New CSA helpline total farce!

elaine241

Hello just thought I would share with you my experience of the new "Helpline"!!! my ex owes me £11,200 as he has failed to pay for the last 10 years. My son now lives with him and he has now claimed for maintenance thru CSA.
I telephone the helpline to ask how much of my tax credits would be taken into account. I work part time, get WTC & CTC and have a partner. I was told that my tax credits would not be taken into account at all! Even when I questioned this the young man checked with his manager but the answer was still the same, NOT taken into account! Even I know this is wrong! SO be careful on the advice they give it is not neccessarily correct and could be quite serious if you budgeted your finances on their advice.

Another possible problem came up when I talked to CSA re tax credits. I was down as the primary carer & earner just because my name was first on the claim. My partner works full time and I work part time. When I questioned this I found out they "assume" this and do not check. I was the first on the claim as I was a single mum and my partner was added at a later date. I had to tel the tax credit helpline and change my partner to the primary carer so that there was not a mistake in taking all my tax credits into account!

I am still waitng for a clear answer as to wether I can offset my payments against his arrears. I WILL NOT be phoning the helpline!!!!!!!

borders_dude

The CSA is well know to be not fit for purpose, by default this also means the staff are not fit for purpose.

Your expeirence doesnt suprise me.

DX2

CSA helpline giving incorrect info, nope no surprises here either. You know I may well be a PWC but by god these last few months I have found myself time and time again agreeing with some of the NRP's on this board.

bdt1

Elaine, we did opposite with respect to CTC, I am the partner of a NRP, and I earn more than him (I work full time, NRP works part-time), we put NRP as main recipient of CTC, but were told by CSA, doesn't matter who is named 1st or 2nd, it is household income therefore considered 100% of CTC in protected income section

missbunbury

elaine241 wrote: »

I am still waitng for a clear answer as to wether I can offset my payments against his arrears. I WILL NOT be phoning the helpline!!!!!!!

This may be possible, but it is complicated and new, so I expect you'll have to push for it. I would make the request in writing once you have received your assessment. Basically, since January this year, the CSA has "the ability, in prescribed circumstances, to offset a maintenance liability and in some cases arrears where, for example, a child moves from the care of one parent to the other" .

elaine241

Thankyou missbunbury you have given me hope! I shall quote your post to them once I have been assessed.
Spoke to CSA yesterday apparently his arrears have gone to criminal compliance what ever that is? Even case officer said dont hold your breath it could take weeks to hear from them!

chall1964

Hi,

Yes, changes were made. Hopefully this link will help http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20093151_en_2

elaine241

Well I have had my assessment, £11 per week, which confirms the fact I'm officially skint! NRP was paying £20 /week off £11, 200 arrears but nothing since last August. I have asked for my payments to be taken off arrears owed and will put it into writing as advised. As my son is 16, going on 17 and I will only have to pay for a couple of years, approx £1500, are there any options regarding the remaining arrears? Can the CSa ask him to continue paying the £20? As he has a very good lifestyle, owns luxury holiday villa, runs his own racing team (x4 cars) I was wondering what , if any the options are?