CSA demanding money 16 years after my case was closed

Having lived in the same house for over 25 years my csa responsibilities ended with a letter from them 16 years ago. But within that letter they asked me for £8.5K for my x’s 3rd child born to her second husband (not blood related to me} – for this new scenario I had to engage a solicitor to answer this – job done.

16 years on (now 64) I receive a letter telling me that I have arrears and will receive a letter detailing this. Intrigued, I phone the number on the letter after a 7 minute wait I speak to an operative who after several attempts to find my ‘case’ – feel like a criminal already – the operative gives me a phone number to ring. After phoning the number 5 times with no success I decide to find a number on the internet – find one – phone it go through the process an operative cant help. Next day I give it another go after two attempts an operative tells me their system is down “can we phone you back” – which they did to tell me another phone number phoned it the operative tells me after interrogating me, that they have to phone me back as my case is sensitive before the operative rings off a question is asked – “do you speak to your x”? Why do they ask that question? I refuse to answer that cos I do not believe its their business!!

An hour passes the operative phones me back to say to me you owe £3500- why I ask and why have I not been chased in 16 years? The operative states “your debt was not chased because you possibly would have not paid it” What? this is not good for my health!! – I ask again tell me please for what period was this money accrued? “I cannot say” was the reply. The Operative then states “I will phone your x to see if she still wants the money, I will phone you back.” Several hours later still no response.

This outfit really needs reigning in they are above common law and know it – they are worse debt collectors working for the GOV.uk worse than the taxman – how can anyone lawfully fight an organisation that is beyond law?