To think I'm not liable to pay this?

[cadburyegg]

I am panicking.

My exh moved out 4 years ago. About a year before that, he'd been made redundant. He did get a new job just before we broke up.

A couple of weeks ago I got a letter for him, this is unusual as he's changed everything to his new address, but anyway I gave it to him. He's told me that it was an invoice from his previous employer (the one he worked for before his 2020 redundancy) to say he'd been overpaid by £1000 and needs to repay it pronto. He's said that because we were together at the time and I kept some savings when he left, that I should pay half of it.

I've told him absolutely not but he's guilt tripping me and now I'm worried if I should morally give him something? I did have about 3k in savings but I've since spent it on house repairs and divorce costs. We are now divorced and the financial order came through a month ago. I've said the financial order means we can't claim off each other but he disagrees. It's a clean break order, I bought him out of the house and transferred him a LOT of money. He hasn't paid anything towards the divorce, he's never seen a solicitor, I paid for everything. He's also paid no regular child maintenance for a year because CMS says he doesn't have to.

I told him to use the money I transferred to him and he said absolutely not he's saving that for a new house. He's threatened to see a solicitor but I can't believe he will get anywhere. AIBU?

No, you don’t owe him a penny.

It’s worrying that you think you should pay anything.

You should have taken his half of the divorce fees out of the money you paid him.

Why so CMS think he shouldn’t pay? Is he on a PAYE job?

Wow overwhelmed by responses. Thank you. I feel better.
To answer some questions

I have seen the invoice, he showed it to me when I saw him last. It looks legit. I wondered too if the employer can claim after this long but it seems like they can.

I didn’t realise someone not living here can take on a debt on the house? How do I check the address?

As for CMS I first applied a year ago when he stopped paying maintenance - we had an informal arrangement before this. They said he didn’t have to pay because he’s in receipt of state benefits and has the kids EOW. I applied for a variation due to his savings and it was rejected. Something to do with the fact that only the interest on the savings is taken into account. CMS did their annual review this month and he still doesn’t have to pay anything. Total waste of time. He's "self employed" but I bet doesn't declare much. I thought the DWP pressure you to be "gainfully" SE so I don't get it.

He definitely would not have given me half of it was a cheque. He got a £400 tax return after we split and I didn’t see any of it.

lol he doesn’t have to pay CMS? Please stop being in contact with this man he is manipulating creep and you seem very naive

OP, please send him the following reply...

"HA!"

(Very important it's all it CAPS)

Me too! Great response, which I think many Mumsnetters will be using going forth. 😂

Hope you’re not going to pay

Make sure you give his previous ampler his new address

He can arrange a payment plan to pay it back at a rate he can afford. He's not your responsibility.

The man’s a clown. It will cost him as much in solicitors fees as he would hope to get - to find out he won’t! Thank God you’re rid of the fool.

this is such a great thing to do. Another mumsnetter posted it elsewhere and I've adopted it too, as a response to all annoying people who threaten court when they don't have a leg to stand on. Saves wasted time, headspace and emotional energy and allows us to get on with productive things!

Tbf if it was me I would actually give him some. If he was overpaid and you benefited from that.

Debts in England and Wales are held by individuals but www.gov.uk/protect-land-property-from-fraud tells you how to protect yourself against fraud and how to get alerts (I get them every 6 months to say there has been no activity, but would get one quicker if anything did happen).

Why?

If he suddenly had a win on the pools do you think he'd share it?

Thats why it's called a clean break agreement, as a line is drawn in the sand (apart from Child support, which goes up and down with parent's circumstances).

That's exactly what a clean break order is. Tell him to do one.

How odd! The money paid to him by his ex employer would have gone into his account not yours so should go back to them from his account. I would contact the company and ask them if they sent it. If not, he's frauding them as well as you too. If he has the money you gave him saved for a house, surely he can pay the whole amount from it and resave? You have nothing to do with him or his affairs.