How do I her her to pay up

Honest_broker07

I have taken my ex to the CSA for maintenance of our daughter who's lived with me since late 2005.
The CSA refused to recognise this until April 2006 when I got a court order for residence.
I'm paying off arrears ( that I can't see how they accrued and never had an explanation ) but my calculation says I've now over paid by about £750.
My ex has very rarely paid and I have a letter from the CSA saying as she's on benefits it's up to the individual officer to decide if paying would cause hardship, if so she doesn't have to pay.
I wrote to then in September asking for a breakdown of arrears etc and have had nothing. It seems only if I involve my MP does anything happen.

how can I a) get them to respond and b) make her pay up the best part of £1K in arrears

I have had a letter last year saying the've given me poor service below what I should expect yet nothing seems to happen

CSA_Help

Honest_broker07 wrote: »

I have taken my ex to the CSA for maintenance of our daughter who's lived with me since late 2005.
The CSA refused to recognise this until April 2006 when I got a court order for residence.
I'm paying off arrears ( that I can't see how they accrued and never had an explanation ) but my calculation says I've now over paid by about £750.
My ex has very rarely paid and I have a letter from the CSA saying as she's on benefits it's up to the individual officer to decide if paying would cause hardship, if so she doesn't have to pay.
I wrote to then in September asking for a breakdown of arrears etc and have had nothing. It seems only if I involve my MP does anything happen.

how can I a) get them to respond and b) make her pay up the best part of £1K in arrears

I have had a letter last year saying the've given me poor service below what I should expect yet nothing seems to happen

Welcome to the board

Depends what benefits she is on the max they will take off her is £5 a week .By the sounds of it it will be a female that is doing your assesment and feeling sorry for your ex

speedster

inform them, that by law she is required to pay at least the flat rate of £5 per week.

mind you, without an official complaint, you wont get past the front line of "wimmin" at the csa who don't like to pursue their own species.

DUTR

leave it mate, that is not how the sytem is supposed to work, all though it is supposed to be equal for both parties, it rarely is, you missed a good program on channel 4 about equality.
Then on the news we learn that little girl has passed away after her father had driven his car into a river, these type of stories are ever increasing, he is a villan (and so he should be) yet the lady that killed her kids and left them in th boot of a car is recieving almost hero status

Soubrette

Are you on CSA1 or CSA2?

As I understand it, CSA1 cases where the NRP is on benefits do not have to pay any child maintenance. CSA2 cases should be paying £5 a week.

If you are on CSA1 then I believe as the PWC you should be able to request a move to CSA2 - how successful that would be I don't know I'm afraid.

Going to your own arrears - do you have any proof that your daughter was living with you in late 2005? Such as change in school near where to you live rather than the former PWC? Did you start claiming child benefit from when she first moved in with you? Official things like that.

If you had a letter confirming that you have received poor service then write back to them referencing that letter and ask what compensation they are going to offer you (always write back using special delivery, more expensive but at least you have a paper trail).

Finally, do get your MP involved, that's what they are there for

Good luck

Sou

CSA_Help

Soubrette wrote: »

Are you on CSA1 or CSA2?

As I understand it, CSA1 cases where the NRP is on benefits do not have to pay any child maintenance. CSA2 cases should be paying £5 a week.

If you are on CSA1 then I believe as the PWC you should be able to request a move to CSA2 - how successful that would be I don't know I'm afraid.

Going to your own arrears - do you have any proof that your daughter was living with you in late 2005? Such as change in school near where to you live rather than the former PWC? Did you start claiming child benefit from when she first moved in with you? Official things like that.

If you had a letter confirming that you have received poor service then write back to them referencing that letter and ask what compensation they are going to offer you (always write back using special delivery, more expensive but at least you have a paper trail).

Finally, do get your MP involved, that's what they are there for

Good luck

Sou

There would be papers relating to the court order also probably would be a CSA2 case as its after 2003

eco

One of the managers at work is in the same position a you, he has been trying since last September to get maintenance, I even asked him if he thought they were dragging there feet on purpose so he gave in as it was too much hassle. He is still persuing it, as he say's he has no intent of giving in.

missmontana

alright boys, don't turn it into a women are evil thread.. lol!!

Everyone should be treated equally, and yes, she should be made to pay. I'm sure £5 a week wouldn't cause her hardship.

As a woman, I would find it hard to understand how she could give up full time care of her child in the first place. So not every female will feel sorry for her!

Soubrette

CSA_Help wrote: »

There would be papers relating to the court order also probably would be a CSA2 case as its after 2003

The OP stated that the CSA only believe his child lives with him from the date of the court order in April 06, it might be helpful if he has proof that his daughter lived with him from before this date, things like changing schools, reregistering her with GP or dentist etc.

I agree it's probably CSA2 but we don't know how long the mother was the PWC - does transfering PWCship (is that a word?) automatically put you on CSA2? it seems like it should do but who the heck knows with that lot.

As an aside, if she gave up being the PWC because the father is the better parent then I actually applaud her for recognising this and doing the best for the child. I do not applaud her reluctance to cough up a fiver a week which will in no way cover even half the costs of raising a child :mad:

Sou

Honest_broker07

missmontana wrote: »

As a woman, I would find it hard to understand how she could give up full time care of her child in the first place. So not every female will feel sorry for her!

Hey she's the second of 3 she's "let" me take over.
She chose her Boyfriend over her son 10 years before that.

Anyone have an address to complain to ?

kelloggs36

If the PWC has other deductions, eg a social fund loan or overpayment of benefit, then the CSA deduction cannot be made.