CSA has contacted my OH

bellrooster

Asking for £33 a week to be paid (I have posted this in another thread, as I was rather shocked to say the least)

The letter doesn't say who the child or the mother is so I'm assuming that it's for my OH's 19 year old son. I don't know what arrangements my OH had for maintenance payments before I met him 6 years ago - but I know he hasn't been paying any regular maintenance to him, and has only been in contact with him once since I've known him (not that that is relevent, I'm just a little confused right now).

So assuming it's for his son, who left school at 16 and has worked ever since, then the monies owed should all be arrears? However, the way the letter is worded, it seems like that payments are on going eg, oh needs to pay £20 somthing pound a week, and in ADDITION to that, £9 in arrears ? what I don't understand is why the total amount to pay each week isn't all arrears? and why haven't they asked for the full amount?

gratefulforhelp_2

Honey I have replied on your other thread. eta your partner probably should have been paying maintenance for his son?

bellrooster

Yes, I agree he should, I don't know what the arrangments he had in place to pay maintenance to be honest, and if we now have arrears to pay then that's what we'll do.

It's just getting the letter out of the blue, and then it doesn't really explain fully what we're paying, would the £9 be off the arrears each week and then the £20 odd pound go to his son's Mother? I didn't think you could claim for a 19 year old.

gratefulforhelp_2

You can claim up to 19 if the "child" is in full time education, though not all courses qualify I think.

bellrooster

Ok, So I'm not sure why they're asking for money for him then as he's working full time and has been for a couple of years. So the possibility of arrears I understand and we'll tighten our belts and pay that, but I don't know why we still have to pay weekly for him.

gratefulforhelp_2

Well maybe its not for him, and its a claim like my friend had?

bellrooster

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Well maybe its not for him, and its a claim like my friend had?

I hope so x

gratefulforhelp_2

Me too. They are so desperately incompetent, just don't worry until you have something concrete to worry about.

AnxiousMum

bellrooster wrote: »

The letter doesn't say who the child or the mother is so I'm assuming that it's for my OH's 19 year old son.

So assuming it's for his son, who left school at 16 and has worked ever since, then the monies owed should all be arrears?

You've mentioned twice 'assuming' it is for his 19 yr old son. Could there be another child which would explain the arrears and the ONGOING support?

Didismump

Look into the letter...Do NOT pay anything until you know who the money is for and for what period of time..and WHY..
Check, CHECK and DOUBLE CHECK all their 'evidence' as they are desperate for money for the Secretary Of State right now and are coming down on ALL and sundry...:(
Speak to 'Kelloggs 36' on here, IF at all possible ( gives EXCELLENT advice)

Write ( don't call the CSA as they can 'lose' conversations conveniently)..and ALWAYS send EVERYTHING registered post and keep the receipt ( I have learned the hard way on this)...

Do NOT waste your time on phone calls...as many 'CSA advisors' give wrong advice...and you WILL get a different answer from every person at the CSA that you speak to..
Write directly to the source..and do as above..always making sure you keep ALL proof of postage..
ALWAYS..:)
IF they ever call and ''harass' you...don't give them air space...either don't answer..or before they have chance ( as they WILL eventually) write and request that all correspondence is made via letter ( as stated in the Human Rights Act in the CSA Guide) ..
You do NOT have to talk to them..
Keep everything that arrives and hold on to it for dear life..as you may need it for future reference..
(Guaranteed at some point you will, as they never go away..I have been fighting for my OH for 10 years now..and am at the point of receiving a Liability Order for the Court hearing..and awaiting the Bailiffs at our door ( OH has NO idea IF the child is his and she is 19 also....and he has not seen her since she was 5 months old (approx)..so you can see..it does NOT go away)..:(
Good Luck with it ALL...;)

bellrooster

Thanks for that advice! I'll pass it on to my OH, though I imagin it will be me sorting this out. I really don't understand child maintenance at all having never been in the situation myself so I just need to get as much as advice as I can. My OH and myself have a little one just starting school and we going to really miss that £30 somthing a week if we have to pay it.

i'll have a good read through the boards and try and get clued up.