Safe to pay the CSA over the phone?

Kath_999

Hi all

I have been told by the CSA (over the phone) that they will convert my husbands case from an FMA to an IMA this week, and will fax us the letter with the revised arrears figure on it on Wednesday night this week (the case is now closed it is a matter of dealing with payment of arrears only). When I spoke to them last week the lady was pushing me to make a "good will" payment towards the arrears over the phone, I refused, saying that I would make payment arrangements once the case had been converted. This of course still drives my husband insane as he has always paid maintenance and been very involved with his children, but payment can't be proven and so we are basically paying it all over again. :mad: anyway, I digress....

My question is, is it safe to pay the CSA over the phone with a card? If the figure is affordable that's what we propose to do to get it all over with (we have a court date for a LO hearing in a weeks time and if we don't pay in full I'm told the LO will proceed, which we don't want due to adverse credit ratings etc).

So as long as we have the faxed letter in hand would you advise us to go ahead and pay over the phone (with how devious they are I'm thinking they might take the wrong amount, accidentally of course!!)

Any thoughts...??

youngie

we have paid csa over the phone in the past the payment will show on your card statement so you can prove you paid it ,but ask csa for an aknowledgement of payment which they have sent us on request

Light_Speed_Cruiser

The LO will proceed anyway whether or not you pay by card unless you are paying the full amount. An LO has no effect on your credit rating, not the same as a CCJ.

If you cant pay the full amount then pay by instalments, but paying with a credit card might be an expensive way to do it.

If the wrong amount is taken then you do a chargeback under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1975. Make a note of the CSA staff member who is taking your card details and if possible record the call withoiut telling them. It cannot be used in a tribunal but is allowable in a criminal proceeding if your credit card has unauthorised transactions made by the CSA. Transcripts are OK.

kelloggs36

You mean you are getting it converted from an IMA to an FMA.

Kath_999

Yes, that's what I mean! Got my letters mixed up!

blimey40

Kath,

Are they making you pay the arrears over 2 years?

how much has the sum been reduced from the original amount they sent?

Kath_999

Blimey40, we don't know what the reduced sum is yet, that is what I'm expecting in a fax from the CSA tomorrow night, the lady there said she would work on the conversion tomorrow and fax the final FMA over to me. Payment period has not been discussed, but she seemed to be keen on a full settlement by phone tomorrow night, she said that's the only way to stop the LO - court date is set for next week. Very nervously awaiting the figure they come up with!!

blimey40

I am in reverse of what you have done.

The LO has been served, yet they are only now giving me a break-down. In the break-down they have reverted to the original amount going back before 2000. I am preparing for a tribunal hearing with a solicitor, but need the Data protection files before we proceed.

The Breakdown was simply provided and wholly inaccuarate. They've simply used the same figure from 1997 going forward to 2005. Though, I have one letter from 2000 saying assessment was NIL. In all from 1997-2008, they sent 2 letters. Since June 2008 to march 2009, they have sent 6 to an incorrect address.

Its in Newcastle enforcement. I personally wouldn't worry about the LO being served, if the breakdown given tomorrow is not accurate. Its a bully boy tactic used and you can go before a tribunal at a future date to pick holes in all aspects of the arrears.

Do you think the figure you weill be issued, will far less than the figure outlined in your original correspondance?

Kath_999

That's a good point about a breakdown, I don't know if sh'll send me that or just a figure that we owe. If it is more than I think it should be I'll request a breakdown. I have consulted NACSA on the figure, and they estimate it should be around £3,000. This is better than the £45k they are asking for!! I think they will ask for around £6-8k, as the £3k NACSA came up with was based on the PWC only having the kids 4 days a week, which is true, but the PWC has told the CSA she had the kids 7 days a week, so they will work it on this.

blimey40

How were they able to go from 45k to 6k if you don't mind me asking?

Was the calculation simply wrong?

Keep us posted on the outcome

Kath_999

The £45k was a penalty assessment, so it was in no way related to what he was supposed to be paying. He had very low earnings, and now that we have submitted details of his income it should be drastically reduced. Also the PWC has now admitted that he paid £10k over the years, so that should bring it down to about £6k. I'll keep you posted.....