📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Surprise arrears

Hi y'all,I have a (now 20 year old) who I have never received a penny from from her father in her while life, despite the csa attempting to get something off him many times, (he's one of the "I'll give up my job and sit on benefits rather than pay" types) then out of the blue last week the csa phone me to inform that they're going after him for just over £10k in arrears and I'll get the payment schedule through in the post, (that's if he doesn't quit this job too), well knock me down with a feather I thought. Got the letter today but it says he'll be paying it back at £17 a week so it's going to take over 10 years at that rate to pay it back! Is this normal?
«13

Comments

  • galangm8
    galangm8 Posts: 149 Forumite
    edited 17 July 2013 at 5:39AM
    tkdbabe wrote: »
    Hi y'all,I have a (now 20 year old) who I have never received a penny from from her father in her while life, despite the csa attempting to get something off him many times, (he's one of the "I'll give up my job and sit on benefits rather than pay" types) then out of the blue last week the csa phone me to inform that they're going after him for just over £10k in arrears and I'll get the payment schedule through in the post, (that's if he doesn't quit this job too), well knock me down with a feather I thought. Got the letter today but it says he'll be paying it back at £17 a week so it's going to take over 10 years at that rate to pay it back! Is this normal?


    Strange, the same thing happened to me just last week, (case was closed 2004) except they're still working out the actual figure owed in arrears.

    It is all because when the NRP doesn't reply/respond to CSA when they're asking/requesting information, NRP thinking I'll go on benefit to solve and they'll deduct a fiver a week....luckily at this point that CSA are so inefficient, the estimated assessment (IMA) is adding up, resulting in arrears.

    Go for an advanced payment, they should have collected many years back, the criteria's hardish they say, but it is due to their maladministration that you have had to live without any financial help for your son from his NRP and it certainly won't be paid of in two years.

    It's still coppers the £10,000 ~ works out about a tenner a week - WOWee... but nice if we get it in a lumpa.:T

    He might try to fight it, but he'll have to have good memory for that long, I know mine won't ~ he doesn't know what day of the week it is.....

    You and I are in a position to stop them chasing if we want, but as my NRP has said it doesn't make any difference to him they can only take pennies out of his giro - attitude!

    Incidentally, he's 'putting us up' at his place at the weekend and I haven't the heart to tell him.
  • tkdbabe wrote: »
    Hi y'all,I have a (now 20 year old) who I have never received a penny from from her father in her while life, despite the csa attempting to get something off him many times, (he's one of the "I'll give up my job and sit on benefits rather than pay" types) then out of the blue last week the csa phone me to inform that they're going after him for just over £10k in arrears and I'll get the payment schedule through in the post, (that's if he doesn't quit this job too), well knock me down with a feather I thought. Got the letter today but it says he'll be paying it back at £17 a week so it's going to take over 10 years at that rate to pay it back! Is this normal?

    It sounds like they may be undertaking parallel actions - taking a certain percentage from his wages, while also looking at other options such as a liability order or a deduction order (depending on whether he has funds available or owns his own house).
  • Morlock
    Morlock Posts: 3,265 Forumite
    galangm8 wrote: »
    You and I are in a position to stop them chasing if we want

    I'm fairly certain that you aren't in that position, even when a case is closed, the NRP is still liable for any arrears on the account.
  • galangm8
    galangm8 Posts: 149 Forumite
    Morlock wrote: »
    I'm fairly certain that you aren't in that position, even when a case is closed, the NRP is still liable for any arrears on the account.

    Arrears are owed to me and me alone therefore I can stop them collecting at any time I please, unless you know something different?
  • galangm8
    galangm8 Posts: 149 Forumite
    It sounds like they may be undertaking parallel actions - taking a certain percentage from his wages, while also looking at other options such as a liability order or a deduction order (depending on whether he has funds available or owns his own house).

    'Parallel actions' - OP has received a payment schedule advising CSA are collecting arrears at £17pw, if he's the type to claim benefits 'nilly willy', I don't think he'll be a property owner, do you?

    They would have told OP if they had anything else in the pipeline.

    I think she should try to push for an advance payment as she definitely meets the criteria required, which they seem very strict about....

    I've NEVER had one, even though I have been offered, as I wanted NRP to actually PAY a higher amount himself rather than the CSA paying me off and collecting off him a couple a quid a week (£30 in my case).

    Sensemaya has had a few - she says - so she'll know the exact criteria.

    Plus if NRP is on or starts to claim benefits can arrears still be collected on CSA1? I need to check.
  • Marisco
    Marisco Posts: 42,036 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    galangm8 wrote: »
    I wanted NRP to actually PAY a higher amount himself rather than the CSA paying me off and collecting off him a couple a quid a week (£30 in my case).

    So long as you get the payment, and CSA are willing to pay you, and collect from him at a snails' pace, does it really matter?
  • galangm8
    galangm8 Posts: 149 Forumite
    Marisco wrote: »
    So long as you get the payment, and CSA are willing to pay you, and collect from him at a snails' pace, does it really matter?

    MOST certainly, certainly does!

    I made our baby with the NRP, together ~ not me, the CSA and the taxpayer!

    Something the new 'wives'' do not like to be reminded of sometimes...
  • tkdbabe
    tkdbabe Posts: 35 Forumite
    Hi, thanks for the replies (and maybe I'll sound dumb) but what's an advance payment? I always took it that csa set the rate and he either paid or gave up his job and didn't pay , as that's the way it's always been. As for his house he lives with his girlfriend BUT has all his mail sent to his parents house and says he lives there, he even has his car in his fathers name so nobody can go after him for that either. And no I didn't know what he was like before we got together. My daughter was his first child but he has since gone on to have 3 more kids with other women (leaving them all within 6 months of birth) and always paints us out as the bad guys.)
    I know the majority of NRP's are responsible and look after their kids but like everything else the minority give the rest a bad name
  • tkdbabe
    tkdbabe Posts: 35 Forumite
    Update:Just phoned csa as still not had a letter detailing exactly how much my ex owed in arrears... Woman there says "oh yeah, we errr made a mistake" turns out he doesn't owe me £10k, he owes that much in total! So only £2.5k will go to my daughter and I . Big difference! Question is do I believe them about this amount? Or are they going to change their minds again ? Guess I'll believe it when I see it
  • Sensemaya
    Sensemaya Posts: 1,739 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    tkdbabe wrote: »
    Update:Just phoned csa as still not had a letter detailing exactly how much my ex owed in arrears... Woman there says "oh yeah, we errr made a mistake" turns out he doesn't owe me £10k, he owes that much in total! So only £2.5k will go to my daughter and I . Big difference! Question is do I believe them about this amount? Or are they going to change their minds again ? Guess I'll believe it when I see it

    I missed your posting.

    How typical of them to raise your hopes and then knock you down.

    Only way to know the assessment is correct is to ask for a full account breakdown from day one. If they don't play ball - you are most likely to be fobbed off-is to involve your MP. My usual advice I'm afraid.

    It appears the 7.5K is owed to the Secretary of State?

    Nevertheless 2.5K is not to be sniffed out. But I would be peeved at receiving 17 quid pw plus it's interest free. Lump sum would be better.

    The advance payment criteria is very strict and the criteria is posted in the sticky at the top of this forum. Don't build your hopes up.

    Might be worth calling on your MP anyway to see if any maladminstration has occurred given the CSA has helped you to receive maintenence - not! Then you may be eligible for Financial Redress - again, see sticky.

    They are excellent at maladminstration. One of their strong points. I can't think of any others. Oh yes, fobbing people off and lying are a couple of others.

    Good Luck
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.8K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.1K Life & Family
  • 258K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.