Should my case be with a Debt Collection
Agency (DCA)
In deciding which cases to refer to the
Debt Collection Agencies, the following list was given
by Mr Stephen Geraghty, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
on 18th December 2006 in answer to a Parliamentary question in
the House of Commons.
“The Child Support Agency carries out a full
check on all cases before referring debts to the debt collection
agencies. These checks ensure that the case is accurate and meets the following criteria:”
• The debt on the case is at least £150.00;
• No child maintenance payments have been received in the last three months;
• There is no ongoing appeal action;
• There is no ongoing legal enforcement action;
• The maintenance debt amount is correct;
• The last child maintenance assessment on the case is 100
per cent cash accurate. If not it will be revised and corrected
before so that the case can be referred as required.
“Each case must meet all of
the above criteria, at which point the non-resident parent is
notified and allowed seven days to contact the Child Support Agency
to make an agreement to pay. Only after this point, and if no
agreement has been made, is the debt passed to the debt collection
agency”.
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