Is CSA/CMEC better than nothing?

Blue_Horizon

I think most would agree that the CSA and CMEC need to change to provide better support for families. BUT we probably have different views about how what need to change to achieve this.

The question I have is whether the CSA/CMEC is better than nothing at all? What would happen if it didn't exist? Would we all be forced thru the courts?

I'm interested to find out what people on this forum think?

DUTR

The principle of it is fine, it is the way it is implemented that spoils it.

Donedoingdebt

DUTR wrote: »

The principle of it is fine, it is the way it is implemented that spoils it.

The system as it is now is just a nightmare of incompetence & is no doubt costing millions more than it should be.

Apparently, even when CMEC is up & running, they're still going to be using the same staff & systems as the ones that can't cope now.

The old court system wasn't perfect, but at least it did give both parties the opportunity to stand up in front of a Human being & present their cases.

I've seen this system at first hand because my wife is still currently using the court system due to being divorced in the mid nighties, before the CSA came into existance.

Several times, her ex has decided to ignore the court order & just stop paying child maintenance without notice. Although it takes some months, the courts have always dragged him back to order him to restart.

Even then, he is given a fair chance to represent himself & state why he is having difficulty paying. Once, he was allowed a reduction of £50 a month, which was a bit of a pain as children do not get any cheaper as they get older. However, this was deemed fair by the judge so at least everyone received some of what they wanted.

Can you imagine common sense like that breaking out like that within the ranks of CSA/CMEC? Don't hold your breath!!!!!!!!!!

SORRY DUTR, I MEANT TO QUOTE Blue Horizon!

catenorfolk

Blue_Horizon wrote: »

I think most would agree that the CSA and CMEC need to change to provide better support for families. BUT we probably have different views about how what need to change to achieve this.

The question I have is whether the CSA/CMEC is better than nothing at all? What would happen if it didn't exist? Would we all be forced thru the courts?

I'm interested to find out what people on this forum think?

I will agree that the csa are not run as efficiently as they could, some of this is down to the fact that there are rules and regulations but a lot of the staff dont know which is the correct way to deal with queries and which route to take to sort out problems (blame that on bad bad training) not necessarily the staff themselves, some of it is due pure incompetence. But i will be honest, if the CSA hadnt been there I would have had NO money whatsover towards the upkeep of the children. So, however much i might moan about the CSA they cant be blamed for a lot of the NRP's not paying towards the upkeep of their children.

LizzieS_2

Far from being perfect on the administration side, the csa is currently free to parents. It also gives a uniformed approach (well it would if there was not 2 schemes running at the same time) towards all children.

One of the biggest problems on the negative side is the fact that the courts may force equity to be permanently transferred to the pwc (this has changed in recent years to a temporary transfer until children older), but neither of these help really. Understandably the csa cannot get involved in why the equity moved as there could be many other reasons. One way forward is for Consent Orders to show clearly a fixed amount which has been permanently transferred for the benefit of a child - the csa could then have legislation to convert that into a weekly/monthly figure to reduce maintenance by.

Other major problems are the fact that only married couples tend to have Consent Orders - even at that I'm sure there will be some that don't bother.

The whole separation issue should be looked at and done for a fixed fee, with Government employed solicitors to keep the costs down. It should be compulsory to use for all parents with children, so never again can only the csa side get sorted.

Again, for contact, this too should have fixed fees with legal help as contact is more important than the cost of Government making it possible. There should be some links over contact costs which the csa can reduce/increase maintenance for.

Blue_Horizon

LizzieS wrote: »

Far from being perfect on the administration side, the csa is currently free to parents. It also gives a uniformed approach (well it would if there was not 2 schemes running at the same time) towards all children.

One of the biggest problems on the negative side is the fact that the courts may force equity to be permanently transferred to the pwc (this has changed in recent years to a temporary transfer until children older), but neither of these help really. Understandably the csa cannot get involved in why the equity moved as there could be many other reasons. One way forward is for Consent Orders to show clearly a fixed amount which has been permanently transferred for the benefit of a child - the csa could then have legislation to convert that into a weekly/monthly figure to reduce maintenance by.

Other major problems are the fact that only married couples tend to have Consent Orders - even at that I'm sure there will be some that don't bother.

The whole separation issue should be looked at and done for a fixed fee, with Government employed solicitors to keep the costs down. It should be compulsory to use for all parents with children, so never again can only the csa side get sorted.

Again, for contact, this too should have fixed fees with legal help as contact is more important than the cost of Government making it possible. There should be some links over contact costs which the csa can reduce/increase maintenance for.

Interest connection with the divorce/AR process. I wonder how practical this is? In my case the divorce result in a 70/30 split of assets which meant my ex kept the ex faimily home. We both had well paid jobs which helped, but lots don't and it could result in more and more NRPs without any money at all.

catenorfolk

To be honest, it really doesnt matter what method is used. If an NRP doesnt want to pay he or she will do their utmost to delay due payment. so however the rules and regulations are set if they dont wanna pay then they aint gonna pay!!!

Blob

My opinion for what it is worth and I have experiance of both systems as I have the CSA to deal with and my ex when we were married had a Court Order on her first ex husband!

The matter was taken away from the Courts to save the Gov money on benefits, and had nothing to do with helping children!

If I had the option I would go the Court route as at the very least the Court looked at what both parties needed to live after the split. You also had the right of Appeal to a system that worked!

If the NRP did not pay the Court had the power to act not just threaten and then make a mess of it as they do now, further the Courts did and still do act in the best intrest of the children and not one side or the other!

I put a document into the Redesigne team that was 8 pages long and had the agrement of both Solicitors and smoe MPs if for no other reason other than it had support it probably ended up in the bin, far to thought out!

CMAC_2

catenorfolk wrote: »

To be honest, it really doesnt matter what method is used. If an NRP doesnt want to pay he or she will do their utmost to delay due payment. so however the rules and regulations are set if they dont wanna pay then they aint gonna pay!!!

I disagree 3 years ago a private system came on the market (There was a excellent article in the timesoline and family law group resolutions give it a big thumbs up) todate about 250,000 people use it, many ex csa clients so there is a real option www.cmoption.org or www.evidence-tracker.com

catenorfolk

CMAC wrote: »

I disagree 3 years ago a private system came on the market (There was a excellent article in the timesoline and family law group resolutions give it a big thumbs up) todate about 250,000 people use it, many ex csa clients so there is a real option www.cmoption.org or www.evidence-tracker.com

I had a look at the links above, and the website looks good - but one problem - this would only work if both parties agreed. that is why there are so many problems with the CSA, because the parties cant agree basically.

Zara33

Footprint helps you manage what happens to your children and your finances if your family unit has broken down. It makes it clear why a maintenance payment ends up at the amount it does and it reports on all the important events taking place which affect your children. It can be used by parents or grandparents, mediators or lawyers.


Amongst its many features, it allows you to properly calculate the amount of maintenance payable without having to involve the Child Support Agency. It records details of contact arrangements and keeps a diary of all those important child related appointments. It has an absolutely unique interface where messages about the children can be exchanged in a neutral way, cutting down on those angry email exchanges and telephone calls.

Interesting all this for £15 :think: