What do the CSA actually do???

freeebs

I'll try to keep this as concise as possible

I have maintenance paid through the csa for my child who is now nearly 17. I didn't start claiming maintenance from my ex until my son was 7 as up until then it was easier not to invite the hassle even though I could've done with the money!! When I had my original award, it was based on wages of £350 per week. I was awarded around £40. 2 days after receiving that letter I received another letter telling me the wages department where he worked had got his wages wrong and that he was only earning £170 a week. He was ordered to pay £18 per week. At the time I knew the figures had been fabricated as at that time he drove a Porche with a personalised plate and lived in a house with a swimming pool. I called the csa (as they do say if the absent parent is living beyond the means they are stating let them know so they can check it out) only to be told there was nothing that could be done unless I could get hold of his bank statements. It would have been easier to get hold of the holy grail!!! Needless to say, I just gave up and was grateful for the extra £18 per week.

Last week I was quite shocked to receive a letter from the CSA. It was thanking me for asking for a variation in my maintenance. I hadn't asked for one. It also said that they needed more information, like could I give an estimation in writing of what I thought he was earning, saying that they had returned all my paperwork to me, and as I'd asked to remain anonymous, they would have to show him the information I had provided and therefore I couldn't remain anonymous.
I hadn't sent them anything at all for years so was a bit confused.
Enclosed with the letter from the csa was a load of papers I had never sent them.
One was an anonymous letter, stating that my ex has been boasting about lying to the csa, and that now my son is over 16 he has got away with not paying tens of thousands of pounds in maintenance, giving my ex's bank details, details of every car he has owned for the last 6 years (not one costing less than £70,000) pictures of his 6 bedroom house and details of how much it cost and when, details of a company he owns 32% share in that had a worth of £1.2million at the end of the 2013 tax year and the fact that his girlfriend runs the wages department a and does the accounts and has helped cover up his fraud, details of another house he owned and when he sold it and what for and at the end it stated the source of the information needed to remain anonymous due to the criminal connections of my ex and for fear of serious repercussions for giving over the information.
There was a letter from his companies accountant to his bank stating his earnings for 2011/12 were £30,000 wages £35,000 dividend, for the purpose of renewing his mortgage.
There was a copy of the company's accounts year ending march 2013 and details from companies house of directors and what % they own.
None of this information was known by me. I haven't spoken to him for around 5 years and he doesn't see his son. I believe it, and I'm grateful to whoever has put it all together, but it wasn't me.

I called the CSA to find out what was going on? I thought there was a lot of pretty good information in there to prove my ex has been fraudulent in the information he has given.
They've told me that if I wanted anything done, I had to send it all back to them. Then they will tell him that I provided the information, therefore putting my child and I in potential danger. They also said that they would probably only investigate the year the accountants letter refers to, if they investigate anything!!! As they'll probably just ask him if it's true or not. SERIOUSLY????

As it is I have sent back the evidence, stated I didn't provide it in the first place but said I believe it to be true and am happy for it to be used to do a new maintenance calculation if they can. I'm now waiting to hear back from them.

What do I do if they don't come down on his !!!? Can I do anything??
It seems so wrong that someone can blatantly abuse the system, and those meant to help uphold the system don't seem to care??

PreludeForTimeFeelers

That sounds odd - do you think there may be another case open against him, and this information may have came from the other parent with care?

freeebs

He has 3 older children that have lived with him, but mine turned 16 last year so am presuming it's about my child as that's what he has boasted of, getting away with it now the child is over 16 :mad:
And the anonymous letter says the source has to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions.

jacklink

your child maybe 16 but as far as im aware he is still liable to pay csa if he is in fulltime education (meaning 12 hours a week or more), or on an approved training course.

why would you and your child be in danger?

this really does seem fishy, becareful

freeebs

The letter said at the end that the source of the information given had to remain anonymous because of my exes criminal connections and anyone suspected of supplying the information could face serious repercussions. The CSA sent it all to me thinking I had sent it originally, which I didn't. When I called them to see what they were going to do, they told me I had to send it back to them if I wanted them to look into it, and then, because I've sent it back, they will present it to him and say that it came from me!!! Hopefully he will realise I have no access to some of the info that's been given. He tried to intimidate me into stopping the claim when the CSA first caught up with him and told me if I continued it he would make sure I got next to nothing, which he did.
My child is still in full time education so he is still paying at the moment. And I refuse to be intimidated at the detriment of my child. He should be paying more. If we didn't need the money I'd leave it, but we do.
Just seems so wrong that they didn't act on the evidence supplied anyway!! And the person I spoke to said its highly unlikely they will look into it 😕

tallybee

Very strange indeed.

freeebs

I spoke to the csa yesterday. Apparently they are only looking at the evidence to attempt to do a variation. I cannot believe they have proof he had lied for the last 8 years and they aren't interested in looking at that!!!!
:mad:

Fission

If you don't want a variation (you aren't required to apply), then just let the CSA know that, preferably in writing.

That should end the matter.

On the other hand, if you would like it to be considered, you are free to allow it to be looked at.

jacklink

get a solicitor

freeebs

Spoke to the CSA again yesterday. I call up once a week to try and find out what's going on as I did say I would like a variation after receiving all the stuff that was anonymously sent in. I've previously been told that my case was in the variation dept and last week was told it would be put through to investigations. Yesterday I was told that for the past 2 months or so, I've been speaking to the wrong offices. So my case has been sitting in a drawer, doing nothing. That all the people I've spoken to couldn't have helped me at all. So.
They are now going to send it to investigations. But nothing will probably be done about him lying about his income. Apparently it's what company directors do. And all the crap they say about proving the absent parent is living way above the means they declare and they will deal with it is just crap.
And he will probably continue to get away with it even if they do a variation as he will produce wageslips backing it up. Because he can as he's a director.
So........what do the csa actually do?????

FBaby

Could it be that he separated from his latest missus and she decided to drop him in and csa assumed you'd sent the info?