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CSA asked if I had a credit card for my arrears

March 2, 2013

Please help I’m at the end of my tether dealing with the unemotional robots at the CSA. First off I’m not some dead beat who cares more about money then my kids and gladly pay my child support and arrears, its the unrealistic amount they expect me to pay. I have paid them over 30,000 over 7 years they are still deducting 40% of my wage even though i was told once the amount of arrears had lowered they would look at taking a lesser percentage of my wage.

Anyways i got made redundant had my car repossessed got declared bankrupt and faced eviction. I tried 2 commit suicide by taking 60 painkillers and ended up in hospital. I was heavily sedated and unable to speak never mind hold a conversation. As soon as I was well enough i rang the csa and infromed them of this only to be told as i hadnt informed them of this at the time I am still eligible to pay full amount. I went ballistic n hung up on them, I had seven missed calls and countless answer phone messages from them asking to get back in touch as they may be able to help. So i foolishly rang back hoping that they were genuinely trying to help only to be asked DID I HAVE A CREDIT CARD TO PAY OFF MY ARREARS???

Now i dont expect to be treat with kid gloves or be pandered to but I do expect to be treat with human decency.

Anyways please can you advise me before i go to Falkirk on a killing spree haha

Written by paul doyle · Filed Under CSA Complaints 

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Comments

  • carol says:
    March 2, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Sorry, but fuck them.

    Cant say it any more polite than that.

    60 painkillers you should have been dead or I bet your liver is seriously ill, and they advise you to take out a credit card (which is laden with even more extortionate percentage charges)

    What kind of being “advises” that after you loose everything and the will to live?? Evil scum, thats what.

    No consideration at all for your situation, so remain on sick, on JSA, yeah you may get flung on slave program, but they cant make you work when there are not enough jobs, they can only bitch.

    My heart goes out to you

  • KMcQ80 says:
    March 3, 2013 at 10:29 am

    Sounds like the CSA are desperate to meet targets.
    Pay arrears by credit card = getting into deeper debt.
    DO NOT DO IT.

  • browned off says:
    March 3, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    I would be inclined to write to your MP and let him know they want your credit card number. I think its a disgusting suggestion. They will be encouraging you to take out a pay day loan next!

  • Lisa says:
    March 3, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Tell them to swivel, they have no right to ask you for a credit card or to take out a loan or get into debt to pay them off, its far more important to keep a roof over your head than pay scum like them

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  • paul doyle says:
    March 3, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    Wow wasn’t expecting that much feedback. After having a DOE from them since 2006 i thought I knew the extent of their heard heartedness and incompetence but i obviously hadn’t i was gobsmacked to say the least. I’m scared to ring back in case their next “helpful” suggestion is to rent my arse out!! I’m not an aggressive person but I always end up snarling at them every time i ring and speak to one of their obstinate bulldogs

  • stuart says:
    March 4, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    If i was you I would ask for the name of the person offering such advice and also whether they are a qualified financial advisor, I doubt they are in which case it is illegal for them to suggest you do this. Report them to the correct authority for giving you untrained financial advice, they will investigate the claim you make and makes the CSA think twice regarding this practice of bullying money from people in this manner.

  • wilf says:
    March 9, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    When they ask you if you have a credit card they will already know.
    Their questions are scripted and they will be disciplined if they do not follow the set procedure. This why they can sound like robots.
    Their training programmes are advised by debt collection agencies. They are pursuing a debit.
    When they call to collect they will be aware of your credit status.

  • lisa says:
    March 9, 2013 at 7:18 pm

    When they ring and ask for credit card payments they have already done a credit search on you meaning they have damaged your credit file, in a way they have no right to do it, and by law you dont have to give them a payment by card, you call the shots and pay them how you want to ,

  • wilf says:
    March 9, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    lisa:-
    You are not correct.
    A credit check has no effect on status, building societies, banks, insurance companies, etc, do it all the time, only entries of debt or county court judgements effect credit ratings.
    By the way if they had no right to do it there would be no way they could as the Credit Reference Agencies have a very strict protocol concerning access.

  • Sally says:
    March 9, 2013 at 10:05 pm

    Actually wilf you are wrong… Credit checks do affect your credit rating, which is why credit checks changed banks and building societies tell you that there ill be a ‘soft footprint’ left on your credit history I.e. your credit rating will not be affected unless you have credit history problems and this cold be a ‘hard footprint’..

  • Sally says:
    March 9, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    That didnt make much sense… There are two types of credit checks, one affects your credit rating (hard footprint) and one that doesn’t (soft footprint)….

  • wilf says:
    March 9, 2013 at 10:48 pm

    Correct, merely looking is a soft footprint as Indicated earlier.

  • Sally says:
    March 10, 2013 at 7:49 am

    Sorry wilf, I’m not explaining myself very well at the moment lol lol

    It’s not only debt entries and ccjs that affect your credit ratings, it is the amount of hard footprint credit checks too! That is why they introduced the soft foot print..

    I recently changed my mortgage and shopped around for the best deal, both my bank manager and financial advisor explained highlighted that the credit checks they were doing were soft foot prints and wouldnt affect my credit rating.. lenders should ask your permission before they do a credit check (albeit if you say no they probably wont won’t give you credit).

    Anywhoo.. The main point is that the CSA is 100% wrong to expect/demand someone to get into more debt when the cant afford it, which the author clearly can’t due to the amount the CSA say he should pay…

  • wilf says:
    March 10, 2013 at 11:21 am

    Sally:- Quite agree, why use money that attracts interest when the debt doesn’t.

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