HELP !!!!CSA £55,166.94 owed

RNA

Hi, I have just recieved a letter saying i owe over 55 thousand pounds in child support. This is the first time i have received a letter from the CSA. They said they tried contacting me in 1996 when the claim was first made by an ex. My daughter turns 16 in a few months, I know i will have to start making payments but will not be able to pay this back for a very long time. Will i still have to pay this after she turns 16? Please help!

Caz3121

did you make any payments in the last 12 years direct to the mother?

I believe CSA is payable till 19 is the child is still in full time education and the mother is still receiving child benefit (eg non-University)

RNA

no. I have not seen or spoken to the mother or my daughter for almost 10 years. If she reaches 19 and i still have not paid the outstanding will i have to continue paying until this amount has been paid?

Loopy_Girl

If you are due the money then, for such a huge amount, it won't be a case of paying back a sum of money every month for ever and a day. Enforcement action will be taken.

Did the Mum tell you she was going to the CSA?

Ask for the address that the letter have been getting sent to - did you ever live there?

Have you ever paid money to the CSA and then stopped?

You need to ask the CSA for a full breakdown of the arrears as well.

Caz3121

you will also find that, as they did not have your salary or housing costs etc then they will have used a 'standard figure' so it is likely that this amount will change.

RNA

I spoke to the CSA and they told me that an "assesment" penalty had been imposed and that is why the figure is so high. They have asked for my payslips for this to be recalculated. I have just been made redundant due to the current economic crisis but i have been working for the last 4 years in a well paid job. Previous to that i was at university and before that i was unemployed. I have now remarried and my wife earns a good salary...will this affect her in any way? Will my payments be calculated on my income or will hers be included?

kelloggs36

You need to provide wage details for the time you were working in 1996 and your housing costs. Any assessment is done on your salary alone but includes partner's salary when calculating whether you can afford to pay the assessment or not.

marksoton

RNA wrote: »

I spoke to the CSA and they told me that an "assesment" penalty had been imposed and that is why the figure is so high. They have asked for my payslips for this to be recalculated. I have just been made redundant due to the current economic crisis but i have been working for the last 4 years in a well paid job. Previous to that i was at university and before that i was unemployed. I have now remarried and my wife earns a good salary...will this affect her in any way? Will my payments be calculated on my income or will hers be included?

First of all you need to establish where the CSA tried contacting you and when.

pd001

kelloggs36 wrote: »

You need to provide wage details for the time you were working in 1996 and your housing costs. Any assessment is done on your salary alone but includes partner's salary when calculating whether you can afford to pay the assessment or not.

But,

Your wife IS NOT legally obliged to give their information if she doesn't want to!

You need to discuss this with your wife before you give ANY of her details. Discuss it on here as well if you feel the need. People will freely advise you on here but it's your decision at the end of the day.
You don't even have to give her name if you don't want to.

Have a look at the NACSA website and if you read through the threads on this board there are a couple of specialists in the field of the CSA, solicitors etc.

I have been in your situation and I do know what it feels like. I will advise you based on my personal experience. Others on here particularly kelloggs36 and Marksoton and Loopy Girl, to name a few are all highly regarded on these boards and will help you out.
They know the technicalities. I chip in every now and again with a bit of extra help

Kath_999

Hi there, the debt doesn't disappear when she reaches a certain age, it will remain until it's settled. You may well find that that huge sum will be reduced once the CSA have an accurate picture of your earnings over the years they are charging you for. Good luck!

pd001

Kath_999 wrote: »

Hi there, the debt doesn't disappear when she reaches a certain age, it will remain until it's settled. You may well find that that huge sum will be reduced once the CSA have an accurate picture of your earnings over the years they are charging you for. Good luck!

Agreed. Depending on your circumstances over the years, your arrears should reduce substantially.
You may need professional help