Advice please, case reassessed and ive now got arrears!!

J4mesg

couldnt make this up

CSA called today, they done a reassessment as my ex asked for it and its going up 25quid a month which is fine i was happy with that.

However, they've now dropped a bombshell and said that i owe arrears as a change to the PWC circumstances in 2004 meant that my assessment should've went up £6 pw, can they do this? they said my ex has another child (nothing to do with me) and she couldnt claim for this other child from 2004, (what the cliam refers to ive no idea) why does it make my assessment go up? bizzare!!

now i think i will be charged £6 pw from 2004!

please help, can i complain to MSP? thanks J

shoe*diva79

Are you on CSA 1 or CSA 2?

J4mesg

hi thanks for reply

Im on CSA1, assessed bfore 2003

i called them again, basically because my ex other daughter left education then my ex was entitled to more from me even tho she's not my daughter! bizzare

they said i can appeal

shoe*diva79

Sorry, i am not knowledgable on CSA 1 but there are some who post here who are in the know so hopefully someone will respond to you soon.

Sensemaya

I'm not up on CS1 either.

But I would be approaching my MP and asking for a complate account breakdown from day one of your case and a full easy to understand explanation as to how these arrears have occurred and why they have occurred now.

I find this best as there is a paper trail and the CSA tend to reply somewhat quicker than to their 'clients' who are often fobbed off and their requests for pertinant information simply ignored.

Make friends with the MP's assistant (s). They do the work and will keep you updated.

krashovrload

++

I cannot see how a change in the PWC circumstances should mean that you're liable for more maintenance - esp. if the change was that PWC went on to have another child. I know that CSA1 was a nightmare and so it's possible I guess.! I was assessed under it but got moved across to CSA2 when the PWC in my case made a new claim...

If the PWC couldnt claim for the 2nd child - that would seem to me that they attempted to claim which begs the question why wasn't your case reviewed at the same time and migrated across to CSA2.?

Definitely follow the suggestions given by others and get case records etc...

++

J4mesg

thanks very much guys, onto my MP today!

J4mesg

hi got onto my MP and they've started a case file and took all the details

got letter in today from CSA and they said that they've assessed me and I need to pay from 2004!! haha unreal, they are backdating to 2004!

anyway, they have foolishly presumed in 2004 I still stayed in the same place and wasn't part of a pension scheme in work, so I called them tonight and raised an appeal with this information.

thanks

Sensemaya

J4mesg wrote: »

hi got onto my MP and they've started a case file and took all the details

got letter in today from CSA and they said that they've assessed me and I need to pay from 2004!! haha unreal, they are backdating to 2004!

anyway, they have foolishly presumed in 2004 I still stayed in the same place and wasn't part of a pension scheme in work, so I called them tonight and raised an appeal with this information.

thanks

Don't have any more contact with the CSA now. If they phone tell them the matter is being dealt with through your MP.

Give a copy of the letter to your MP...they can photocopy it...and all responses must be through the MP from now on.You then have a paper trail and evidence of all CSA correspondence.

Obviously the appeal papers will come to your address so fill them in and photocopy to MP.

You have asked for a complete account breakdown?

J4mesg

Sensemaya wrote: »

Don't have any more contact with the CSA now. If they phone tell them the matter is being dealt with through your MP.

Give a copy of the letter to your MP...they can photocopy it...and all responses must be through the MP from now on.You then have a paper trail and evidence of all CSA correspondence.

Obviously the appeal papers will come to your address so fill them in and photocopy to MP.

You have asked for a complete account breakdown?

thanks, ive asked for complete breakdown.

will they contact me to start paying the backdated arrears or will they wait till appeal is over with?

Sensemaya

J4mesg wrote: »

thanks, ive asked for complete breakdown.

will they contact me to start paying the backdated arrears or will they wait till appeal is over with?

Difficult to say.

In your position I would try to save up a little just in case arrears are owed. In my experience account breakdowns can differ wildly due to various staff working the figures out.

It will be interesting to see if they send you an account breakdown from day one through your MP and then a separate one -not from day one- for the Appeal. If this happens study the figures carefully.

If arrears are owed you can negotiate a figure that is comfortable for you. Again it's best to liaise through your MP with this one. Arrears don't have to be paid within 2 years or in one lump sum.

My ex owes the SofS circa 14-15K because of advance payments. At one stage they weren't going to bother collecting this sum at all as they classed it as 'low priority' but I complained as well as the case officer.

His situation is nothing to do with me any more:T but I hope they are making him pay.