C.S.A trouble

mishmash

I wondered if any one knew the best way to get action from the C.S.A. I had a nil assesment for many years under the old system. My children's father was very good at working things to his advantage.

2 years ago I asked for the old claim to be closed, waited the 12 week period and asked for a new assesment ( C.S.A advised this) in total it took iver 18 months for them to complete this and I should have got my first payment of £250 last September, this kind of money would make a real difference to my children's lives. I am a working Mum and earn a good wage but not as much as 2 parents.

Any way despite dozens of telephone calls, and numerous letters ( 2 sent recorded delivery to the complaints section) I have still not heard anything.

They cannot tell me if he is refusing to pay, has paid and they have the money or even if they have set up a system for him to pay.

Is there a higher authority I can go to, any advice would be great I am not sure what else I can do.

Oh, the 'absent parent' is not one of those tricky ones, he works for a local authority, they have all his details it does not seem to be a difficult matter to sort.

Thanks in advance

Mish mash

msmicawber

Hi Mish mash,

I would recommend contacting your MP about this. MPs surgery and e-mail details are on the House of Commons web site.

kelloggs36

On what grounds can they not tell you this? I presume you have a relevant claim number that is in respect of this new claim? You need to ask if they have considered a Deduction of Earnings Order and if not, why not? They MUST be able to tell you if they have received a payment. You need to ring them and speak to the HEO in that office for a full explanation. When you speak to the HEO you want to know the status of your complaint letters and why you have not had a response. You then go to your MP.

mishmash

kelloggs36 wrote:

On what grounds can they not tell you this? I presume you have a relevant claim number that is in respect of this new claim? You need to ask if they have considered a Deduction of Earnings Order and if not, why not? They MUST be able to tell you if they have received a payment. You need to ring them and speak to the HEO in that office for a full explanation. When you speak to the HEO you want to know the status of your complaint letters and why you have not had a response. You then go to your MP.

Thanks,I was calling them on a weely basis, they were never able to put me through to the person dealing with my claim,the office changed 3 times. The people I spoke to all said there was no information on their system to tell me why I had not received any payments.

I have regulary asked. Have attempts been made to set up payments
Have any payments been made, and will they do an attatchment of earnings if the absent parent is not paying. To all these questions on the phone, the response has been they do not know' as there is no information on the system. I have also asked in my letters but have had no response.

They could not see if anything had been set up, I have been told dozens of times that Emails or messages would be left for the case worker or a manager to call me back. My calls have never been returned, I am not rude or abusive I always explain that I am frustrated. The people I have spoken to have all been polite but useless.

I'm not after crippling my expartner, I just want him to make a reasonable contribution for the kids sake. I think I will see my M.P and give him a copy of my letters and a brief chronology of the case.

I do have a relevant claim number, innitially I even got a special payment from the C.S.A because I complained that they took 18 months to process the case and delayed in sending letters out. The people I have spoken to can see the assesment, but not what is being done with it.

Mish mash

Lil2002

OK - I know this sounds stupid - but have you said "I want to make a complaint."?
I can see all the problems you're having, but has the complaint process been started?

kelloggs36

I would definately speak to the HEO there (that is the manager). It needs for somebody to take responsibility for looking into it properly. There are some accounts screens which should be accessible - have you asked to speak to an accounts manager there who can look into the account set up screens? Ring them first thing on Monday and don't take 'I don't know' for an answer. Get the name of the HEO in charge and ask that they call you back if they are not available. Once you have a name you can e-mail them too. Which area do you live in? Which CSA office is dealing with your claim?

mishmash

Thanks

Yes I have said I want to complain, both when contacting them by telephone and in writing.

I live in Manchester, I think Liverpool are dealing with it But the office has changed 3 times in the last 4 months. I have been told several times that an accounts manager will call me back, but they never have. They do have all my correct contact details as I always check?

I know this is a mystery, I really do not understand what they are finding so difficult, I was told by one man I spoke to that if I did not work or significantly reduced my income, they would deal with the matter more speedily!!

mishmash

Oh and I will call them again on Monday and use the correct terminology such as H.E.O.

Thanks again

Mish mash xx

sunny1_2

Hi Kelloggs36, I'm new to money savings expert & i've just registered so that maybe u can help me with some CSA advice? (hopefully!).

My husband has paid maintenace through CSA for his son 4 the past 7 years. he is on a low income & we had since had a kid of our own & have had the amount reassesed a couple of times but still seem to be paying too much.

He is on the "old" system (calculated on personal allowances) & we got a letter about 3 years ago saying the way calculations were made would be changing to 15/20/25% basis & that he would be moved on to that system shortly. that seems much better & i calculate that he should be paying approx £29 on that system but we are still paying £47 a week.

We are really struggling to pay it & his ex has a partner who earns a lot of money. My husband wants to contribite towards his boy's keep but it doesn't seem fair that we have been told we have been paying £18 a week too much for the last 3 years.

Do you know when we can expect to get onto this new system & the money reduced? Would really appreciate some advice on how it all works?
s

sexy_fufu

Hi Mish,

Ring them up, tell them you want to write a letter of complaint, ask for the name and address of the person you need to write to, also ask there name.

When you do write, tell them everythink make it look worse than it is. also tell them that you are now making time of the essense (these words are vital) and that you want a reply within 7 working days.

Personally i had lots of trouble with the csa, lost my case werent doing anythink ect ect.

So i wrote a letter to the centre manager, i will do a but of looking in a min and see if i can find anythink for you.... I actually got £90 compnesationof the CSA and a brill Case worker, who was put on it urgently because of the hassle i had got.

This case worker really was good and thankgod i now recieve payments every month.

If there is anythink you want to know please dont hesitate to ask i will.

My ex give up jobs twise to get out of paying so i know where your coming from.

kelloggs36

Unfortunately there is still no date set that the old style cases to be changed to the new, and with the even newer CSA system due next year, it is highly unlikely that it will happen. Are you on speaking terms with his ex? Would she agree to a private agreement even for a temporary time? When was the last time you were re-assessed? Have they used the correct income details, the correct housing costs? Have they got the right number of children on your case? Does the ex claim Working Tax Credits? If not, then her income is assessed in the same way that your partner's is and she will be allowed all the housing costs against her income. If she has a partner who works, then he could be assessed at contributing to those housing costs and you could get a Departure on those grounds. BUT it works both ways, so if you work she could ask for a Departure to apportion some of your partner's housing costs to you which could increase your assessment. If you aren't working it is worth a go.