CSA and mistaken identity: How do we convince them that DH isn't the person they're after?

[coppertop]

On Thursday I received a call out of the blue asking for a 'Mr Coppertop' but they had the wrong first name, although right initial letter. I explained that no-one of that name lived here. The woman on the phone made a snotty comment about it definitely being the right number. I told her she was mistaken and hung up, thinking no more of it.

This morning DH received a letter for a 'Mr Coppertop'. He opened it and inside was a debt collection agency's letter demanding almost £9k on behalf of the CSA. Inside was the name of the man that the woman on the phone had asked for on Thursday.

Dh phoned the debt collection agency to tell them of their mistake. The woman on the phone refused to believe him and insisted that they had the right address and that dh needed to pay up.

The CSA weren't much help either and think that the debt collection people will give up when they realise they've made a mistake. I'm not convinced.

Dh has no children other than the three he has with me. We've been living here for years so it's not a previous tenant. Meanwhile the person who really does owe all that money to the CSA is presumably oblivious to all this.

Does anyone have any advice or experience? Do we wait and see what happens next (the letter mentions bailiffs!) or is there someone we can write to? No-one seems to want to believe us, even though presumably they could just check the electoral register to find out the truth.

i dont have much experience of the CSA(i was under the impression they were a work of fiction,actually,your dh's initials arent KW by any chance are they cos 9k would be about the amount my supposedly 'unemployed' xp would owe them by now),but you should contact the debt collection agency and explain the situation,so they can out a note on file that the debt is being disputed,otherwise they will keep hounding your dh.(i have experience of debt collection agencies and they dont really care whether they have the right person,just so long as they get their money).

solicitors letter? Along with proof (photocopied) that your DH is not the person wanted?

contact the debt collection agancy again that should be.

and if the CSA are admitting they have the wrong pwrson,then they also need to contact the debt collection agency,i would give them another ring and ask them to do this.

Put everything in writing. Even you phone, follow up with a letter.

Thanks, everyone. I think putting it in writing seems to be the way to go.

Divastrop - No it's not a KW they're after. A shame though because I would happily refer them on to your ex.

coppertop-i have given them his name,address,and details of his place of work several times but apparently he is still unemployed.how crap that they ask innocent men for money,then.

i hope it all gets sorted for your dh

An update in case anyone else finds themselves going through this:

Don't waste your breath or ink contacting these people because it makes feck all difference. Today we've had a letter stating an intention to issue court proceedings if the money isn't paid by tomorrow morning.

Let them take you to court. Surely if it mistaken identity of which you have told them numerous times then the case will be thrown out with you not having to pay anything.

Fine. Let them do it. You can counterclaim for stress and harrassment. Keep a note of all telephone calls, letters written, postage, etc. and claim for that plus a figure for stress.

When they get to court and cannot prove that you are the people they want, they will be laughed out of court - although it's a bloody hassle for you in the meantime.

Failing that, and if the worst comes to the worst, blood tests will prove he is not the father of the children they want csa payments for.

It sounds a nightmare though, I really feel for you.

Is there a National Insurance Number on any of the letters your dh has been sent?

Everyone has a unique National Insurance Number.

Get your dh to phone the CSA with his National Insurance Number then they can look him up and realise he isn't the one they want.

Id let themn take me to court. What will they do when you get there with sufficient ID and the woman who is the mother of these kids hasnt got a clue who he is?

Dont get me started on the CSA. Its a bloody joke. I have a lot of experience with them

They only persue 'easy' targets cos the cant get any money off the arseholes. We had so much trouble with dp's ex telling them a pack of lies and trying to bleed us dry, but thats another story.

It's so tempting to let them get on with it.

In a last attempt to sort it out dh has just phoned them again. He gave them the reference number and was asked for the address. The woman on the phone said "But that's not the address we've got for this account!"

So they have now said that there will be no more letters. If any more arrive then they can waste their time and money on issuing court proceedings.

LOL at the other 'Mrs Coppertop' wondering who on earth dh is.

The words piss up and brewery spring to mind wrt the CSA.

You will be fine coppertop. This is so outrageous its untrue. They CSA are making even bigger twats of themselves than they already are