What to do now!

Frith

I'm back to fighting the CSA AGAIN!

Since the ex left in Jan 2005, I have received less than £500 from him. He sometimes signs on, but when the CSA catches up with him, he signs off. He did have one job a year or so ago but refused to tell the CSA where he was working and they seemed unable to find out (?) So the most I have ever had is £5 per week.

At the end of a particularly long spell with no CSA payments at all, I wrote to my MP and it took him 3 letters to get a reply from the CSA. I got a £100 fine from the CSA and £15 towards the dozens of phone calls and letters I needed. They still didn't get any money from the ex though!

Anyway, once again I have had no payments since October 2009. Apparently they can "see" he is signing on and each time I phone they promise to do something about it and get the £5 per week back off him. But nothing is done. I sent a letter a couple of weeks ago as a gentle reminder but they haven't even replied to it.

What is the protocol now? Its been a couple of years since I did the MP thing - is that still the best idea? I didn't mention compensation in my last letter but its been a good 6 months now so I am pondering asking for that too. Is there a pro forma letter on the site? I've had a look but couldn't find one.

Thanks in advance!

L

missmontana

Looks like you might have to get the MP involved again.

Why do they not just take the £5 off him before he gets his JSA?

jen_br

Exactly MP is a good start they are looking for your vote!

PlayingHardball

You won't have the opportunity of contacting an MP until after the general election as they are no longer in parliament. (until 6th May).

My personal view here, but I like what Nick Clegg stands for with regards to 'a fairer system for all, it is obvious that a lot of the problems which the OP has experienced with the NRP is is far too common, enabling him and others like him, to sign on JUST to avoid his child support responsibilities. This grey area needs to be sorted once and for all! Lets hope someone will finally address this issue! I for one would much rather see NRP working and supporting their kids. (although I'm understanding of genuine situations where IS is necessary and genunine)

OP, I have read some success stories on both the NACSA and Child Support Options website, relevant to how you've described what you have experienced with the CSA so far, with very good outcomes.

Perhaps, as you have already involved the MP in the past, its now time to get advice from one of these organisations (copy the MP into anything you do from now on, once you know who it will be).

I am with NACSA, they do charge a £50 annual subscription, but for that money I've already been given more help then I could ever imagine.

Good luck!

Honest_broker07

Unfortunately As I've said before and the CSA have confirmed

they ask the benefits agency to deduct from benefits, but if the officer dealing with the case thinks it would cause hardship they can refuse to apply it.

and again as I've said before what would happen to an employer that refused to action a DEO on the grounds that it would cause hardship

clearingout

Honest_broker07 wrote: »

and again as I've said before what would happen to an employer that refused to action a DEO on the grounds that it would cause hardship

I can answer that one for you - nothing at all! My ex has his own ltd. company and pays himself a salary. Only since he left me mind, before that he was on dividends and taking about 3 times what he claims to be taking in salary. Anyway, I figure something is better than nothing and haven't tried to dispute this in anyway. He has a DEO set up against himself - his girlfriend is his bookkeeper (or 'Finance Manager' as the CSA call her - kills me everytime that, she has enough work for about 3 hours a week, if that!) and has made one payment now in a year. He doesn't answer his phone to them and he doesn't respond to letters. In fact, they told me last week they have been unable to trace him despite the fact that they have his home address where I pick up/drop off the kids on a regular basis (he doesn't live there apparently....).

It is very frustrating. The system is very slow. I wouldn't care but he sees the kids whenever he wants and I bend over backwards to keep my mouth shut about what a miserable you know what he is in front of them (more than can be said of him!). I realise that I am in this for the long haul and my ex is going to be one of those who won't pay up until they try and put him in prison - and even then, we'll be lucky...in the meantime, he parades the kids around like his prize possessions telling everyone and anyone who will listen what a wonderful father he is for not having abannonded them like so many other fathers do! Sigh.....

