Any CSA experts out there?

billyg123

Hi everyone, Im just going through the process of completing CSA arrangements that my ex-wife has initiated. I was paying on a voluntary basis but my ex became extremely difficult over money she owed me and told me she was going to CSA therefore I stopped payments. Turns out she hadnt bothered going to them for 4 months (last friday they called me) I wasnt filled with confidence in any way shape or form by the case worker assigned to me.

Im concerned that they (CSA) are going to make a hash of this. It boils down to the fact that I pay maint for my two older daughters (different mother and living in germany) by private arrangement, which incidentally my ex is aware of, yet she is applying to get 15% of my net wage for one child. I explained this to CSA but initially she told me "so what" thats your own affair.

To say the least I was gobsmacked at the attitude and asked how the girls mother can apply for CSA in order that they take a total of 25% of my net pay and divide it equally between the children. She didnt know! Incredulous! She told me to get the girls mother to ring CSA, which she did, they said that as she was in germany, I would have to ring on her behalf!

I rang caseworker again to be told she would look into it and get back to me wednesday this week as thats when she was off until! (No wonder CSA in the state it is if workers are getting weekends that long!)

Is there anyone out there thats had similar dealings or knows of someone that has? Or if theres any CSA gurus out there that can help I would greatly appreciate it.

Im at work at the moment so might not be able to check threads until later on, your help is appreciated

mikeouk

try and avoid csa involvement at all costs, I know this isnt easy with an awkward ex but its worth doing abit of sucking up to her and explain that its better for her and your child/children if you just pay her direct.

Csa dont give a damn about your personal situation, as far as they are concerned your a number on a file. I am no longer involved with csa but have been in the past, I was lucky that im self employed, so set up a LTD company and paid myself minimum wage, I was originaly paying my ex £40 a week, she wanted more so went to csa, when my assesment came back it was £5.40 a week so I just paid that and made up the £40 in cash every week, she soon realised it wasnt worth the hassle and went back to the original arrangment.

Im pretty sure that they wont take into account children abroad, they only take into account 50% of your pension payments and mortgage payments upto a ceiling level, so depending on your current outgoings, basicly, they can ruin you.

So, dont let male pride get in the way of trying to rectify this outside the csa, ask her what she wants and come to some sort of deal with her,if I was you id offer to pay what is owed and always keep records of what you have paid her.

Sorry that all this is negative and good luck.

billyg123

Thanks for the reply, whilst I appreciate fully what you are saying, I think its beyond that. But I didnt realise the other stuff they take into account, thanks again

iluvfreebies

Hi
I work there if i can be of any help

billyg123

Hi, basically CSA rang me Friday. As mentioned above the main sticking point was that they werent at all interested in the fact that I already pay maint by private arrangement for my dual nationality daughters in germany. They say they only interested in the case of ex with my son who is after 15% of my net, although she knows fine well about the money I pay for the girls. Didnt give me any conclusive answer as to how to sort it so that all 3 would be considered. They told me to get girls mother to ring from germany. Did that and she was told they couldnt deal with her so she should get me to ring on her behalf! I rang back and spoke to my new caseworker who doesnt (at her own admission) really seem to know much! Im really worried that Im going to get turned over here. Im very keen to make sure all 3 get the right amounts, no problem with that whatsoever. Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks

Smelis

Hi there,

We have had a nightmare with the CSA, my hubby pays ex partner £400 through the CSA for his 2 children. They had a private arrangement where he payed her £240 per month. I fell pregnant and she went to the CSA as she thought she could get more. The awarded her £119 per month! She freaked out, agreed to go back to original £240 :cool: . After a few months she stopped us seeing the kids (again) and went back to the CSA (the rules had changed!!) Now we pay £400 per month and it cripples us, but we have no choice. They take 20% of hubbys wage and that's it.

I'm sorry it's not positive. My hubby's overtime has been cut to zero so we
are really struggling, but they don't care. It's like talking to a robot.

The worst thing is she has stopped us seeing them again!

I do hope you get some joy out of them.

Smelis

billyg123

Smelis wrote:

Hi there,

We have had a nightmare with the CSA, my hubby pays ex partner £400 through the CSA for his 2 children. They had a private arrangement where he payed her £240 per month. I fell pregnant and she went to the CSA as she thought she could get more. The awarded her £119 per month! She freaked out, agreed to go back to original £240 :cool: . After a few months she stopped us seeing the kids (again) and went back to the CSA (the rules had changed!!) Now we pay £400 per month and it cripples us, but we have no choice. They take 20% of hubbys wage and that's it.

I'm sorry it's not positive. My hubby's overtime has been cut to zero so we
are really struggling, but they don't care. It's like talking to a robot.

The worst thing is she has stopped us seeing them again!

I do hope you get some joy out of them.

Smelis

Thats exactly what worries me! thanks anyway

mikeouk

Smelis wrote:

Hi there,

We have had a nightmare with the CSA, my hubby pays ex partner £400 through the CSA for his 2 children. They had a private arrangement where he payed her £240 per month. I fell pregnant and she went to the CSA as she thought she could get more. The awarded her £119 per month! She freaked out, agreed to go back to original £240 :cool: . After a few months she stopped us seeing the kids (again) and went back to the CSA (the rules had changed!!) Now we pay £400 per month and it cripples us, but we have no choice. They take 20% of hubbys wage and that's it.

I'm sorry it's not positive. My hubby's overtime has been cut to zero so we
are really struggling, but they don't care. It's like talking to a robot.

The worst thing is she has stopped us seeing them again!

I do hope you get some joy out of them.

Smelis

this kind of story really annoys me :mad:
your husbands ex thinks his money is more important to the kids than them having a dad!!!!
get the b"*/h into court if she hasnt already been, get an enforcable order put in place and fight her until shes sick of the hassle,,what shes doing is raising children who will become insecure adults who dont realy know how to form normal relationships, theyve also got a baby brother/sister that they have a right to see and love.
I think if I was in your husbands shoes id be seriously thinking of jacking the job and becoming a house husband, get all the benefits your entitled to and you become the bread winner if possible.

iluvfreebies

Hi as far as im aware we can only give an allowance if the other children are in the uk as the agency has to access both cases and then split the money 3 ways - as the other childrens mother is outside the uk the agency wouldnt have juristiction over her claim. I will ask around today to see if anyone has ever came across this before and if there is anyway we can assess both cases but at a guess i imagine no allowance would be given for the 2 outside uk but will post again later

Thanks

Smelis

Thanks Mike for your reply.

We have taken her to court, done everything in our powers, but she don't care! She uses the kids as pawns and that's the end of it!

I hope your having some joy Billy.

Smelis

billyg123

Hi, and thanks for asking S. I have sent a letter to c.services at Falkirk explaining the situation and hope to hear from them soon in order that I can sort out the payments for my girls as well as my boy and make it all fair.

In the mean time, Im filling out the CSA paperwork at the moment to get it sent off tomorrow. At the end of the day I want them to know that I have no problem fulfilling my obligations and just want them to fulfill theirs and deal with the case fairly.

I will keep you all posted