CSA - Help please

jenbo

Can anyone please help !!

I have recently been receiving £235.00 per month from the CSA from my ex partner, i have just received a call saying my payments are going to change.... but as a result it means i will only get £17 next month, then the new payments will start from April. As it has took them so long to sort out, they state i have been getting overpaid for the last year and thats why im only going to receive £17 next month ! I asked could the overpayments not be spread out over the coming months, as i cannot afford to drop from £235 per month to £17 (even for 1 month) in which they replied NO !!! Does anyone know, can they do this ? It was there fault it has took so long so why do i have to suffer ?

Any advice will be much appreciated ! x

Donedoingdebt

Unfortunately, they seem to be a law unto themselves & it appears they can do this.
Frequently, the boot is on the other foot, so to speak, & the NRP is often left with large arrears because of delays in getting assessments sorted out.

It seems to be one of their main aims at present, to collect arrears as soon as possible, without any thought given to the practical consequences on either the PWC or NRP & their families.

The only joy I've ever had with arrears payments following reassessment is to be allowed a 3 month window to clear them.

It may be worth putting in a written request for time to pay as at least then, they have to answer properly & won't be able to fob you off with any old nonsense over the phone.

markeymark

surely you must have known you were getting overpaid? Also how long had you been getting the £235 per month

Sensemaya

markeymark wrote: »

surely you must have known you were getting overpaid? Also how long had you been getting the £235 per month

jenbo

Surely you received a letter stating what the NRP had to pay which would include arrears?

All I can think of is the NRP contacted them with a CoC last year and it's taken them this long to re-assess him.

Have they clarified this?

jenbo

Hi

He had another baby last Feb.... his assessment is on a yearly basis so no matter when he informed the CSA he had another child he had to wait for the year to be up to be re-assessed ! On which i was not aware of until yesterday... I have had no letter stating he has asked to be re-assessed, i have not been told i was getting overpaid until yesterday as my confirmation letter states i was to get the £235 which was set out for a year up until May 2009! . I only received a call yesterday saying now they (CSA) have finally got round to doing the re-assessment that they now realise i have been overpaid.

marksoton

jenbo wrote: »

Hi

He had another baby last Feb.... his assessment is on a yearly basis so no matter when he informed the CSA he had another child he had to wait for the year to be up to be re-assessed ! On which i was not aware of until yesterday... I have had no letter stating he has asked to be re-assessed, i have not been told i was getting overpaid until yesterday as my confirmation letter states i was to get the £235 which was set out for a year up until May 2009! . I only received a call yesterday saying now they (CSA) have finally got round to doing the re-assessment that they now realise i have been overpaid.

This is not true, plans for this have yet to be implemented. The PWC or NRP can currently request a reassessment at anytime.

I wonder if this will start to be a widespread excuse from CSA central or just an isolated caseworker talking BS....

Sensemaya

Like marksoton says they are talking BS.

Best way forward to get this sorted out is via your MP. Phone them up and ask to speak to the assistant. Scan and email the confirmation letter to the assistant.

This is clearly another case of maladminstration and the overpayment ( IMO ) should be wiped off.

Have you received another letter of assessment which states the new amount the NRP should pay...inc any arrears?

If you have, send that to the MP too.

If you haven't received the letter, tell the assistant this and, as a matter of course, demand a complete account breakdown be done.

Hope this helps.