While our investigations of complaints are conducted confidentially, every year we select a number of cases for publication in our annual report. These case summaries (with names changed or abbreviated to protect confidentiality) are meant to illustrate the variety of work the Ombudsperson’s office does, and the kinds of resolutions we can often achieve.
Below you will find a selection of those summaries, taken from our past annual reports.
Housing and Property
Woman distressed by high property assessment
BC Assessment Authority
Woman appeals for housing transfer when ex-husband released from jail
BC Housing
We were contacted by a woman who said she was still waiting to be moved from her home after making a request to BC Housing for a transfer two years ago because her ex-husband knew where she lived and she feared for her safety. She believed that a two year wait for emergency housing was unreasonable....more
Hydro billing based on estimates rather than actual use
BC Hydro
Mr. N contacted us to complain that the estimated hydro reading at the time he moved into his home was inaccurate and should not be used....more
Appeal to have power restored
BC Hydro
In situations where people are unable to communicate with us directly, due to disabilities or other reasons, they have the option of asking a friend, a family member or an advocate to act as an agent on their behalf. In this case we were contacted by an agent for Mr. J with a complaint that BC Hydro had wrongfully disconnected Mr. J’s power supply due to unpaid bills....more
BC Hydro asked to pay for electrical damage
BC Hydro
A woman complained that the decision of the BC Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) to refuse to compensate her for damage to her appliances was unjust. She came to our office because she believed that BC Hydro should be responsible for the damage incurred to her household appliances when the power line to her house severed in November 2005....more