Letter from CCA regarding child maintenance

[redleg]

Hi,
My partner 5 years ago finished paying child maintenance arrears (this was taken out of her wages) or so she thought,
Yesterday she has had a letter from CCA stating she owes £4,700.00 and if its not paid within 7 days they will advise their client to commence litigation proceedings.
My question is, How after 5 years can the DWP come back for more money they say is owed when they stopped garnishing my partners wage because the previous arrears had been paid?

[Amethyst]

Re: Letter from CCA regarding child maintenance

Has your partner been making the standard child maintenance payments during the time she was making up the arrears and after the attachment of earnings ended ? and have you contacted them to find out where this £4700 has come from ?

[redleg]

Re: Letter from CCA regarding child maintenance

She hasn't been paying since the attachment of earnings because both her children were over 18 at the time and did not enter into further education.
She has not contacted the DWP yet as just wanted to know where she stood legally.

[Amethyst]

Re: Letter from CCA regarding child maintenance

I think she needs to contact them first as there's not much to go on or where the amount has come from. We also don't know what the original order was, if she changed jobs, when the arrears were accrued, was there a liability order, how much she was having taken from her wages or over what period etc. If arrears are from after 2000 then there's no limitation period on collection which I think is what you are asking about.

Is this the first letter she has received since the deductions from earnings stopped ?

Really though it will be best to ring and ask exactly what the situation is.