CSA- mother not spending money on child

kelloggs36

Dolly has already stated that it is not for the CSA to dictate what the money is spent on. You have fulfilled your financial obligations towards your child once you pay the child support. As you are her father, you can tell your daughter that you cannot afford to give her any more money and that if she feels she needs more, perhaps she can get herself a part-time job, or ask her mother, if you feel that the mother can afford it. There is nothing you can do in terms of CSA - provided that your assessment is correct, then you are legally bound to pay it.

seven-day-weekend

It's a lot of money though, isn't it? Surely it doesn't cost the mother £1000 pcm (including her share) JUST to keep the child (even allowing for housing expenses?).

Cozworth806

Sorry but its a totally irrelavant arguement about how much it costs to bring up a child. It is all about the NRP's ability to pay, so someone earning £1000pw will pay far more to a PWC than someone earning £100pw, and the children could be in the same household!
The CSA cannot tell the PWC what to spend the money on at all, end of. You may not like it, but that is the way it is. The NRP really also has no responsibility to pay "extras" to the child either, but obviously that is a personal matter between them and the child. However if the child was 16 I would be telling them to give their mother a talking to rather than moaning to you. The CSA will ignore any such requests.

As for the EMA, well the mother needs a slap frankly! (Thats just my opinion of course)

If your daughter moves in with you then it is a case of telling everyone you can, but most importantly Child benefit (counter claim that takes 8 weeks to resolve), tax credits, doctors, schools etc, and you would have the right of appeal which I have seen more often than not go in the NRP's favour as the PWC will have little evidence that the child is still there to counter your evidence.

Loopy_Girl

Johnocyprus wrote: »

Since the CSA assessment in 1998 my ex has spent little of the assessment on my daughter. Until now my daughter has had Bed and Breakfast for free but has to pay for most of her clothing, train tickets, toiletries etc, I currently pay my ex £490 per month.

So presumably for the past 10 years your daughter has been living in a cardboard box, hungry and naked? errr, no. I get right peed off with these Dad's that say their money is not being spent on the child...what exactly would you like your money to be spent on? It's a serious question cos it fair puzzles me.

When your daughter has been 6 and upwards, your money has contributed to many things which have allowed your daughter to grow up healthy. I am assuming that when she was 6 she didn't need to but her own clothes, when she hit puberty Mum bought all her toiletries then there's school dinners, school trips, uniform, days out, after school activities, swimming lessons, Brownies, school chum's birthday party presents...oh the list goes on and on and on.

The CSA wouldn't talk to your daughter anyway. Only you and your ex can talk to the CSA about your case and under the DPA it probably wouldn't be confidential.

I can assure you that if your daughter stayed with you and you paid for all the things that you mentioned in your post PLUS all associated living costs with having her there then it would be more than £490.00 a month - half of that would be in the electric for her hairdryer and straighteners!!!:rotfl:

And how do you know for certain that Mum is not helping or demanding money from her EMA - is it Daddy's princess telling you? Could she possibly be playing you off each other? And how much is from the EMA? Could be a few pounds and maybe Mum is instilling some responsibility for the real world.

If you are really unhappy then you should have your daughter to stay with you immediately. If you think her Mum is doing such a bad job and daughter feels put upon then you should take over and see if you can do a better job

Spendless

My neighbour decided to pay maintainance to his daughters instead cos 'their mum wasn't spending the money on them'. The result his daughters are now in their 20's and he still owes the CSA money cos they have said this money he put in his kids bank accounts do not count, so therefore he will have to pay it again to his ex. I did tell him at the time I thought it was a bad idea- shame he didn't listen!

seven-day-weekend

Spendless wrote: »

My neighbour decided to pay maintainance to his daughters instead cos 'their mum wasn't spending the money on them'. The result his daughters are now in their 20's and he still owes the CSA money cos they have said this money he put in his kids bank accounts do not count, so therefore he will have to pay it again to his ex. I did tell him at the time I thought it was a bad idea- shame he didn't listen!

I personally think that is unfair.

Loopy_Girl

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I personally think that is unfair.

Absolutely is unfair but quite fankly, a simple phone call to the CSA to check this was okay to change arrangements would have saved all this hassle

wifeforlife

I'd like to apologise for some of the previous posts, some are harsh and frankly no call for them

In answer to your questions, there is no point in your daughter calling CSA, things are black or white with them

Yes your daughter can go and live with you and you can then counter claim CSA and you will have the opportunity to spend your money how you wish on your child

Regards your daughters EMA, yes it's out of order for her mother to ask for a portion of it but thats a moral issue and frankly none of your business as you dont reside with them and dont know what the living costs are. Your ex could be trying to teach her about the cost of living or anything.

Unfortunately all you can do is fulfill your obligations as her Dad and if you wish to further spend on your daughter feel free, your daughter is nearing adulthood and can make her own judgement

All the best

Cate

Loopy_Girl

cathy2702 wrote: »

I'd like to apologise for some of the previous posts, some are harsh and frankly no call for them

I certainly hope you are not apologising on my behalf....everyone is entitled to their opinion and quite frankly if the NRP is feeling hard done by then they should take over the job. Save themselves the CSA monies - or so they think......

Loopy_Girl

Johnocyprus wrote: »

I have previously complained to the CSA re the way my ex spends the assessment but they do not care, they appear to be simply a collection agency.

That's exactly what they are. They aren't a mediation service.