an old case

Cally_Smart

Exactly,I have been 'involved' with the agency since 1993 as a pwc so although my 'children' are 32, 30 and over 20 !! I have heard nothing from them since I wrote in Dec 2012 to ask them (by recorded delivery)to close the case ! Are they hoping to resurrect some arrears? It's a bit too late for me now isn't it ? I brought the children up and I can claim the credit for doing that.Although it would have been useful to have extra money then it's not going to change things now is it ? They totally let me down & I gave up on them(the CSA -not the children !) I'm one of those people who probably would have had a very good case to answer but didn't officially complain(yet!) How can staff at the CSA be so unknowledgable about the whole procedure when they are making life changing decisions?
I was even engaged to someone who had such a bad time with the CSA his MP and doctor both sent reports and when they contacted him an 'at risk' warning came up on his screen! He was a good father to his only son (for all his other faults,lol!) It doesn't help having a relationship when they have all this to deal with !
We found the best way (in the ongoing case with my husband and his pwc) was to get the Data file for £10 and once you figure out the codes/acronyms they use, to go through it ourselves.It's a long old process,we've been doing this for almost 2 years no.Won a tribunal to have certain criteria met(the CSA didn't even turn up with any paperwork -like it was a forgone conclusion!) How can an agency with so much 'power',that no one except very expensive specialised lawyers can help you with, be so incompetent ?

mullycar

Thank you all very much for replies. It is good to know I am not the only one to have had difficult experiences with CSA and I am sorry you have had hard times.
I received my letter on Monday. It started by thanking me for allowing them to write off arrears, they rang me out of the blue. After I corrected him I told him I did not want to write arrears off and ask for a letter stating what charges would be included. He said I had no charges to pay , and I had misheard him. I am not stupid and I make notes when on phone to them. I made him aware that my ex was working as when my son was visiting him at Xmas he collected wages and arranged rota. He then ask me if he could say to my ex that my son made them aware of this, no way.
He said he was about to ring him. Imagine my surprise when half hour later CSA rang back and said my ex was willing to pay debt and he was working. How happy I must be not to sign form. 😈😈
Well I will not hold my breath, this is like going back to 90s when they gave me a hard time. There is a specific amount owed me they quoted me for the period of 1996 to 2005. I know I will never see it but it is nice to dream of over £5000+

Csa_Survivor

mullycar wrote: »

He then ask me if he could say to my ex that my son made them aware of this, no way.

How disgusting is that, the man should be reported for even suggesting this! The wrong information that he appears to have given you is bad enough, but to potentially drive a wedge between your ex and his son is despicable and cannot be right, how can giving your ex the impression that his own son dobbed him in be acceptable?
For all the Csa apologists out there, most of us accept we have to contribute to our kids and struggle for years doing so, it is because of things like this that you are despised and as long as you attempt dirty tricks like this it will always be the same, I know that's harsh but its true!
If you are on decent speaking terms with your ex and you value your sons relationship with him it may be worth you confirming the conversation that he had with the Csa to make sure that they have not given your ex the wrong impression and blamed your son for information they have received.
I do tend to get carried away sometimes but think about it, this sort of thing could potentially ruin a relationship between father and son leading to all sorts of bad feeling.

Bilbop

I would strongly advise you not to write then debt off, why should you, he owes that money for your children! My ex has a debt of £9,000 from 2002 until now and has just fled the country. The Csa has given him chance after chance and he has lied to ensure he doesn't pay. I am now putting in my 4th complaint as they should not have let this drag on for so long letting him off, telling them he isn't working when he was.
I would truly advise you to complain and go to your MP, as I did and got compensation for CSA incompetence. The system is absolutely atrocious and does not help single parents at all. I have been sent letters from CSA saying they're going to do this and that but nothing has been done, it's all a blah to get me off their backs. I am absolutely fuming now I've just heard he doesn't live in the UK, it was obvious he was going to do this - just so he doesn't have to financially support his child - can you actually believe it!!