AOE on payslip, no idea why?

[Bubblegum89]

Checking my December payslip, I’ve had an AOE of £16 taken out of my wages. This is the first I’m hearing about it. As far as I know, any debts I have are being paid one way or another. I have no council tax or rent arrears. The only thing I can think of is an old tax credit debt from 2009 that I apparently had and didn’t know about until I claimed UC a few years ago and had been paying via that. Anyway, regardless of who/what it’s from, I haven’t received any correspondence from anyone about it. I read they need a CCJ first before they can apply for an AOE. I haven’t heard anything about a CCJ or an AOE, no letters, emails, phone calls. I checked my credit file and no CCJ’s have been reported on there either. I have emailed HR of the company I work for asking if they can let me know who requested it but I’m just a bit confused as to how this could have happened without my knowledge and why there are no CCJ’s on my credit file if it’s necessary to have one before applying for an AOE?

HR / Payroll will have received a notification from HMRC - which they have to action

I would try calling HMRC and see if they know, or check your Government Gateway account

Ask payroll if you can see the letter they received

I think in certain circumstances an AOE can be issued without a CCJ. HMRC, UC, council tax etc, I may be wrong but I think they're doing via liability order rather than CCJ.

housing benefit is a likely cause