Frustrated!!!

doug3101

I have had an original CSA claim closed in March 2009 after my childs mother failed to inform them that my child had moved in with her grandmother two years previously. I have had some money repaid to me (eventually).
In May 2009 my childs grandmother applied to the CSA wishing to get child maintenance from me, this was proccessed and I was informed I would have to pay £32.00 per week, I tried to tell the CSA that this amount was too much but was told they were unable to speak to me about the new case due to the original case being 'technically stuck'.
I have now been informed that I will have to pay arrears from May to November of £895.00 together with the original £32.00 per week, making my payments about £170.00 per month. This is well beyond my means as I am the sole wage earner in my house and my wife and I have 3 children to support in our own household.
I am also sure that my childs mother is not paying any money towards her own daughters upkeep and, if pressed, my daughters' mother and grandmother would probably just say that they had come to a private arrangement to fob off the CSA.
In this case there are no 'parents with care' and from what I can gather the CSA rule regarding the non resident parent (see below) would not apply as my daughter chooses not to visit me at all and the grandmother is in receipt of the child benefit.
Non-resident parent – a parent who is not the main provider of day-to-day care for a child. If the child stays with both parents, the non-resident parent is the one who provides fewer nights of care. If care is shared equally, the non-resident parent is the one who is not getting Child Benefit.
I am not trying to shirk any responsibilty here but feel that the maintenace should be 50/50 between myself and my childs mother instead of me being the cash cow (as usual)
What chance an appeal?

Kimitatsu

doug3101 wrote: »

I have had an original CSA claim closed in March 2009 after my childs mother failed to inform them that my child had moved in with her grandmother two years previously. I have had some money repaid to me (eventually).
In May 2009 my childs grandmother applied to the CSA wishing to get child maintenance from me, this was proccessed and I was informed I would have to pay £32.00 per week, I tried to tell the CSA that this amount was too much but was told they were unable to speak to me about the new case due to the original case being 'technically stuck'.
I have now been informed that I will have to pay arrears from May to November of £895.00 together with the original £32.00 per week, making my payments about £170.00 per month. This is well beyond my means as I am the sole wage earner in my house and my wife and I have 3 children to support in our own household.
I am also sure that my childs mother is not paying any money towards her own daughters upkeep and, if pressed, my daughters' mother and grandmother would probably just say that they had come to a private arrangement to fob off the CSA.
In this case there are no 'parents with care' and from what I can gather the CSA rule regarding the non resident parent (see below) would not apply as my daughter chooses not to visit me at all and the grandmother is in receipt of the child benefit.
Non-resident parent – a parent who is not the main provider of day-to-day care for a child. If the child stays with both parents, the non-resident parent is the one who provides fewer nights of care. If care is shared equally, the non-resident parent is the one who is not getting Child Benefit.
I am not trying to shirk any responsibilty here but feel that the maintenace should be 50/50 between myself and my childs mother instead of me being the cash cow (as usual)
What chance an appeal?

None whatsoever if I am being honest. The grandmother is the sole carer of the child and will have put a claim in through the CSA for maintenance for the child, she will have to provide details for both parents so the CSA will have made an assessment for both parents. You do not know that they have not made an assessment against the mother as well? If you read the thread by Caris that was going yesterday you will see that she as the main carer for the child has an assessment against both parents.

To go back to your original complaint, I am at a bit of a loss, the original assesment was made back in May 2009 of which you were duly informed and have not put anything aside despite knowing the bill would be coming in. So now you have arrears which you seem to be complaining about

This is not about being a cash cow its about maintaining your child and £32 a week will be the assessment for one child at 15% of your net income having taken into account the other children in your household.

Many cases are getting stuck in the system as the computer fails to manage to process any changes, but as I understand it the original claim has been closed and a new case opened so this assessment is correct.

If you feel there have been errors in your old case then you need to make a data protection subject access request, to get all of your files and then open a complaint with the CSA.

doug3101

I can understand some of this but one thing is, how can I put back money I don't have to pay a bill I cant afford?
Would it be stupid to assume that one day the CSA will use common sense over computers?

Kimitatsu

doug3101 wrote: »

I can understand some of this but one thing is, how can I put back money I don't have to pay a bill I cant afford?
Would it be stupid to assume that one day the CSA will use common sense over computers?

You can speak to the CSA and if you can prove that the arrears will put you into financial hardshi then you can make an arrangement to pay back at a lower rate, the current steer is that all arrears should be cleared within 2 years. However the assessment cannot be changed as it does not take into account anything other than the number of children you have living with you and your net wages.

