Case closed yet still being hounded HELP!!!

speedy9764

Can anyone please help ?

Short version marriage breakdown and split in 1994, CSA assessment took ages but was paid and in the end I ended up with a nil assessment but they said there maybe some arrears. In 1996 PWC remarried and they formally adopted my son. In 1996 CSA contacted me to say the case was now closed due to the adoption.

Today 28th April 2010, two days before I am made redundant I have a phonecall out of the blue from the CSA saying I still owe them and they will apply for a deduction from earnings order.

I have no idea if the arrears exist and if they did it would have been through them not sending any assesments.

Can they really say they have a figure some 14-16 years old and enforce it ?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

bdt1

Think this happened to someone else on here - it could be Blimey40 or another, I have a think and get ack to you. He had a grown up daughter in her 20's and out of blue CSA claimed he owed arrears, think you should request a breakdown of the account, and also your Data Protection File - NACSA have a template letter for this - this should give you a good idea of what they are prattling on about. DP File will cost you £10 I believe, ut remember send everything recorded delivery, print off receipt barcode, and keep copy file of all correspondence

kingfisherblue

Surely if the child has been adopted by the ex partner and their new partner, the OP would not have to pay any CM? The OP will presumably have given up all rights to the child for the adoption to go through.

speedy9764

Thanks to both of you for the responses.
My first thought is that if it has taken 15 years so far and the fact that I am going to be redundant on Friday and moving address shortly after it will make a DEO difficult, If I hit them with a DP request it will just let them know exactly where I am. I will copy and record any further correspondence with the CSA.

Like Kingfisher I had thought that the adoption ended everything, especially as they had said the case was closed.

I can only assume that the "arrears" would have been the amount from when they sent me the original forms to when I received my assessment.

Can they legally chase this "debt" ?

Thanks again

Speedy

bdt1

Maybe an idea for you to request Data Protection File as matter of urgency, to your present address, the if you request forwarding of mail via Royal Mail, would CSA automatically know? If then you moved house and DP File went to previous address, you had proof you moved on date ../../.... and bills etc to that effect, how would they track Royal Mail?

Would think adoption would end everything, maybe you could ring CSA helpline and anonymously state 'in this scenario would NRP be liable ?', see what they say, but try and get DP File if they don't drop it.

kelloggs36

The arrears prior to adoption would still be payable though. As already suggested, get a breakdown of the arrears - the dates they accrued and at what rate. They cannot take you to court for them, but if you get work in the future, they will be able to recover them forever via a DEO.

daska

The Post Office provide a free service whereby you can collect your mail from the Sorting Office (being a free service they're not very good at advertising it). We used this service last time we moved house as we couldn't rely on the LL forwarding mail to us and didn't want to pay the £40 per name or whatever it is for 5 of us! You need to prove that it is a legitimate address for you to use by providing a tenancy agreement or such like and you need to collect your post regularly (I think it was every 1 or 2 weeks or they suspend the service.