Frith

clearingout - in the months when the ex actually had a job (about 12-18 months in the last 5 years), I didn't get a penny! The CSA wrote and phoned him and he just refused to say where he was working. The CSA actually wanted ME to find out where he worked (?) Then they devised a cunning plan where they would ask the tax people where he was working but this seemed to go round in circles and I never did get any money.

I have written to my MP. I know they aren't really working at the moment but I asked him if he had a standard letter that he could send to the CSA. He's a different MP from the last one who wrote for me due to boundary changes.

I know what you mean about parading the kids around too. The ex used to turn up (sometimes) at school functions, throw them in the air, twirl them round and generally be heard booming all over the place. In reality, he hasn't had them to stay overnight for 18 months due to his and his girlfriend's behaviour (too much to go into here). In the last 6 months he has only been allowed contact at a contact centre.

PlayingHardball

ACEY wrote: »

clearingout - in the months when the ex actually had a job (about 12-18 months in the last 5 years), I didn't get a penny! The CSA wrote and phoned him and he just refused to say where he was working. The CSA actually wanted ME to find out where he worked (?) Then they devised a cunning plan where they would ask the tax people where he was working but this seemed to go round in circles and I never did get any money.

Clearingout and Acey - Ditto your comments about 'doting dad'. You are not alone, there are loads of them out there. Eventually your children will see their doting dad for what he really is. Clearingout - hats off for keeping your opinion to yourself despite the ex critising you in front of the kids. I'm proud that I've done the same.

Now, 2 years on from when 'doting dad' stopped the charade, and the children all see him for what he is, a selfish self centered person who puts himself first, always has. They no longer even want to spend time with him, his loss and not theirs.

I would say though, don't ever give up trying to get financial support, and I wish you both the best in that. MP's are fantastic and definately worth having on your side.

I had a visit from our Lib Dem cadidate on my doorstep yesterday! I told him he would likely get to know me VERY well should he be elected, as our previous MP has taken up my case. I told him that I would vote for anyone who would, once and for all, sort out our ineffective Child Support System and unfair Benefits system. (not sure any of them are willing to try but I'll blinking well do my best to tell them how shabby it is)

Anyway, sorry for being long winded, but I strongly feel that all of us PWC's who are fighting the unfair current UK system which allows thousands of NRP to avoid their financial duties to their kids....should keep fighting.

I'm in this for the long haul. (sadly for my ex, lol) Bring on the tribunals!

woody01

Damn there are some bitter old women here.

I agree with some of the things you say, but none of you try to make it any better for the dad seeing the child.

PlayingHardball

woody01 wrote: »

Damn there are some bitter old women here.

I agree with some of the things you say, but none of you try to make it any better for the dad seeing the child.

You are confusing 'bitter' with 'determined to provide for our children'. If a NRP choses not to provide for their children and the PWC pursues the legal system to ensure that they do, how does that make any woman 'bitter or old' - I am sick to death of hearing that term from you and others like you.

If you read the posts again.....sigh.... you will see that despite not getting financial support from the fathers, the 2 posters above encouraged visits with dad. As did I, and still would should my child/children want it.

Frith

What's bitter about trying to enforce getting £2.50 per child each week?

The CSA money is nothing to do with my children seeing their father or not. I haven't mentioned it to the children. I haven't mentioned it to their father. It makes absolutely no difference to the amount of access an absent parent has legally.

I have spent the last 5 years running through hoops trying to fit round the ex so he CAN see the children. I have driven them up there, week in, week out at times of his choosing, on his birthday, whenever he has asked. I find him to be a very irritating and selfish man but that has not impinged on the amount of access he has had.

What HAS affected his access recently is the ex moving in with a drug addict with 3 children in care, a criminal record who targeted me with threatening text messages, who has stolen from the ex etc. He was asked in court NOT to let his fiancee have contact with the children (there is far more about her than I have written here). He refused and said his fiancee had to come first. We offered contact at ANY TIME to suit him but he refused. We offered contact in a contact centre. He refused.

Ah, there's nothing like some bitter old man wading into a thread without knowing even one fact about the people involved.