Should I go to the CSA?

Kittikins

Thanks everyone, seems like I have a lot to think about. I don't know for sure that he's going to be made bankrupt, he's now clammed up and won't talk to me at all, I just get grunts out of him for anything now (winker).

I'm just worried that as he's completely stupid, he won't put his maintenance down on a SOA as he'll think it's just confusing/too intrusive etc, and that as and when anything came to court, either for a CCJ or bankruptcy, that he would end up having to pay out so much money on debts that he just wouldn't have anything for DD at all.

Regarding childcare costs - I get £64/week tax credits and pay £120/week to nursery, certainly not 80%. I am 100% honest with the tax credits people, tell them the moment there's any change to my circumstances, but am finding things hard.

Thanks to everyone for your replies, I really am unsure now what to do. We're seeing him on Friday and hopefully he'll have some money for me - but what annoys me the most is that I never know when he'll give any cash and having the CSA involved surely means it would be a set day? (or am I hoping for too much). It's really hard to budget when you don't know what's going on

sprogs

hi Kittikins,

Sorry for having hi-jacked your post a bit - but your situation is similar to mine in some ways - ex paid happily for years and now something has turned him into an unreasonable so and so causing me extra worry about where the money to pay the bills is coming from.

I had avoided the CSA like the plague because of the bad press, but thinking long and hard about it I decided that I was more likely to hear the horror stories than the good ones - like working in a shop, you get lots of complaints if things go wrong but very few customers take time praise the good service! So I took a deep breath and made the application, it was very straightforward over the phone, didn't take long and the guy I spoke to explained the options and what difference the choices I made would make. I am not going to know if I have made the right decision for a while, but his employment is very straightforward - so fingers crossed.

Somebody else also told me that they thought a lot of the bad press was from those that had too much money taken from them - I know roughly what ex earns and if they start giving me £1500 a month I might tell them they are wrong....

My understanding is that I can stop the case at any time if he decides to pay voluntarily, although having had him mess me around a few times now it would be nice if someone else had the hassle for a change!

So, looking at my options it was either start CSA case now and stop it if he pays, or wait another month to see if money turns up and if it didn't then I would have wasted another month before starting the process. If it all works out I may even leave it with the CSA. Big factor is, I think, the fact that if it is through them there is the ability to chase the arrears, with a private arrangement if they don't pay nothing can be enforced.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

sprogs

Kittikins wrote: »

DD's nursery fees increased significantly this month, but unfortunately just under the requisite £10/week that tax credits require to reassess my credits.

I suppose you have already looked at possibly increasing her nursery hours to get to that magic figure - would an extra half hour one day or something like having breakfast there be enough to make a difference? It's 8 years since my youngest was at nursery so I am a bit out of touch with childcare fees, but I remember I used to have the option of an earlier start with breakfast included or about half an hour later without. Just a thought.

Kittikins

Thanks Sprogs, nice to hear your story, I think I'll have to try and speak with him on Friday and find out what's happening with his money situation and mention the CSA to him then....

Unfortunately she goes into nursery 4 days a week and to a local preschool to get to know future school friends one morning. I work 4 longer days to be able to have the time with her, we love our long weekends and she looks forward to walking to the village preschool on Friday mornings all week, far more exciting than going to nursery in the boring old car, lol.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and help, I really appreciate it, makes me feel better to be part of this great community

sprogs

Hawkmoon69 wrote: »

Kittikins, best off without CSA but speak to your ex and let him know what you plan to do if he wont pay, and that you can request a DEO and also for one child he would pay 20% of his net income this may jog him into action.
Tell him 3 strikes and hes out, then you call CSA. If he don't !!!! his pants then i'm afraid you need them or this kind of control hes using against you is going to continue for years.

I thought the rates were 15% of net income for one child, 20% for two and 25% for three or more - or have I used the wrong rates for the last few years on our voluntary agreement?!

tamsin1982

sprogs wrote: »

I thought the rates were 15% of net income for one child, 20% for two and 25% for three or more - or have I used the wrong rates for the last few years on our voluntary agreement?!

no your right sprogs, so dont panic!

also just to add csa will give your ex 7 days to respond to letters but also leave it another 7 days before going to employer just incase its posties fault or thiers. they also allow the employer 14 days but tell them 7.

I contacted for a reassesment 5 weeks ago and his employers were contacted last wednesday after he tried ignoring his letter, been told to call end of next week now for an update

Kittikins

Just remembered something else.....I don't have his address or a landline number for him, just a mobile and a vague idea of where he lives! I do know his employer though and his mum's phone/address, would the CSA accept that if I decide to go to them?

sprogs

Kittikins,

Some info is better than none I think. I phoned back this morning as I had found some more info for ex that I thought may be of use, was told that they had already found his NI number (they can access some database to get this info) and I had a case number and it was now with the team who would try to make contact. They have even said they will phone me once contact had been made. have to asy so far I am impressed!

So if you know his date of birth and employer as well as a mobile number I would guess that is enough to make a start.

Hawkmoon69

sprogs wrote: »

I thought the rates were 15% of net income for one child, 20% for two and 25% for three or more - or have I used the wrong rates for the last few years on our voluntary agreement?!

Sorry. Yes quite right here 15% 20% 25%

And a protected earnings level of 60% NET (this used for collection of arrears)

Kittikins

Well, he turned up with cash (nearly all of it, just £10 short), and we had a pretty one-sided conversation, the idiot can't even look at me when he's being monosyllabic, winker!

Anyway, the upshot is, that he's put the maintenance for DD into his SOA for court (apparently now not being made bankrupt they're going for cash from his wages, if they get what I think they wanted, I can't see how he can keep afloat, but luckily not my problem).

He's also promised to now pay into my bank account on the day he gets paid rather than waiting until he sees us (which can often be very late in the month).

So.....for now, unless he c*cks it up, I'm not going to go do the CSA route (also because I think he's giving slightly more than 15% of salary.....but hey, why the heck shouldn't he?! Thanks to him, I'm now trying desperately to sell my house as it's a total millstone. But that's another story, lol).

Thanks to EVERYONE who posted xx