CSA want old debt paid or it goes to baliffs please help!

ANNIEHAHA

Hi I would appreciate anyone with experience to give advice
On friday we recieved a letter saying that we have to pay over £10,000 due from several years ago
they want over £1,000 paid now and nearly £100 a week or it goes to baliffs
we are on a low income and not in a position to pay this, my husband does not work due to my health and we live on a modest rental income with our 2 kids
We are worried they may make us sell a property to pay for this debt and what if it goes to baliffs what then?
I am going to send a letter to CSA outlining all the above but anyone who has dealt with them previously will know how frustrating this can be
many thanks for reading this long question and I would appreciate your replies

windym_2

I think the first thing is not to panic.

Why don't you ring the CAB, or better still, go down there. You will need to formulate a plan, including how much you can afford to pay. I would not send a letter to the CSA but ring them and ask to speak/meet with the supervisor in charge of your case, but only after taking advise from CAB. You could also ask for a meeting with your MP (it may help). Best of luck.

pinkshoes

How come this debt has suddenly occured? Were you aware you were supposed to pay this money years ago and didn't, or did you not know anything about it?

I suggest you contact both the CAB and the CSA straight away, and work out how much money you feasibly can afford to pay them weekly. If you knew about this "debt" from years ago, and that would have prevented you from buying the rental property, then they could possibly make you sell it, but if you know nothing about having to ever pay this money, then they can't suddenly make you sell everything!!

ANNIEHAHA

This is an outstanding old debt from 97-03 that we were aware of and we were paying it back until about a year or so ago as we found ourselves on the line financially
The property was bought before the child was born and we live of the income
I have spoke to CAB and will visit them asap
CSA say they cannot take any payment unless its what I put on the first post so it will go to a debt collection agency

alwaysonthego_2

book a appointment at the cab. You will probably have to fill in a monthly/weekly expendage sheet so make sure you bring along all your paperwork.

Lozzle23

I work for the CSA and I have dealt with cases like these.We do like to collect debt within 2 years but collecting £10k over 2 years is a little unreasonable. I know we have a bad reputation but actually we're not as bad as people think. Talk calmly to your case worker about your situation, offer to pay a token amount up front and then come to some sort of payment amount towards the arrears that you can afford. Tell them that they can call you to review in 12months if necessary.

Glad

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

NAR

Bottom line here is that a family is potentially not receiving £10k (which was known about!). A house could be sold to pay these arrears. A lot of sympathy is being shown to OP; I would like to ask her how she would feel if she was the one without the £10k (for the last 4 to 10 years!)?

alwaysonthego_2

NAR wrote: »

Bottom line here is that a family is potentially not receiving £10k (which was known about!). A house could be sold to pay these arrears. A lot of sympathy is being shown to OP; I would like to ask her how she would feel if she was the one without the £10k (for the last 4 to 10 years!)?

but we are not here to judge but to offer constructive advice

NAR

alwaysonthego wrote: »

but we are not here to judge but to offer constructive advice

Which I totally accept. However I would still be interested in the OP's reply, if she cares to reply.

TheWaltons_3

ANNIEHAHA wrote: »

This is an outstanding old debt from 97-03 that we were aware of and we were paying it back until about a year or so ago as we found ourselves on the line financially
The property was bought before the child was born and we live of the income
I have spoke to CAB and will visit them asap
CSA say they cannot take any payment unless its what I put on the first post so it will go to a debt collection agency

So you did what? Just stopped paying? That is alot of arrears which suggests someone not paying their maintenance at all.

Avoidance of this situation has done nothing but blow up in your face years down the line....

.. there is a child in this somewhere, who has missed out on receiving their maintenance and this is completely unnaceptable.

If the property has to be sold, then it has to be sold.. failing that.. you will have to struggle on financially whilst making payments to the PWC.

I am sure you wont have to pay 10k immediately though. Just get it sorted with the CAB or whoever, but bear in mind, avoidance of Child Support does not look good.