On CSA1, can I transfer to CSA2?

MichaelFenton

First post, please go easy. I an NRP (imposed) paying the CSA (her choice) under CSA1 at 30% 2 children which I have no contact (again her choice – long story - not going into it). I now earn a lot more today (about £85K) as a bonds trader than when we were together (about £23K) and the CSA are still charging me the full 30%. I think this is unfair because she is on benefits – always has been lazy - but this is not child support, its money used to improve her own personal wealth. I was paying alimony but that stopped when she remarried but her new husband is in prison for drug offences, hence the CSA route.

I have been offered a job at a Saudi bank as a bonds trader starting on £115K tax free to start March 01 2012 but I only have until 11 December (Sunday) to make it firm. It is our intention to move there and my son who lives with me (not a CSA child) attends an international school until he is 14 then he is educated privately in the UK for the remainder of my contract.

People are saying it all seems a bit strange someone on benefits can afford an expensive car, multiple holidays a year, a taxpayer funded house, new clothes and go clubbing at weekends.

I want to reduce the maintenance and bring it in line with CSA2, but the CSA wont do it. The CSA and my ex do not know I want to go back to Jeddah. The CSA rules say I only need to give 7 days notice, so they wont be informed until Feb 24, 2012.

I am aware that Saudi law has banned the popular UK practice of allowing a parent to remove the other parent from a childs life to obtain money in child support (their adscription), but as a westerner, I want to see if the CSA is reasonable.

Can anyone on this forum share any experience on finding the best approach with the CSA?

DUTR

You cannot instigate that change (perhaps only by getting somebody else claiming ) the PWC would have to close the case and wait some weeks and then open a new case, I suspect from some of the posts here that the CMEC rules would apply to new claims, also not sure if Saudi is part of REMO (someone else will have to check/confirm), also spouting figures as you have is not likely to win you the sympathy vote as moralistically you know the score.

MichaelFenton

Thanks for the fast reply, getting someone else to claim? I dont understand.

Saudi Arabia does not have a bilateral agreement with the UK on child support, it is banned under Muslim Sharia law.

Sorry, spouting what figures? sympathy vote? New to all this.

kevin137

If you are working is Saudi, then there is nothing she can do as long as you NOTIFY IN WRITING of a change in circumstances, and you are resident there, then all she will get is what you choose to pay...!

The case will be closed...!

kb92830

Kevin is completely correct, the CSA has no jurisdiction over non resident parents so they will close the case should you inform them, move and then stop paying. If there is no Bilateral agreement then a court order would also be worthless for your ex.

You can effectively set your own level of maintenance going forward and there is absolutely nothing she can do about it.

skibadee

I'm confused.....under CS2 based on yr income now of 85k you would be paying approx 185.00 a WEEK!!
Surely that is not less than you are paying now???

HappyMJ

skibadee wrote: »

I'm confused.....under CS2 based on yr income now of 85k you would be paying approx 185.00 a WEEK!!
Surely that is not less than you are paying now???

I think that's the point. £185 is much less than 30%. I make it £162 anyway. £85,000 less tax, ni and pension/student loan is £954 a week less 15% for one child makes £811 then 20% of that makes £162.

poor_country_girl

Hiya - the only way to get onto new rules is if she closes the old case waits 13 weeks then opens a new one, this would automatically be new rules, or if she was to make another claim for another child, this would migrate your case from one system to the other as they all have to be the same.
If the company you are working for is a foreign company, ie with a non British pay roll you will not be eligible to pay anything on the new rules (not sure about the old ones as I never worked on that) as the CSA cannot enforce any action on non-uk businesses, if it turns out this is the case and maintenance stops you can then pay her directly on your own terms. I used to suggest to NRP's that they do the calculation on the CSA website, ie 15% for 1 20% for 2 25% for 3 or more, set up a direct debit or standing order to her directly and make the payments that way. If she refuses to accept this payment or method of payment she doesn't have a leg to stand on.

What she ACTUALLY spends the money on is of absolutly no consequence to the CSA, they sort out the movement of money and cannot regulate what it is spent on - Every PWC spends the money on a good time - apparently.

HappyMJ

MichaelFenton wrote: »

I have been offered a job at a Saudi bank as a bonds trader starting on £115K tax free to start March 01 2012

The CSA rules say I only need to give 7 days notice, so they wont be informed until Feb 24, 2012.

The 7 days notice starts on the day you are paid after the 1st March 2012 so notice could be given somewhere in April 2012.

jojo_2012_2

MichaelFenton wrote: »

I now earn a lot more today (about £85K) as a bonds trader than when we were together (about £23K) and the CSA are still charging me the full 30%. I think this is unfair because she is on benefits – always has been lazy

my son who lives with me (not a CSA child)

With you earning £80k, if you were living together still, I doubt she would be working. Would you still be calling her 'lazy' or a good stay at home mum caring for YOUR children??

As for calling your 2 children who you fail to see 'CSA children', that's disgusting you should be ashamed.

Way to try and dodge your responsibilities I love this forum :T

poor_country_girl

oh yeah, and I concur with the others - report your change of circumstances immediately, by phone first then confirm by letter, they will only action this change from the day you inform them! - also make sure the payroll for the company is also non-uk as I suspect it will be.

Good luck!
Kath
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