The only slight comfort you have is that you are more than likely paying less on CS2 than CS1

As for the last comment - probably not *sigh* :eek:

Caroline73_2

doug3101 wrote: »

I have had an original CSA claim closed in March 2009 after my childs mother failed to inform them that my child had moved in with her grandmother two years previously. I have had some money repaid to me (eventually).
In May 2009 my childs grandmother applied to the CSA wishing to get child maintenance from me, this was proccessed and I was informed I would have to pay £32.00 per week, I tried to tell the CSA that this amount was too much but was told they were unable to speak to me about the new case due to the original case being 'technically stuck'.
I have now been informed that I will have to pay arrears from May to November of £895.00 together with the original £32.00 per week, making my payments about £170.00 per month. This is well beyond my means as I am the sole wage earner in my house and my wife and I have 3 children to support in our own household.

You have an existing responsibilty to your first child as well as your subsequent 3 children . You should have been putting money aside when you were not paying.

I am also sure that my childs mother is not paying any money towards her own daughters upkeep and, if pressed, my daughters' mother and grandmother would probably just say that they had come to a private arrangement to fob off the CSA.

How much the childs mother does or doesn't pay is of no concern to you. It will not affect how much you should be paying. You should be grateful to the grandmother for caring for your child.

In this case there are no 'parents with care' and from what I can gather the CSA rule regarding the non resident parent (see below) would not apply as my daughter chooses not to visit me at all and the grandmother is in receipt of the child benefit.


Non-resident parent – a parent who is not the main provider of day-to-day care for a child. If the child stays with both parents, the non-resident parent is the one who provides fewer nights of care. If care is shared equally, the non-resident parent is the one who is not getting Child Benefit.

I am not trying to shirk any responsibilty here but feel that the maintenace should be 50/50 between myself and my childs mother instead of me being the cash cow (as usual)

Cash cow at £4.57 a day? Even if the childs mother is paying the same it's only £9.14 per day the grandmother is getting. I am sure your child costs a lot more than that to feed, clothe, entertain, keep warm, house etc.
What chance an appeal?

This isn't about the mother of your child, it's about your child.

LizzieS_2

Current assessment = £32pw (£139pm) for 1 child taking account of 3 children in current household = weekly income of around £284pw.

Total monthly payment = £170. Take away the normal contribution of £139 = £31pm (£7pw) towards the arrears.

Total arrears = £895. If the debt steer was used then the arrears would increase to £37pm.

The legislation did at one time state 5% to be added for arrears (not sure if that is still true). Weekly income of £284, less reduction for 3 children would then be £213 - instead of 15% they would have 20% to cover the arrears, which would increase the weekly payment from the current £39pw to £42pw.

Personally, I would not rock the boat by trying to lower the payment of arrears as it could backfire.

doug3101

Caroline, it is about my child you are correct. Unfortuneately this is the same child (who after her mothers continuous bad mouthing me) habitually screams abuse at my wife in the street when she is out with our two sons. Also she has stated she wants nothing to do with me but I 'owe' her CSA money.
Would it be stupid to recommend that NRP's who are prevented from having contact with their children should have their payments cut? (obviously if a NRP is dangerous or would have a bad influence on the child this would not apply)
Discuss!

dtc04

child support and access are unrelated

Caroline73_2

doug3101 wrote: »

Caroline, it is about my child you are correct. Unfortuneately this is the same child (who after her mothers continuous bad mouthing me) habitually screams abuse at my wife in the street when she is out with our two sons. Also she has stated she wants nothing to do with me but I 'owe' her CSA money.
Would it be stupid to recommend that NRP's who are prevented from having contact with their children should have their payments cut? (obviously if a NRP is dangerous or would have a bad influence on the child this would not apply)
Discuss!

She's been badly treated inher eyes, her mother doesn't seem to care and you have another family. Like you say, her mother has bad mouthed you so try not to blame your daughter as she is probably just a hurt girl.

You are still her father and whether you get to see her or not, should support her.

Kimitatsu

doug3101 wrote: »

Would it be stupid to recommend that NRP's who are prevented from having contact with their children should have their payments cut? (obviously if a NRP is dangerous or would have a bad influence on the child this would not apply)
Discuss!

There is nothing ti discuss as contact and maintenence are not linked for the reasons you have highlighted. This is a money saving board and if you wish to discuss this then you need to start a thread in discussion time

bungle4x4

dtc04 wrote: »

child support and access are unrelated

and we all live in happy land, with rivers of gold, and tree's that sprout cherry bakewells.