Help CSL DCA are harrasing my partner

jonnebravo

Hi, About 7 years ago I got a number of social fund loans for essential items for the house for me and my son, i was ill at the time and was unable to work and had the repayments taken from my benefits, I recieved a phone call from the department of work and pensions some time last year asking me to pay the remaining balance of £544.

By this time I had worked for a couple of years and forgot about it and was now with my new partner with a baby son who I now stay at home with while my partner works. They acceptd this and told me they would contact me again in the future to see if my circumstances had changed.

Friday I recieved a phone call form CSL Debt Solutions about this debt, I told them I no longer work and have no plans to return to work until our son is at least 6-7 years old and I do not have an income.

My partner was not around during the time these social fund loans were taken out, is she responsible for the debt because I have no income.

Also when I recieved the letter I called them straight away and advised them I had no income the person on the phone was insistant that my partner is responsible for the debt, I withheld my partners phone number but somehow they have this phone number and they even know my partners name and address and that she is living with me, is this legal and how have they obtained this information.

They called my partner 3 times today and sent numrous text messages asking her to get me to speak to someone there as a matter of urgency.

I have called them twice stating I am willing to co-operate but that my partner is not connected to this debt, however they have threatened me with court and have said they will continue to call until I make an arrangment with them. When I ask them what will happen nxt thy continue to avoid giving an answer which is worrying me because I dont know whether they will take m to court and then send the balliffs round.

Any help would be appriciated

McKneff

Why not get a job and pay it that way.
Is there any reason why you have decided not to work.

You told them you had no income, then you said you were willing to cooperate, but you seem as if you are not saying in what way you will cooperate. Bit of a quandrary then.

Its a government body, if you dont cooperate they will eventually take you to court, and your credit will be trashed with a CCJ

It wont ever go away so the only way is to pay it Im afraid.

jockinleeds

I'm no expert but I dont see how they would be able to legally enforce your debt upon your partner?
I would get shirty in writing with some points about harrassment.. suggest homework on the following.
http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk/debt_factsheets/harassment_of_people_in_debt_by_creditors.php

But I would make a move in offering to settle in some manner, it wont away I'm afraid.
A CCJ might just bite you on the bum in years to come when you do decide to go back to work.
Not here to judge but maybe a p/t job would put it to bed?
What about 'childminding'? Get paid to look after a few other kids!

jonnebravo

McKneff wrote: »

Why not get a job and pay it that way.
Is there any reason why you have decided not to work.

You told them you had no income, then you said you were willing to cooperate, but you seem as if you are not saying in what way you will cooperate. Bit of a quandrary then.

Its a government body, if you dont cooperate they will eventually take you to court, and your credit will be trashed with a CCJ

It wont ever go away so the only way is to pay it Im afraid.

I am actually at University at the moment and me and my partner want our son to have a parent at home not have him at a nursery all his early life, I have not said I wont pay this money I am mearly saying that the debt is not my partners rsponsibility and that she should not have to fund it.

jockinleeds

Info all helps.
I mean this with the greatest of respect when I say, a lot of Parents (myself included) wish to 'stay at home' and bring the kids up but is not always financially practical. We ended up doing the p/t job/childminder tradeoff. But I see you are at Uni...
I do believe that the debt is unenforceable against your partner unless i t was jointly and severally which you've stated is not the case.
Throw the harrassment book at them. Phone the local paper...