Csa back payments

betuaintgotthis_2

Hi all long time reader first time poster an all.

I have a question regarding back payments to the child support agency. My brief story goes a little something like this.....

Somewhere between Febuary and May 2013
Recieved an unexpected phone call from csa asking for bank details and to set up a direct debit in order to start paying maintenance. At the time I had an agreement with my ex partner paying £100 per month.
Due to the unexpected nature and remembering a conversation with my ex partner where she said anymore would mess with her benifits i decided to tell csa to put this in writing whilst i speak to my ex.
Spoke to my ex partner and turns out she did start a case against me so I awaited my letter whilst still paying the agreed £100 monthly as we had previously agreed.

Approx June 2013
No letter arrived in the post and tbh after time I forgot about it. However ex partner starts pressuring me over not paying through the csa. She made demands that I contact them which I figured I probably should I asked for the letter of workings out to be sent to me in writing as they were not making sense over the phone. No letter arrived

Approx July 2013
I moved house, Phoned csa asking about letter and Gave new address. Figures still were not making sense over the phone. Eventually a letter did arrive although it was on my employers doorstep to start an attachment to my earnings.
Phoned csa again this time a little frustrated, and after a conversation with another guy who baffled me with his figures a letter did eventually arrive on my doorstep.

The letter basicly said the attachment will start from the end August or Septembers wages (it did say which but I cant remember . And that I had accumalated a back pay of something in the region of £1500. I could not understand how I could have back pay after paying the arrangement. But apparently it was started from the day my ex spoke to them rather than the day it was set up. Ok i accept this although a little miffed and left wondering how I can afford to pay about £350 each month but least its done and dusted in 12 months.

November/December 2013
Late November had a temporary office location change around and reshuffle results in my hours being temporary reduced to 16 a week, partly due to a broken down car and having to use public transport, Early start followed by 1 hours walk along dark country roads followed by an hour on the bus and again in the evening,so no i didnt kick up to much of a fuss as it was only temporary and the attachment was earnings related.
End of December new office opened up after several delays and another employee was taken on for evening work (desperately needed) so rather than my hours going back to the original 45 i had them go to 25, a Little short. No csa payments were taken.

January 2014
Emailed csa regarding change in my hours and gave estimated earnings which were to be confirmed via furure wage slips. A surprisingly nice lady phoned me the following evening to go through all I had emailed about and said all was ok and they would re asses the payments, not a problem...

Febuary 2014
This morning I receive a phone call from another fellow Stating that I now owe £1800 in arrears and (2 missed payments which is true) and they will not take in to consideration that I have earnt considerably less over the last couple of months. Surely this cant be right???. Monthly payments now £78 plus the back pay bringing it up to £176 and this was after considerable argument that i could not afford the payment over 12 months, 18 was the longest they said they could do and that was begrudgingly.

Ok that's the story, Sorry probably far to long.
so basicly can they disregard lesser earnings from previous months. Can the csa strech payments over longer periods?. Sure I need something to boost my hours either a different job or part time but I need to be able to get by in the mean time, I still have rent and I still need to eat is there a minimum i should be with in my wages?.

And before anybody says "hey a loop hole you dont have to pay anything" please keep that to yourself I do love my children and I do want to provide for them. I see them often and have no intention of dodging my parental responsibilities and wish I could do more.

betuaintgotthis_2

That was definately much longer than intended!.

DUTR

betuaintgotthis wrote: »

That was definately much longer than intended!.

There is a lot there, what I didn't notice whilst skim reading was if you had recieved any letter (MEF) from them?
As far as I know they don't just ring asking for bank details, the payments are due from when the case is opened and of course what you gave to the PWC is documented via bank statements?

betuaintgotthis_2

I dont know what a MEF is but the only forms I had recieved were ones stating how much was to be taken from my wages.
And yes my first contact with them was their request to set up a payment with them.

DUTR

betuaintgotthis wrote: »

I dont know what a MEF is but the only forms I had recieved were ones stating how much was to be taken from my wages.
And yes my first contact with them was their request to set up a payment with them.

MEF is the maintainance enquiry form, sounds like you may have to raise this with your MP for a clear resolution.

betuaintgotthis_2

Im seriously considering booking an appointment with Citizens advice, there are a few other things I need to chat about regarding her constant changing of the time i get to spend with them. Hopefully be able to work something out. Is mp my member of parliment?.

betuaintgotthis_2

Definately not recieved any forms asking me directly about anything about income or expense. I believe that was all done via my employer.

DUTR

betuaintgotthis wrote: »

Im seriously considering booking an appointment with Citizens advice, there are a few other things I need to chat about regarding her constant changing of the time i get to spend with them. Hopefully be able to work something out. Is mp my member of parliment?.

Yes it is, although the CSA can be bad, they are there to 'protect' both PWC and NRP.

betuaintgotthis_2

I didnt realise mp's worked with personal matters. Thank you, I shall try that route too.

PreludeForTimeFeelers

How many children are in the case? Depending on the number of kids it might be on the 2012 system, in which case there'd not be a mef, the paying parent's first contact would be at the info gathering stage, ie when he or she would get a call or a letter saying "We've worked out that you should pay £x per month child maintenance for child A and child B" - that's the point where the paying parent can raise any dispute. If it's 2012 system then there wouldn't be a reassessment unless your income changed by 25% or more.

betuaintgotthis_2

Not sure if I would be on the 2012 system but being early 2013 I guess it would be possible.
There are two children in the equation although I would have thought that the workings out would have been done the same albeit different percentages.