CSA help needed very confused!!!

sulkisu

Ask for the clerical breakdown as a starting point. You say that you are struggling financially - is there any way of increasing the family income? Are you working and is your son's father paying maintenance?

bdt1

In our experience I would request Data Protection File, and all info they hold on you in relation to Freedom of Information Act. NACSA have a template you can fill in, and I elieve it now costs £10, but will be best tenner spent in order to understand how they have assessed you incorrectly.

We had/having similar experiences, different CSA people telling us differing stories, no communication etween departments, letters going missing etc etc, won't even go there, but it was only when we went through our DP File that we understood where the CSA had made mistakes, but then of course CSA being CSA, rectifying them is another matter :rolleyes:

2 years down the line with a CCJ, LO, charge on property all for 34k we have proven we do not owe - only just starting to make progress, but as we are innocent we will pursue this to the bitter end, CSA Appeals Unit have been very helpful in our case, and admit the assessment is incorrect.

Good luck, NACSA may be worth contacting also

jacquelinenicholas

have you contacted SSAFA

regallady

just to let everyone know i have been on to the CSA and they are going to reassess his case and file as the lady i spoke to says she thinks the information they have is wrong. plus he now has a caseworker and i asked about them doing a child benefit check and they agreed to it.
So just to say thank you to everyone who helped out with this it was very much appreciated

romanempire

As someone else said:- Apply for disclosure of all info they hold on him.
He has a right to this under the Data Protection Act. The CSA are notorious for making mistakes (and that's a charitable interpretation of their actions). Then you can see in writing what they have on their system. The goon on the end of the phone can tell you anything they feel like to get you off the phone and you have no proof either way. So get his file.

Then you have a fighting chance finding out where they've gone wrong. Then you can apply for re-assessment, make a complaint, etc.

Personally all my dealings with the CSA are in writing and so far its been OK. (BTW I'm an NRP.) But my case only started last September and I was able to get the benefit of other peoples experience from these and other fora.

So the other rule is - Do everything in Writing!

Even if you do insist on using the phone (and remember its another way of making money out of you as its an 0845 number) confirm it in writing sent recorded delivery. And insist they confirm anything they say on the phone in writing.

Good luck.

romanempire

Oh! and another thing.

Don't be too proud to 'sign-on' if your out of work.

Its the one sure way of forcing the CSA to reduce your assessment when you have no money coming in. Even if your not going to get anything for a few weeks (because you you were a sole trader or the Jobcentre say you put yourself out of work) still sign on.

In my case its over 15 years since I needed to sign on but if I hadn't they would have assessed me on what I used to earn rather then what I currently earn (£0).