Volunteer helps fix erroneous late fee

The Ombudsman Office has a long history of welcoming volunteers to assist in resolving citizen problems with government agencies. In fact, one of our purposes in our founding documents is to provide an opportunity for constructive public service by volunteers.

Last week, a volunteer assisted us with the case of a woman who complained that she had incurred a late fee of $50, which she felt was unwarranted. The woman is living in a home that is partially subsidized by the Section 8 program. The woman has started a new job, and therefore her income has increased. Because her income increased, the amount of the rent she must pay has also increased.

When the woman started her new employment, she reported the change in income. There was a delay in the processing of her paperwork, which resulted in the assessment of a $50 late fee.

The Ombudsman volunteer contacted the management of the building on the woman’s behalf. The building manager investigated the matter and determined the delay that caused the late fee was due to her staff processing the paperwork and not the fault of the woman. The late fee was removed.

THE OMBUDSMAN column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government and social services, utilities, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to 11 West Monument Avenue, Suite 606, Dayton 45402, or telephone (937) 2234613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@daytonombudsman.org or our website at www.daytonombudsman.org.