Guys,

strolling along life's highway minding my own business when suddenly CSA 
phone saying I've come up on their list and I have to cough up pronto 
for a debt.

Now this debt was incurred over 4 yrs ago and amounts to some £400 odd. 
    I left my job, sick of being ripped off 30% net, crap from the ex 
etc etc.  So I've been a house husband ever since with no income.

I then receive a letter demanding payment and spelling out their new 
mega powers if I fail to comply.

I'm confused.  The CSA know I have zero income, yet suddenly demand payment.

Where do I stand?  What can I do?

Best wishes,

Fred

On 2009-10-07 22:22:58 +0100, Bert Fry  said:

> I'm confused.  The CSA know I have zero income, yet suddenly demand payment.

The first thing I would do is go and see your MP. MP's have a 
'hot-line' to the CSA on which they should be able to talk to somebody 
who actually understands the rules. Anybody you talk to by yourself 
will only be concerned with boosting their bonus, will ignore all rules 
and the law, and will try to pressure you into making payments you 
can't afford.

All arrears are negotiable, but the CSA have given themselves a new 
target of clearing arrears within 2 years. Your MP should first check 
that you do actually owe the CSA money (they told me that I owed over 
£3000, but when I went to my MP they admitted that they actually owed 
me money!). If he can't get them to bugger off, then they should accept 
£4 per week which would clear the £400 arrears in less than two years.

Do please go and talk to your MP and ask for his help.

Thanks Red.

Very good point about boosting their bonus. When I came to my senses and 
realised, against all better judgement, that I was engaged in 
(inevitably futile) conversation with the CSA, I cut her short and 
demanded comms by letter only.  She then launched into her spiel about 
their inflated powers, 40% DEOs etc.  I hung up.  Then received the letter.

I could always give them my old car - worth about £500, 120K miles, 2 
careful owners etc.  Would they take it?

Bert


redmelons wrote:
> On 2009-10-07 22:22:58 +0100, Bert Fry  said:
> 
>> I'm confused.  The CSA know I have zero income, yet suddenly demand 
>> payment.
> 
> The first thing I would do is go and see your MP. MP's have a 'hot-line' 
> to the CSA on which they should be able to talk to somebody who actually 
> understands the rules. Anybody you talk to by yourself will only be 
> concerned with boosting their bonus, will ignore all rules and the law, 
> and will try to pressure you into making payments you can't afford.
> 
> All arrears are negotiable, but the CSA have given themselves a new 
> target of clearing arrears within 2 years. Your MP should first check 
> that you do actually owe the CSA money (they told me that I owed over 
> £3000, but when I went to my MP they admitted that they actually owed me 
> money!). If he can't get them to bugger off, then they should accept £4 
> per week which would clear the £400 arrears in less than two years.
> 
> Do please go and talk to your MP and ask for his help.
>