CSA Debt repayment advice

DadofFive5

Hi

First post so please bear with me...

I have an arrears payment schedule agreed with the CSA and this has been in situ for over seven years. Today I get the bully mail drop informing me that I am not paying enough to reduce the debt and to contact them or else DOE actions etc All in Bold threatening type set.

On calling I explained that I pay monthly by DD via bank account and have not defaulted since we agreed the payment schedule. I was informed that government have instructed all debts to be repaid within three years, now considering the debt burden caused by this present government I was taken aback.

I tried to reason with the debt recovery agent on the call and offered to make a one -off compromise payment for half the debt if that would be sufficient to close the book, no that was not acceptable, then an offer to increase my payment by 25% but still no, she wanted more but could only focus on the total outstanding amount.

At one point she offered to take a card payment for the total debt in effect forcing me to a VISA/MasterCard debt ratio of 17.9% APR so she can meet her debt target for the week?

I am now stuck in the worry that they can DOE what I owe when I have always paid my debt without one failed monthly payment. I consider me the easy target for the CSA as I have always paid and provided details on earnings etc now when the going gets tough rather than focus on the non payment parent they target the soft targets they have already got on file.

I do not know where to turn and now have 14 days of panic/stress whilst they threaten next steps, which I don't know what that may entail.

Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks for sticking with the thread.

Ax

Donedoingdebt

For proper, unbiased help you may be better off having contacting NACSA. You should find them here: www.nacsa.org.uk

Sensemaya

DadofFive5 wrote: »

Hi

First post so please bear with me...

I have an arrears payment schedule agreed with the CSA and this has been in situ for over seven years. Today I get the bully mail drop informing me that I am not paying enough to reduce the debt and to contact them or else DOE actions etc All in Bold threatening type set.

On calling I explained that I pay monthly by DD via bank account and have not defaulted since we agreed the payment schedule. I was informed that government have instructed all debts to be repaid within three years, now considering the debt burden caused by this present government I was taken aback. Change this to a Standing Order asap. There is no legislation stipulating the arrears should be repaid within 3 years - normally they quote 2 years.

I tried to reason with the debt recovery agent on the call and offered to make a one -off compromise payment for half the debt if that would be sufficient to close the book, no that was not acceptable, then an offer to increase my payment by 25% but still no, she wanted more but could only focus on the total outstanding amount. I would be asking for a complete arrears breakdown. Tell them you will NOT deal with them on the phone and from now on ALL correspondence will be via letter. I hope you have this person's name and direct phone number.

At one point she offered to take a card payment for the total debt in effect forcing me to a VISA/MasterCard debt ratio of 17.9% APR so she can meet her debt target for the week?

I am now stuck in the worry that they can DOE what I owe when I have always paid my debt without one failed monthly payment. I consider me the easy target for the CSA as I have always paid and provided details on earnings etc now when the going gets tough rather than focus on the non payment parent they target the soft targets they have already got on file.I totally agree. The only way to get them off your back is to tell them you are involving your MP as you have, and still am, honouring the original arrears agreement and you will be lodging a complaint against this person. The MP will be contacting the Parliamentary hotline to ask why they are threatening to implement a DEO when you are and have been fully compliant.

I do not know where to turn and now have 14 days of panic/stress whilst they threaten next steps, which I don't know what that may entail.

Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks for sticking with the thread.

Ax

Hope this helps.

CRANKY40

If you get on ok with your ex you could ask for her to intervene on your behalf. She can call up and say it would be detrimental to the child/children if more money is taken from you as you will not be able to support your day to day relationship with them.

chriszzz

Better still photocopy and send all your correspondence to number 10 and let them see what the csa are sending out to genuine nrps who pay religously.

LizzieS_2

DadofFive5 wrote: »

Hi

I tried to reason with the debt recovery agent on the call and offered to make a one -off compromise payment for half the debt if that would be sufficient to close the book, no that was not acceptable

In some ways you have made it worse by offering to pay half - you have effectively indicated that you have the ability to pay more off quicker.

At one time the csa did allow any offer made, eg £1pm for 40 years - all past offers appear to be under current target for changing.

How many years do you have left to pay the arrers and what % of your pay does the monthly payment come to? Asking as it will help others come up with advice.

Steve40_2

If you contact your local CAB they can put you in contact with your counties welfare organisation who can help with stopping them from forcing you to pay what you cant afford.

borders_dude

I have arrears that are exist because of agency error.

Not much, around £3,000 which I arranged to pay at £10 a week. They accepted this because the arrears were their fault and I had always been compliant.

I was chuffed about that, they seemed fairly understanding about the debt I owed them.

Just recently though I changed to paying £25 a week just to get it cleared a little quicker.

I really dont think we can blame the CSA for trying to get in all the money it owes. I think what really matters is that they look at things in a sensitive and sensible manner because not everyones case is the same and often things are far from being simple or black & white.

Bully boy tactics should be saved for the non compliant NRPs not for compliant ones.

kelloggs36

Dadoffive - how much do you owe?

Blob

So, as there is an e-mail from the CEO's office that states that he [being me] was compliant untill we messed this up and he is due compensation for this. They then make agreements and then break them!

Question, why make the agreement at all?

kelloggs36

Answer - because the focus changes - not saying it's right, but it is a fact. At the time the agreement was made there was no push to recover in a 'reasonable' amount of time. Now the Government have moved the goalposts and have told the CSA to collect quicker - policy has now changed. There were far too many agreements which were ridiculously long periods eg 50+ years. Surely something had to be done to improve the money flow to the children? Now however, they've gone the other way! There should certainly be consideration of each case as to HOW the case got to be in arrears; if caused by the CSA more leniency should be given and the CSA pay the PWC and collect over a sensible amount of time. Where NRP has been non-compliant then of course, be much harsher with them. However, lumping all cases together does nothing to improve their image.