Being chased for council tax i do not owe

margar

Desperately need some advice. I lived in a student house all full-time students exempt from council tax three years ago. Then at my present address out of the blue a bill arrived saying my council tax was overdue and I would be in court if I didnt pay it.It took three years to get this bill out of the blue. As soon as I received it I telephoned and was asusured I would be sent a form to complete and had to provide evidence proving I was a student at the time. This form never arrived so I phoned again and was again told the form would be sent. It never arrived but a court summons did! I phoned a third time and was told again it would be sent. The lady I spoke told me they had been unable to post the form as they didn't have my address.

Strange as the bill had reached me at this address! Instead of the promised form, I received another letter stating that I had until the 21st August to pay the original bill plus court costs. I eventually received the form after phoning four times! I had no details of the other student at the address as I have lost contact with her. I obviously do not have her university documentation because I cannot get this as the university would only issue it to her. She is now living abroad as far as I know as she was an international student.

This whole business has worried myself and my wife as it is unfair that I should be charged three years after moving out of a
student property which by the government website is exempt. If this propery was not registered as a student property we should have received a bill when living there. The fact we didn't suggests it was registered as exempt and this is a mistake. If we had received a bill at the time because if we had we would have sorted it out then by coming to see someone to show them we were full-time students. Also I am sure if the council were unaware it was a student property we would have had a court summons or baliffs coming round.

I am really worried they will try to make me pay as I cannot prove now three years on that the other person I lived with was a full-time student if I can't contact her and the bill is nearly £1000. We don't have that kind of money.

Any advice much appreciated.

RAS

Go to your university and ask them for a Council Tax letter - preferably to cover all three years. In the absence of that, they will bill you for CT. It is your responsibility to claim the exemption, not theirs to send you out forms.

CIS

I am really worried they will try to make me pay as I cannot prove now three years on that the other person I lived with was a full-time student if I can't contact her and the bill is nearly £1000. We don't have that kind of money.

Providing that you can prove you were a student then you cannot be held jointly liable with the other joint tenants - proving they were students will then be their problem.

CIS

If this propery was not registered as a student property we should have received a bill when living there. The fact we didn't suggests it was registered as exempt and this is a mistake

Usually this happens because no-one has told the council that previous student occupiers (most student properties are let yr on yr to students) have left and most likely they were still students as far as council were concerned. Once they are finally advised the occupiers have gone then they need to bill the correct people. Try working running council tax accounts in a city with 4 unis and 3 large colleges within easy reach and you'd be amazed how often it happens.

Until the council have proof you are not liable for the council tax then they have to bill you.

margar

Thanks CIS - thought they would still chase me as they probably wont find her. RAS - I was just annoyed that three people failed to send the form they promised and that it took three years to send me a bill. Had I realised it had not been registered as exempt by estate agent as promised I would have sorted it at the time. But hey you live and learn. Will let you know how I get on.