CSA issues.

DUTR

Brit27 wrote: »

Hi,
I was paying a family agreement CM to my ex-wife who is the resident parent of my soon to be 18 year old son (birthday June). My son is currently completing his A levels at school before starting UNI in September. I paid my usual payment on the 28th Jan and then received a letter from the CSA on the 30th Jan, stating that a claim had been received from my ex and that they would use the 30th Jan as a date for arrears to begin.
They have told me that they can do nothing about the payment made on the 28th, even though my ex contacted them on that day, I have appealed this but had the same reply.
They have set up a Direct Debit for 12 months even though I told them that my son would be attending UNI in September, they replied that they would review the Direct Debit after 12 months.
My wife and her soon to be husband earn over £100k per year between them, so aren't short of a bob or two, whereas I am struggling like mad to make the £288 per month CM payment. I have no way of knowing if my wife still receives Child Benefit for my son, the CSA have insisted that she does, even with their joint earnings.
I have found that parents in my situation are left with no help or assistance, the CSA just refuse any suggestion that I make as long as they protect my ex and her claim, how can I make them see tha tmy son is starting UNI in September and to alter the Direct Debit schedule to suit ?
Please let me just say that I would happily help my son with his UNI costs if the CSA payments stop.

Child support is paid in arrears, hence the payment of the 28th Jan is for the 21st Jan.
It's surprising that they have set up a DD, you would have to furnish them with your bank details.
As others have suggested the schedule is for 12 months, however that is not to say that the shedule may not read
£67 pw due until 2/9/13 £0 pw due until March 2014.

The rest about the household income of the PWC houshold is irrelevant, they could be multimillionaires and the NRP on minimum wage, the NRP would still have to contribute.

Brit27

Thanks all for your comments, I have looked pretty deeply into this and have spoken with several staff at the CSA and one at the DWP and realise that I have to accept what I have been presented with. They have apparently been in touch with my employers and discussed my earnings/overtime, although I believe that was just to get me on their side, as they came back with the same figures that they originally set 12 days earlier ! It just hurts to have lost my advanced payment for February in the way that I did, I thought that for the sake of two days they would have helped me out, but as I mentioned, it's all about the claim . I have made a written appeal to them and will take that to an independant appeal, just to keep up the fight.

The only other payment 'option or agreement' as they state in their paperwork, was to have the monies stopped from my wages each month, at least with the DD I can stop when September comes around and then wait for the consequences.I have no Tax credits to take into consideration.

I won't send my sons UNI conditional offer in now after taking your advice, I'll just pay what is due and hope that she can put it to good use regarding him, he is aware of the amounts involved each month now and has already told her that he wants more than £10 a week pocket money ! I have told him that he is willing to stay with me at any time and have assured him that though I will do anything for him, I just can't afford to help out with things now....that hurts a lot .

Roll on September I'm hibernating until then .

Sensemaya

PreludeForTimeFeelers wrote: »

It seems a bit of a waste of time asking for a complete breakdown in a case that has an initial effective date of Jan 30th - there have only been about 6 weeks of payments due since that point and I'm sure that the poster knows what he has or hasn't paid in that time.

Re: not being able to take into account the payment made on Jan 28th - this is because the CSA didn't have jurisdiction until Jan 30th, likewise if you hadn't paid monies prior to that point then the CSA wouldn't have been able to chase you for those figures.

I'm looking ahead to when the case will be closed. There could be problems knowing the CSA.Having a complete account breakdown - and knowing there probably won't be a reassessment as the case will be closed end of Sept- would help the OP. As you quite rightly say it's only been ongoing for a few weeks, so it shouldn't create any problems for the CSA to produce the correct figures.

OP Keep all your paperwork and make sure you get it in writing the case is closed come Sept. Then keep it for a good few years.

Sensemaya

Brit27 wrote: »

I have made a written appeal to them and will take that to an independant appeal, just to keep up the fight.

DUTR has made a good point here: Child support is paid in arrears, hence the payment of the 28th Jan is for the 21st Jan.

So go for it.

My son started Uni last Sept. Well he actually went in Oct. I found the CB was on top of things as was the Student Loan Co. Everything ran smoothly...

I'm still concerned about the DD but at least you can stop it after making Sept's payment.

emsywoo123

Brit27 wrote: »

Roll on September I'm hibernating until then .

I must have missed something, but I thought you were paying for him before the CSA got involved, so why is this suddenly such bad financial news?

Brit27

emsywoo123 wrote: »

I must have missed something, but I thought you were paying for him before the CSA got involved, so why is this suddenly such bad financial news?

Indeed I was with an amount met by mutual agreement, which she disregarded on the 28th by making her claim, hence bad financial news ! Plus the 12 month Direct Debit that the CSA are refusing to accept should come to an end in September. However now with further insight from helpful board members here, I can see that it should alter, hopefully without further intervention from me.
Just to confirm again, the CSA had taken the case from the 30th Jan although my advanced payment and the claim were made on the 28th Jan. All dates after the 30th are classed as arrears. I have made a February payment to them by credit card and the DD starts at the end of this month.