Disgruntled and out of pocket

I received my first court summons yesterday. I was on the point of screaming swear words but because my throat was aching I didn't. Instead I called up Camden Council to ask them why I had been summoned to Highgate Court on 2nd October, 2003.
"You haven't paid your council tax since June," said the man.
"But I haven't been in the country since April," I said.
"You didn't tell us," said the man.
"But I did. And anyway, aren't you meant to find out when you get the new tenants?"
"Look, we'll call the estate agents to find out when the new tenants moved in. If at the point of issuing the summons you still owed us the council tax then the summons still stands. Call us back on Friday."

I may have to pay 680 pounds. That's the price of a return ticket to London from here during peak season on a shoddy airline, on a good one during non-peak season. Then I'll have to claim it back, giving them copies of my passport and whatnot.

Drat. Drat and bother.