CSA & overtime?

Mr_Green_Genes

aussiesbird, the part of your post concerning the telephone conversation is a demonstration of why you shouldn't deal with these people over the phone. Insist on having every contact either by letter, or getting an agreement to a transcript of a phone call. I do. They are stupid enough to attempt to lie and cheat by letter, of course, but the compensation keeps rolling in so I'm not that bothered.

As for them telling you you don't need to forward a claim for maladministration because they'll do it for you, yeah right!! Of course she won't. Or not in a way that will ever bring you success. The spin will make Mandelson look like an amateur. It would be like asking the prosecution barrister to sum up for the defence in a murder trial.

You must do that yourself, it's the only way you'll be able to put your point across properly. When seeking compensation, don't forget the DWP's criteria which state that you should be put back in the position you would have been in, had the maladministration not occurred.

As kelloggs says, good luck.

Sensemaya

UPDATE
Someone from the CSA rang today to advise us that they had received a letter from our local MP and also our appeal letter. She wanted to go over a few points before replying to the MP.

They are changing tact. How dare they contact you before replying to your MP's letter. They are on dangerous ground. I would contact your MP immediately and demand - as they have stated phone calls are recorded for up to two weeks - the recording to be forwarded to your MP. I suspect, if they do, it will be heavily edited.

I would put a complaint in against this person.

Firstly we had asked for proof that my partners ex requested a review back in June 2005, she stated that it was done by phone so could not provide any.

I'm not going to quote anymore of your post, because it's simply CSA bulltalk. ...except...

She acknowledged that they were at fault and requested we accept a payment from them by way of apology (approx £25)

You were quite right to refuse. Let the MP do their job and go through the proper channels.Tell the MP everything. And of course you must contact the chief exec's office as you need an acknowledgement from that office to proceed. The MP will forward all correspondence onto you.

Keep fighting.

Sensemaya

Mr_Green_Genes wrote: »

As for them telling you you don't need to forward a claim for maladministration because they'll do it for you, yeah right!! Of course she won't. Or not in a way that will ever bring you success. The spin will make Mandelson look like an amateur. It would be like asking the prosecution barrister to sum up for the defence in a murder trial.

Wonderfully expressed. :rotfl: :T :beer:

aussiesbird

Sensemaya wrote: »

They are changing tact. How dare they contact you before replying to your MP's letter. They are on dangerous ground. I would contact your MP immediately and demand - as they have stated phone calls are recorded for up to two weeks - the recording to be forwarded to your MP. I suspect, if they do, it will be heavily edited.

I would put a complaint in against this person.



I'm not going to quote anymore of your post, because it's simply CSA bulltalk. ...except...



You were quite right to refuse. Let the MP do their job and go through the proper channels.Tell the MP everything. And of course you must contact the chief exec's office as you need an acknowledgement from that office to proceed. The MP will forward all correspondence onto you.

Keep fighting.

Thanks for your post Sensemaya i really appreciate your input. I hope you don't mind but there are a couple of points you raised I would like you to elaborate on.
Firstly, were they wrong to contact me before submitting my appeal and a response letter to my MP and if so why?
Also, should I put in a complaint to the chief exec now or wait for the outcome of the appeal? I was going to do the latter but your advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
I hope you don't mind me asking you these questions, I am not questioning your remarks at all, I just want to be armed with as much information as possible and do everything the correct way so nothing comes back to "bite me on the bum" so to speak!!:eek:

aussiesbird

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has given me their advice and support on this forum so far. I really do appreciate it and please keep them coming as I feel I have a long road ahead of me!!
THANK YOU !!! :T

kelloggs36

Aussiesbird - do them both at the same time. The appeal must be looked at separately as it hasn't been dealt with and so won't form part of the investigation. If it is found that they made the wrong decision in the first place, from the Chief Exec's input, then it will be rectified and the appeal can be withdrawn. It won't make any difference to the outcome of the appeal. Did you write to them and make a formal complaint as well as contacting your MP? Personally I think it shows that they are trying to sort out your issues by contacting you personally, but only you know whether what they are offering is acceptable or not. If you reject their offers then that will be reported to the MP along with what was offered to you. It makes no difference in the long run. They have targets and procedures which they must follow, and I guess that contacting you before formulating a formal response to the MP was because they must be seen to be doing something proactive to try and resolve the matter. Also, it helps them clarify any issues that have been brought to their attention.

aussiesbird

Thanks Kelloggs36, I haven't written to the CSA with any complaint, just argued with them on the phone MANY times!!! Should I put in a written complaint to them at the same time as the letter to the chief exec? I did mention in the appeal letter that I felt we had been badly represented and would be putting in a letter of complaint to chief exec, is that kept on file at the CSA as well as being sent to appeals dept?

kelloggs36

The letter which went into the appeal probably stays there unless somebody spots the fact that it is a veiled complaint and MAY pass it on, but don't hold your breath. You have nothing to lose by sending in the letter of complaint as well as the Chief Executive. TBH unless the matter really is considered to be of grave importance then you are likely to find that the Chief Executive won't deal with the complaint anyway, and will just refer it back to the Complaints Resolution Team which is where your letter will go anyway.

Mr_Green_Genes

kelloggs36 wrote: »

The letter which went into the appeal probably stays there unless somebody spots the fact that it is a veiled complaint and MAY pass it on, but don't hold your breath. You have nothing to lose by sending in the letter of complaint as well as the Chief Executive. TBH unless the matter really is considered to be of grave importance then you are likely to find that the Chief Executive won't deal with the complaint anyway, and will just refer it back to the Complaints Resolution Team which is where your letter will go anyway.

On the other hand, it raises the profile and that might make it a bit more likely that something will come of it.

Of course, if it doesn't get a result, a letter to your MP that can start "I have written to the Chief Executive of the CSA who has totally ignored my complaint" can be very galvanising!

kelloggs36

I tried to complain to the Chief Exec about my case, and although I got an acknowledgement, the matter was not dealt with there, but referred back as it wasn't a life or death situation! Same goes for the Minister for Child Support, who I understand is refusing to deal with cases now.