Help Please!!

martst2006

Hi people,
JUst joined so be gentle with me.Ive been seperated from my ex for 12 years now.In that time ive always paid my child maintenace direct out of wages through the CSA,see my 2 boys all the time,take them on holidays etc etc.
Just found out through a random letter that my maintenance has doubled and I owe £2600 in arrears,as you can imagine Im beside myself with worry!!
Short story is I moved and even though I told them my new address all correspondence went to my previous address(they acknowledge this but tough titties basically)
It then took them 10 months to sort my new assessment out hence the massive arrears.
Bottom line is I have to now pay £453 a month out of my wages which will leave it impossible for me to survive(more importantly see my boys)which live 70 miles away as my car will have to go.
Do I have a leg to stand on as they have admitted its their fault for not sending letters to my new address plus its their systems fault for taking 10 months to sort out new assessment?!!
Any help would be appreciated,I dont mind paying for my boys,I never had but this will stop all are quality time together and leave me and my new family in the total poop!!
Thanks in advance

marksoton

Contact your MP as soon as. It is a disgrace that the agency can admit culpability for the arrears and then put an unrealistic timeframe on paying the money back.

martst2006

Thanks for the quick reply really appreciated mate!!
My main gripe is having any arrears at all,they knew my new address,they know where I work(been there 21 years)!!
Why couldnt they take monies immediately from my wages at the time??
Is it a deduction from earnings order??
Secondly why the hell 10 months?If my assessment was to be doubled then although I think Its wrong at least I would have the chance to disagree or pay it and then not accrue these ridiculous arrears which leave me in an impossible situation!!

Cozworth806

Ask for a breakdown of the calculation (given its 12 years you may be on the old system?) to make sure they have used the correct income and housing costs.
You could appeal the date they have used, based on you not being aware, although if your call to tell them the change of address triggered the revised amount then it would be hard to argue, even though it in no way forgives yet another !!!! up of monumental proportions which simply shouldn't have happened.

pd001

martst2006 wrote: »

It then took them 10 months to sort my new assessment out hence the massive arrears.
Bottom line is I have to now pay £453 a month out of my wages which will leave it impossible for me to survive(more importantly see my boys)which live 70 miles away as my car will have to go.

Is this deduction taken via a DEO (deduction of earnings order)?

If it is via a DEO, then the maximum that can be taken from your wages is 40% of your net take home pay.

HTH

SuziQ

They don't have the right to take the payment back too quickly either-if it's going to cause you financial hardship then they need to give you time to repay at a reasonable rate (they state it's law to clear arrears in 2 years but it's not-that's just a target they have been set.)Are they aware of the distance you have to travel (my husband had a reduction factored in for that.)Do they stay over with you,as that can also be added to any reduction. Do see your MP as soon as possible.

john_hamil1

I feel your pain but where the law has 1 rule the csa has another i have fought with them for 15 years i have got lawyers and mp's involved fighting my case but they still dont listen its there way or the jail i wish you luck but you should maybe at this early stage look for work abroad.