Child Support Agency has reared its ugly head again head after 8 years wanting money.

[RATTER15]

In 2005 I paid off a debt of about £4000 to the CSA and my Ex wife told the CSA that she didnt want any more money from me as confirmed by the CSA.

Today I get a letter from the CSA stating that I owe £2.300 I phoned them up to query this, they say that because my son was not 18 when my Ex stated that she wants no more money from me the account was just suspended until he turned 18.so the debt was now building without my knowledge.

I have received nothing in writing, no statements or anything concerning this debt and it has just turned up out of the blue after nearly 8 years.

As far as I was aware the debt was paid in full, can they now after all this time pursue me for this money or are they just trying it on.

[ummmm]

How old is he now?

[redman41]

Take the matter up with your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau RATTER, you can get Free Legal advice from their Solicitor.
Hopefully Barmaid will spot this Post as she is in the Legal Profession..

[RATTER15]

ummm, he is now 23+

[ummmm]

That agency never ceases to amaze me!

I would write to them, get your ex to confirm if possible, and politely tell them to sod off.

[RATTER15]

Sorry that should have read

//the account was just suspended until he turned 16// he didnt go into further education as he went straight into employment.

[RATTER15]

They have apparently written to my Ex. to see if she wants the debt written off but she has not replied, if she doesn't reply then they will pursue the debt on her behalf even if she doesn't want it. My Ex will not speak to me, and any contact will aggravate her.

[EDDIE51]

The CSA are wrong , child support is payable until the child reaches 18 OR until they leave full time education. Your payments should have stopped as soon as your son started work, not only do you not owe any more money , they or your ex owe you a refund.

[DTCwordfan]

Have you any correspondence supporting your ex's position in 2005? If so, send them a copy of that.

[RATTER15]

Thanks, I will go and see CAB asap, this is the second time they have tried it on!!

When I split from my Ex we came to a mutual agreement that I wouldnt pay maintanance but she would take sole ownership of the house and on the sale of the house I would only have £2000 to cover solicitors costs, there was substantial equity in the house. This arrangement worked for quite a few years until the CSA found out about it and as we didn't put the arrangement in writing they sent me a bill for £25.000, my solicitor reduced that to £4000 as they hadn't notified me of the debt for such a long period. Im hoping the same will apply in this case.

[RATTER15]

DT, they already have all that info, they told me about it.

[ummmm]

I'd just bin it...

[themas]

I don't know whether the statute of limitations applies to this type of debt. If it does you might not owe anything as it is more than 6 years since you had anything from them. CAB or your solicitor should be able to advise you on this.

[pink-kittens]

If you owe the CSA money, or the child any payments, then you are still liable whether or not the child is over 18, working or even left the country
I finally got what I was owed when my eldest was working, 18 and had left home
Any payments accrued up to the age of 18 (or 16 in this case) will still be owed

[RATTER15]

Pink Kittens, I dont think you read the detail. I dont think I owe them a single penny.

[friedgreentomato]

Did you receive a letter from csa when you paid the 4 grand to say it was settled in full? How old was the child when you paid this debt? Did you carry on supporting your child directly ie giving money to your child not the child's mother?

[atalanta]

It makes a difference if the child's mother was on benefits at any time during the period for which the CSA is claiming from you. But their long silence could be interpreted as complete lack of concern.
I always thought a claim for a debt not mentioned by the creditor for over 2 years was lost. It might be different if they could prove they had tried to get money off you, but you had ( for instance) moved house several times, or gone abroad.

[bednobs]

i have a feeling it cannot be statute barred if it was due to the mother claiming benefits

[RATTER15]

Sorry as it was so long ago I cant remember exact details but they did say that they hadnt sent me anything since 2005 when I spoke on the phone to them.