council tax summons to full time student

[alilow]

Hi All,
My son who is a full time student at Manchester University recently received a summons for two months council tax. The period was July-September 2017. The summons was the first he had heard about the matter as apparently one of his house mates had been receiving all of the previous correspondence from the council and had not told him about it !. As soon as he got the summons he provided the information they needed to prove he was a full time student and therefore should not pay council tax.
They are now insisting he pay £83 for the summons. Can anyone tell me if he has to pay this? I would appreciate any advise

[lgfa92]

Hi All,
My son who is a full time student at Manchester University recently received a summons for two months council tax. The period was July-September 2017. The summons was the first he had heard about the matter as apparently one of his house mates had been receiving all of the previous correspondence from the council and had not told him about it !. As soon as he got the summons he provided the information they needed to prove he was a full time student and therefore should not pay council tax.
They are now insisting he pay £83 for the summons. Can anyone tell me if he has to pay this? I would appreciate any advise

The council are correct in that they should continue action based on the circumstances as they know it, i.e. he was not a student. Any costs incurred prior to any discount or exemption aren't invalidated by the subsequent granting of a discount/exemption. Where it turns out that a property is occupied only by students and a Class N exemption is awarded some councils will withdraw the action but that is on the discretion of the council.