csa backdated demand

[Jelson]

Hello, Yesterday I was shocked to receive a threatening demand for �30k from the csa. The story is:- My ex was coerced by csa in signing up in or around 1995. She quickly retracted this when we agreed to come to our own arrangement. She subsequently signed off benefit and went into employment and I continued to pay her directly �250 per month for our child Dob 07/05/1981 On 07/05/2000 I received notice from csa that the assessment was cancelled. My daughter was then 19 years old. My daughter had started work when she was 16/17 years old. I had joint custody and my daughter stayed with me every weekend. In fact I had custody for a while as I claimed child benefit for her when her mother threw her out! I wondered why they are doing this as I have never signed an assessment, (so I presume they used an interim?), and I have never paid to them or through them any money whatsover. Are they acting unreasonably and maybe unlawfully? What should I do? TIA

[Ethel]

In that time you have paid very nearly �30000 and had sole care of your daughter for a part of that time,

I expect you can prove these payments, and your ex-wife will support your assertions.

Contact them straight away by telephone with the loose facts written down and ask their advice.

[annie0000]

I can only support what Ethel has said, is your ex likely to support your case? Do you have evidence of a regular payment from your account to hers - all of this will be useful evidence.

Also, not to belittle your issue here, but I had to laugh as initially I thought that your child was called Dob.

[Jelson]

Hi Ethel & Annie..
Girls thankyou for advice. I am meeting ex this weekend
to discuss it all. Hopefully she will be "onside" about this as she always asked for the money to be in cash when possible, so there maybe or hopefully, not be problems ahead!
I will at least then anyway have the beginnings of a framework to fill in dates etc as I cannot remember assessment date etc etc... groan!

I have been given information that indicates that there is a six year limitation, on debt, which was removed by our new sulphurous government in 2000, so there may be hope.
Good luck to all. It is so wrong that the people who do play fair are quite often targetted!

Ps: Ok on my daughters name .... I will tell her it is short for Dobbin !!
:-)

[Ethel]

Was your ex claiming benefits and not declaring the maintenance she received from you?

This is the worst case scenario.

Dob is an excellent name for a child :|

[annie0000]

Hope all goes well Jelson,it must be very frustrating, but hopefully all will see sense in the end. Dob is definitely more of a boys name than a girls - what about Doba ;0)

[banjobabe]

Hey Jelson,

Sos Im a bit late with my reply!

Please write to them and send it recorded\registered delivery. You must have a record of when you write and what you wrote.

The CSA are useless and lose things left right and centre.

I was told to expect a reply to a letter I wrote on 1st Feb 2008 around 12th June 2008, I'm still waiting.

Bb xx

[Jelson]

Ok Banjobabe,
Thankyou for that. I need to be careful because with debt (real, supposed or imagined!!!), one needs to have absolutely no contact -verbal or written, with them for around six years, otherwise the debt can be rekindled. I do need to check this and I will see my solicitors next week.

Ethel,Annie,
Doba... sounds cute!
I had the meeting with my ex and she is absolutely 100% onside and is more than willing to confirm she received all monies from me on time etc.!
:-)
I am thinking of talking to my barrister to see if the csa can be prosecuted for maladministration and harrassment etc!
Something needs to be done to bring this government agency into line and to act ethically, efficiently and more importantly fairly, not just in my case, but from what I can see at least in 90% of all cases! They are little more than common bandits! (Which I suppose reflects the true colour of our present government maybe!!)
Where is the England that I knew and loved!?
:-]
Good Luck All!