ICE are beginning to feel the strain.....

frugallass

It seems that the Independent Case Examiner are beginning to feel the strain from all the complaints about the CSA - my complaint was submitted in September 2008 and I requested the involvement of ICE, they have begun their initial investigations but here is an extract from a letter received last week....

I am writing to advise you that although we have received your case papers from the Agency we are still not in a position to commence work on your case, as we do not have an investigation officer available to start the investigation. I realise that your complaint is not being processed as quickly as you may like and I apologise for this. I can assure you however that your case will be allocated for investigation as the earliest opportunity.

We will write to you again in 6 weeks time to keep you advised of progress.......

Great - when 6 weeks have passed it my complaint will be 11 months old !

Wasteland_Drifter

I found the tribunals service very efficient. My case was wrapped up and put to bed in under 16 weeks.

frugallass

I'm not taking my case to a tribunal - my complaint is about how the CSA have handled my case and the errors made in the process (and still ongoing).

When the CSA reached their 'we don't think we've done nothing wrong and here's £40 for the errors made' decision I got ICE involved.

Wasteland_Drifter

My complaint was also about how the CSA have handled my case and the errors made in the process.

Have you spoken to a solicitor or an expert and discussed your options? Why you don't want to use the Tribunals Service?

frugallass

I didn't think a Tribunal was an option available to me - how would a Tribunal help my complaint?

I haven't got the finances to fund a solicitor - I don't see how a solicitor would help me either to be honest.

Wasteland_Drifter

There was a point I thought precisely the same - How do clear up the CSA's mess? It wasnt until I got a solicitor case was put to tribunal. The costs (these are called 'disbursements') are recoverable and if you are claiming prescribed benefits then you can ask about public funding.

Try and get a pro-bono consultation or have a chat with a NACSA adviser.

frugallass

So what exactly happened at your tribunal? and what was the outcome?

I'm not on benefits, I can't afford to fork out for a lawyer in the current financial climate (even if I can claim it back).

Wasteland_Drifter

Off topic but..

I had a grievance with the CSA and the CSA chose to ignore it. I contact solicitor who says the CSA is wrong and takes it to tribunal and we win and thats that. I now have a claim for damages and lawyers on both sides are negotiating.

frugallass

but what was your grievance? did you ever get ICE involved?

Wasteland_Drifter

My grievance was the CSA said I cannot use my own income to pay my own rent, the CSA said I was non-dependant. The CSA then disregarded its own rules on Travel to Work and said I cannot use my own income to travel to work. The result was my combined rent, train tickets income-tax and CSA liability come to more than my entire income and the cookie crumbled. I didnt know about ICE I just phoned a solicitor and he cleared it all up.

frugallass

so basically it was an appeal against a decision they made?

My complaint is about the way in which they have dealt with my case ie inconsistencies, delays and errors. It's not about assessments or variations, it's about procedures. I don't think a tribunal would be relevant for me and nothing that a lawyer could help with either.