Just had a phone call from the CSA

missbunbury

mpg wrote: »

I have since received a letter based on last yrs tax return with a figure that is way higher than it should be. Just because I made a profit in the first 2 Quarters of last year doesnt mean I didn't make a loss in the last 2 Quarters...But did they just pluck figures out of the air.

They have looked at the most recent available evidence of your income for a full year, i.e. your tax return in which you declared a certain amount of income. So they are taking into account fluctuations in income over the year then averaging out your profit across the year to get a weekly income figure. This is because there is no provision within child support law to allow you to pay more or less each week based on your earnings going up and down. If you think your next year's tax return will be very different then you could supply them with a profit and loss account now and ask them to reassess based on this.

mpg wrote: »

For 10 yrs i paid my ex a set amount each week cash. then for 4 out of the 5 yrs my son lived with me she paid me the same amount. Then 3 months after he moves back to her's she's got the CSA involved and I'm expected to pay over twice the amount her ex husband is paying for his child. Seems a little off.

It may well be that she's got someone in her ear encouraging her, but that doesn't change the fact that she is allowed by law to make you pay the statutory amount of maintenance as per the CSA. It's galling that he paid less but if those payments were through the CSA then it was probably assessed the same way as your case which suggests he earns less than you do. If not through the CSA then it was a private arrangement, same as you used to have, and these are not relevant to a CSA calculation.

pupsicola

mpg wrote: »

At the moment I work nights and was woken at just past 9am on a saturday with a phone call out of the blue. The guy on the phone seemed very reasonable. Asked a few questions I was probably more forthcoming than I should have been as still half asleep.

He gave it to me straight this is the info we want etc.

I have since received a letter based on last yrs tax return with a figure that is way higher than it should be. Just because I made a profit in the first 2 Quarters of last year doesnt mean I didn't make a loss in the last 2 Quarters.

Since the initial friendly contact they seem to have toughened up very matter of fact and pushy. ( they may have been busy but to phone you up out of the blue pretty much demanding bank details there and then to set up DD I even told him twice I was driving at the time)

I have no problem with there being an agency for getting absent parents to pay for child support But did they just pluck figures out of the air.

For 10 yrs i paid my ex a set amount each week cash.
then for 4 out of the 5 yrs my son lived with me she paid me the same amount. Then 3 months after he moves back to her's she's got the CSA involved and I'm expected to pay over twice the amount her ex husband is paying for his child. Seems a little off.

Many thanks for taking the time to advise. Hope you are treated fairly and things sort themselves out.

mpg

Update.

PWC is now NRP
NRP is now PWC.

His mother kicked him out on thursday night and told him to make his own arrangements. Thats nice of her.

He can be a little begger at times. But even though we've had some pretty big bust ups I've never kicked him out.


So the upshot is he's back with us. His behavior seems to revolve in 3 month cycles so here's hopeful he behaves for the last 3 months of school.




So where do I go now with regards to the CSA

PreludeForTimeFeelers

mpg wrote: »

Update.

PWC is now NRP
NRP is now PWC.

His mother kicked him out on thursday night and told him to make his own arrangements. Thats nice of her.

He can be a little begger at times. But even though we've had some pretty big bust ups I've never kicked him out.


So the upshot is he's back with us. His behavior seems to revolve in 3 month cycles so here's hopeful he behaves for the last 3 months of school.




So where do I go now with regards to the CSA

Give them a bell and let them know straight away that he's now living with you. They'll contact your ex, and ask her if it's true, hopefully she'll tell the truth and say yes, in which case the case where you're the NRP will close. You'll still have to pay any maintenance due from the initial effective date to the case closure date. If she says no, and that the child is still living with her, then things might be a bit trickier. I'd recommend calling Child Benefit as soon as possible too, to get that changed into your name. If the CSA do close your case, then it's down to you as to whether you want to put in a claim against your ex as you are now the Parent with Care.