Thank you for the quick response and advice Zooman. Could I please ask what it is that makes you suggest a Solicitor? Do you think I will not get much joy if I try to deal with this myself? Thanks M

Hello all, At my work address I have just received a letter from the Council saying I had Council Tax arrears for a given address. I have never lived at the address and was living at my parents home during the dates stated. This is the first contact I have had about the Council Tax arrears. The worst part is that the letter was to inform me that the council are requesting deductions from my wages directly from my employer! I checked with my works finance officer and they have indeed received a request from the Council. Question 1: If the Council think I am the debtor and they have contacted my employer and myself at my work address, why have they gone immediately for the wage deduction? Why have they not asked me about the debt and given me a chance to explain? I now have the embarasement of my employer receiving this request. Question 2: How do I go about proving this is not my debt? What if someone has used my identity in the past and caused this debt. How can I prove I lived somewhere else at that time (about 3 years ago). I now live with my girlfriend but my parents are still at my previous address. Question 3: what can I do immediately to stop this action of deductions from my wages. Looking at the explanation of deductions % I will be hit with a £500 deduction in the first month (not something I have budgeted for and can afford). I have not yet phoned the Council, I thought I would check with you guys first. Thanks in advance for your advice. M