CSA Case Closed (but its not)

aupa

a month ago the PWC and I came to our own private agreement. I called the CSA and informed them of this and they told me that the person who opened the case needs to contact them and inform this is the case. So the PWC called and told them what I had told them and that was that. I then called to confirm my case would be closed etc... etc... The CSA tell me yes my case is closed and the PWC has told them that she doesnt want any arrears. I ask the CSA if my case is closed and they say yes its closed on our system and a letter has been sent out 2nd class today.

Everyone is happy and I setup the private agreement and have now been sending payments.

4 weeks on and still no letter though... I call the CSA this morning and they tell me the letter was cancelled on the system but cant tell my why it was cancelled. I ask if the case is closed they say it is closed as they are not looking for any money from me but there is still the matter of £600 arrears that is on the system. We will need to send a letter to the PWC to confirm if she wants this or not. I inform them that its on their system that she has called and told them she doesn't want arrears and she asked for the case to be closed. CSA now telling me I was misinformed.

Talk about a shower of useless creatures!!!! Now waiting on a supervisor to call me back so I can lodge a complaint.

aupa

So the team leader calls me back and informs me that even though the case is closed they cant close it on the system because it has arrears on it. Even though they have it on the CSA system that the PWC doesnt want the arrears they still say they cant close it.

I have explained to them that I was informed by the CSA (I have names, team names and dates of everyone I have spoken to) that as long as the PWC (the PWC is the person who opened the case) phoned the CSA and told them that she wanted the case closed and didn't want any of the arrears then the case would be closed and now they are telling me different. They are saying if the PWC wants to open the case again then she can claim the arrears. I assumed if the PWC opened another case then it would be a new case starting from the date they open the new case.

It doesnt make sense to me. Does anyone have any experience of this situation and can anyone tell me if there is anything else I can do?

I want this case closed on the system as we have both come to our own private agreement and I dont want the CSA contacting me further down the line saying I owe any arrears.

Thanks!

DUTR

Pay the arrears, then anything overdue your PWC can hand it to you back to you, who is to say the arrears are not owed to the state?

aupa

DUTR wrote: »

Pay the arrears, then anything overdue your PWC can hand it to you back to you, who is to say the arrears are not owed to the state?

The arrears are not owed to the state. The PWC and I have come to our own private agreement which we both agree on and have both told the CSA this. The case should be closed.

mspa

Why dont you ask PWC to call them and tell them you have paid the full amount of arrears to her directly so the case can now be closed.

PreludeForTimeFeelers

Legally the CSA currently don't have the power to write off any monies at all - they can only suspend the debt (meaning the case will be dormant but could be reopened, with the arrears unsuspended). There are only two ways to fully close this case - either pay the full amount of suspended debt through the CSA, or ask the PWC if she will call them and say that you have paid the full amount to her as a voluntary payment.

aupa

PreludeForTimeFeelers wrote: »

Legally the CSA currently don't have the power to write off any monies at all - they can only suspend the debt (meaning the case will be dormant but could be reopened, with the arrears unsuspended). There are only two ways to fully close this case - either pay the full amount of suspended debt through the CSA, or ask the PWC if she will call them and say that you have paid the full amount to her as a voluntary payment.

Thanks for the advice.

PreludeForTimeFeelers

aupa wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

No problem.

I don't understand why this was never put in legislation years ago, if the PWC says she doesn't want the money to be collected then the Csa should be allowed to wipe it out. It's one reason why debts owed to the Csa are so high - there are millions and millions of pounds 'arrears' suspended, where a case has closed and the PWC has said they would get the money direct from the NRP.

iluvfreebies

they are working on a write off policy at the moment and it cant come soon enough - the only way debt can be removed at present is if it has bene satisifed either by being paid directly or through the agency - for debt to be adjusted the agency has to be advised in writing (to avoid any problems in the future) that the debt has been paid. in all other instances debt can be suspended if there is a private arrangement but this debt is collectable at any stage in the future.

aupa

i!!!!!!!!!!! wrote: »

they are working on a write off policy at the moment and it cant come soon enough - the only way debt can be removed at present is if it has bene satisifed either by being paid directly or through the agency - for debt to be adjusted the agency has to be advised in writing (to avoid any problems in the future) that the debt has been paid. in all other instances debt can be suspended if there is a private arrangement but this debt is collectable at any stage in the future.

Thats what I'm worrying about. 10 years down the line the CSA at my door wanting the money because its a stick on to happen. The fact the PWC has called and told them she doesnt want the arrears should be good enough for them. Its on my records that she called and said that.

I got a letter from them saying they are no longer looking for maintenance payments from them but if there are any arrears then they will send a further letter.

From reading above the only way to get the arrears wiped then is for the PWC to send a letter in writing to say she doesnt want the arrears so the case can be fully closed?

ankspon

I had this situation,the PWC wrote to them confirming she wanted the case closed and the arrears were not payable,i got a copy of the letter and the CSA phoned me and said case closed,that was about 4 years ago.