CSA suddenly contacting me 15 years later!

rogers37

In 1998 i was contacted by the CSA via the Benefits Agency as i was at the time unemployed, that they were going to deduct some of my benefit for child maintenance as a girl who i had had a one night stand with was naming me as the father of her new born child, i was told to attend an interview with the CSA and was questioned about it and signed a statement saying that i was not the father. I was not told to do a DNA test.
A month later i was back in work and up until February of this year (2013) have never heard anything from the CSA until now. I have been on Jobseekers allowance since losing my job in July 2012 and this week (Feb 2012) i have recieved a letter from the benefits office saying that the CSA are deducting £7.20 a week until further notice for child maintenance!! I have telephoned the CSA and all they would say it is to do with the case of 1998, they would not talk to me anymore unless i went through some form of security check over the phone, they wanted my bank details otherwise they would not talk to me!
I contacted the CAB and all they said was do a DNA test.
To say i am shocked is an understatement, i suddenly feel like my whole world has collapsed, i am a nervous wreck. How can I have heard nothing for 15 years! I was never sent any bills or letters during that time.
I really have not ever thought about this since i have never heard or had a call or bill from the CSA since 1998 nor have i ever had any contact with the girl in question, i dont even know if she lives nearby anymore, its been so long. I simply got on with my life. Anyone know where i stand! I was never asked to put my name on the birth certificate.
Please can anyone help, I feel like walking to the nearest cliff!

DUTR

Trouble is with these bizzare stories from posters with 1 or two posts, folk will suspect troll.
You are an adult and know how babies are made, one night stand or not.
I didn't have any interview and nobody I know has either, I did opt for a DNA test (although I knew I was the one) and I had to pay for that.
When I have had to ring them, I have never been asked for bank details, sure it was the CSA? Anyways I thought the monies were taken directly from JSA.

Morlock

rogers37 wrote: »

I contacted the CAB and all they said was do a DNA test.

That is correct advice. You will have to dispute paternity via a DNA test, the CSA can advise you on which tests are acceptable, as it needs to be court approved and not a home test. If the mother denies a DNA test, or it is found that you are not the father, your liability will cease.

If you are the father, you have no choice but to pay, but you only have five years, maximum, liability left, assuming you have no arrears. There is no point in doing anything rash, lots of people pay child support out of their JSA, it is unavoidable, particularly if you have no contact with your child.

rogers37

Thanks for your comments. This is not a bizarre story it is truth, and yes i know how babies are made, that is not what i am disputing. The benefits agency are starting to take £7.20 a week from my JSA.
It was the CSA who i phoned, at first they could not find any record of me and then after about 10 minutes of being on hold they said my details were on the old system, they would only tell me that the case was going back to 1998 and unless i went through a security check involving giving them my bank details they would not talk to me further other than to refer me cellmark to have a DNA test done.

DUTR

rogers37 wrote: »

Thanks for your comments. This is not a bizarre story it is truth, and yes i know how babies are made, that is not what i am disputing. The benefits agency are starting to take £7.20 a week from my JSA.
It was the CSA who i phoned, at first they could not find any record of me and then after about 10 minutes of being on hold they said my details were on the old system, they would only tell me that the case was going back to 1998 and unless i went through a security check involving giving them my bank details they would not talk to me further other than to refer me cellmark to have a DNA test done.

Then take the cellmark test, you can pay up front (cheaper) or the amount is added onto the assesment. They ask for NI number, people change their bank accounts so that is no way of assesing identity. Yes they do ask to go through vigourous security, the other thing to note is keep everything in writing not phone calls, as either party can have selected memory as to what was heard or said .

rogers37

Thanks, i will contact cellmark and pay myself. I have to say i have never had any assesment done or any correspondence in those 15 years from the CSA since my first contact in 1998 nor have i paid any monies to them or had any request to pay them.

DUTR

rogers37 wrote: »

Thanks, i will contact cellmark and pay myself. I have to say i have never had any assesment done or any correspondence in those 15 years from the CSA since my first contact in 1998 nor have i paid any monies to them or had any request to pay them.

Perhaps at the time the process was different, with my case and many others, the MEF is recieved, then completed, depending on the answers a paternity test is completed , then depending upon the results a MAF is completed and the schedule is provided with options of how to pay. Then every 12 months a new schedule arrives until the end of liability.

rogers37

I have never received a schedule, i have never made any attempt to hide myself or my place of work, i am living at the same address and up until July 2012 had the same job for 12 years. I am hoping to start a new job in a couple of weeks and what i am now worried about is that i will be hit with a 15 year old bill.

DUTR

rogers37 wrote: »

I have never received a schedule, i have never made any attempt to hide myself or my place of work, i am living at the same address and up until July 2012 had the same job for 12 years. I am hoping to start a new job in a couple of weeks and what i am now worried about is that i will be hit with a 15 year old bill.

You have very right to be worried about a 15 year bill, the main worry is if they wish to backdate as if you were in employment or not, although some people do not keep paperwork, some of my paperwork collection is over 20 years old, my CSA correspondance have their own seperate folder as does the paying bank account, so it is easier to track payments should they say I missed any.

justontime

Contact your local MP and ask for help with this situation. Just over a year ago my husband had a letter from CSA demanding a huge amount of alleged arrears (for a time when he was still living with his ex and his children). We had months of worry, but the worker at the MP's loca office was very helpful in getting information and answers from CSA.

You also need to make a DPA request for copies of all the information that CSA hold re your case. The main thing is not to give up if you are sure that they are wrong. We found it was almost impossible to go back over 15 years to find evidence to prove that my husband was telling the truth, but persistance paid off and in the end not only were the so called arrears completely quashed, they actually owed him money!

When dealing with CSA keep records and copies of everything.
Good Luck!

rogers37

Thankyou for your responses, i am going to see a solicitor to find out where i stand. I cannot believe that i have had any communication from the CSA in fifteen years, surely this can't be right.