth, or willingness to use them on the local authorities. Not worth your time.

The worst part is that this means that effectively the local authorities are unaccountable to anyone, as the LGSCO certainly isn't going to hold them to account.

I agree with other users - they should be scrapped, and replaced with something that actually tries to hold local authorities accountable. But I don't see that happening.

Don't get your hopes up - they aren't going to be on your side...

Local Government Ombudsman is on the Broxbourne council's side. Local Government Ombudsman supports the Broxbourne council to ignore it's citizens. There's no logic in what they do and they have the support from the law because the Local Government Ombudsman decision is final and there's nowhere to turn if there would have been a mistake on their side, totally unacceptable.

Not fit for purpose and should be closed forthwith. No accountability and in my case a complete disregard for the law. It does not even deserve one star . I do not know what the well paid staff are employed to do. I found them in my case to be rude , lazy and incompetent. Everyone should complain direct to the MP , PM ( direct - let him be accountable ) and the press. Make it an general election issue Hopeless and inept and organization. It has a blatant " We do not care attitude that you suffer at every single level" from the top downwards . I served a Freedom of Notice and Subject Access request to see exactly what the LGO actually looked at when it assessed my case. The response is frightening. Everyone should do so that way the LGO are held to account and if necessary go to Court against it .

The LGSCO is just a complete waste of time. I contacted them about my local council and instead of dealing with my complaint they referred it back to the LA who surprisingly concluded that they were right. I took my complaint back to the LGSCO who then said they wouldn't investigate my case unless I supplied them with new evidence which I did, but they claimed my evidence was just me telling the same old story so there's need to reopen the case. I gave them 1 star because I couldn't leave zero stars.

Not worthy of one star

Betrayal
Collusion
Corruption
Coverup
Duplicity
Failure
Gaslighting
Incompetence
Lies
Manipulation
Obfuscation
Pathetic
Stonewalling

I will be naming on 'X' lgscocoverups