Can I complain about the charges?

You may have issues around the local authority charging you. You can deal with problems informally or formally. They should make sure you know how to appeal their decisions, or complain if that’s what you want. 

Informal options

It is best to try and deal with the problem informally first. You can talk about your concerns with the professional who is in charge of your care plan. If you do not have a care plan, you should contact the person who did the assessment. You can ask them to explain their decision or discuss your concerns. 

If you speak to someone, keep a note of:

• Who you spoke to,
• When you spoke to them, and
• What you discussed.

If you are under the Care Programme Approach (CPA), discuss any problems with your care coordinator or key worker. 

Formal options  

Complaints

If you want to complain, you have to use the local authority’s (LA) complaints procedure 

You should be able to deal with most problems informally or through the complaints procedure. However, if you feel that they are not following the law, you could get legal advice. You would need to speak to a community care solicitor.

You may get advice and representation depending on your situation. You may be entitled to legal aid but there are rules around this. Civil Legal Advice will tell you if you qualify for legal aid. They can give you information about local solicitors who accept legal aid. You can contact them on 0845 345 4345. You can search for a solicitor online.