New (man) to Claiming from the CSA

kelloggs36

Richie_asg1 wrote: »

Just my 2p worth -
As the 'non-resident parent' as they put it, I complied fully with their whims. The figures went up and down almost monthly. They sent me forms saying "you must pay X from date n1 to date n2" for which I set up standing orders from n1 to n2.
Then they seemed to forget about me. This was during the "CSA to be abolished" time. I presumed that I would receive a letter about payments, but none came.......untill 4 months later I received a telephone call saying I was over £500 in arrears.
I explained I had not been requested to pay the money, so how could I fortell the ammount required?
No matter, they surgically attached an attachment of earnings to me, which has now landed me in debt.Reclawing every penny.

I was assaulted at work about 2 months ago, police called, guy sacked etc, which left me off work for 2 weeks.
Upon my return, my first wage packet for a 42 hour week was £121. When I asked why? My employer said it was because of the arrears! - what arrears? I pay 25% of my earnings right? -
But I didn't earn anything for 2 weeks ?
- Doesn't matter - they still take the £94 a week off, as there was no pay for those two weeks, the £188 is devided over the next seven weeks pay.
Seven weeks at £121.

My hours got smaller - I lost all motivation to work.
I worked for 3 days one week, and got paid the same.
My employer said the system was rediculous - but they faced prosecution if they didn't comply. They didn't take the £1 fee for admin, which was good of them.

Aparently, you have to inform them of the future possibility that you are going to have to take time off due to illness, as they can only process events starting from that day you inform them.
Unless your circumstances change, and they then backdate it to the date of change if you end up owing them something - like when the kids stayed with the EX for a few weekends months ago.
Even then there is a get out clause of not affecting your payments by over a set percentage, or even better the "non-typical work pattern" which is discredited if you think you have a chance.

Rant over,
My main reason for the post, is that I needed to talk to them one day, and Phoned as soon as I got in from work - at 4.45. I ended up talking to a Nigerian cleaner, who said that they'd all gone home as the computers had crashed! - This seemed to be the third time it has happened.

Why can't I work for one of those government departments that don't have enough to do?[/quote]

Because they don't exist. All Government departments are run very badly and need overhauls but when this happens, it isn't those who run the departments who lose their jobs, it is those on the front line delivering the services in the way that the management have decided is the best way - it clearly ISN'T the best way, but as mere minions we have not much of a say. Protectionism.

MrBayliss

i guess i'll add my bit....
Goto www.nacsa.co.uk if your getting csa problems

they will put it right for you

As a Fathers4Justice member any probs let me know, i'm a resident and a non resident parent.

HamishMcShoogle

The best advice I can offer you when dealing with the CSA is keep a copy of every scrap of paper you send or receive from them. Do not assume they will receive everything. Do not assume if they write to you it will be binding. I have letters that contradict each other on lots of occasions.

I could write a phone book on the CSA. As long as you don't seriously expect to receive any money you will be fine.. PS. By some remote chance they do manage to collect for you remember their costs have to come off the total....... PPS. I know a lot of people with horror stories about the CSA, I don't think I know of one who actually received money.............

kelloggs36

What do you mean that their costs come of the total? That is not the case at all. The CSA do not charge for costs in any shape or form.

kelloggs36

I received money. Took a long time but in my bank was put 24,777 UK pounds. So I am proof that they do indeed collect. This is most of what is due to me. The rest hasn't been paid by the NRP and has nothing to do with costs.

Angel1972

I too receive money but it took them 18 months from the initial application to actually receiving my money. AND it was not backdated to when I submitted the claim but to when they wrote to my ex partner - 15 months after I submitted the claim!!! Therefore I claimed the 15 months payments from the CSA.

This was through the Clerical team as I was already registered under CS1 and when they migrated me the system couldn't cope!

However since last November they have not paid my money on time - usually about 6 weeks late and as we speak I am still awaitng my money from 1st August - whcih may be with me in the next 21 working days!!!

I claimed compensation for the letters of complaint and phone calls over the late payments and the total sum for 10 months of being messed about??? £30.00.

So when they say they will put in for a compensation payment don't expect a lot. The only time you will get a lump sum is if they messed up over the assesment and that payment only comes through once they've made an assessment and work out the amount due to you each week.

Sorry it's not better news but it could be a long time for you.

In addition my ex claimed he could not afford arrears owed from when I was under CS1 or to pay the full amount each month so he pays me NO arrears (owes more than £4000 to me) and he also gets £30.00 a month knocked off his monthly assessment as well!!!!

So even when you have an assessment it's not the end of the road.

Good luck and hope it's not as much as a battle for you and your children.

PS - If you do phone tehm note the time, date and who you spoke to as this comes in handy too for letters of complaint!!!

jogrant69

Hi All, Just a few points I have been claiming money through CSA for over 16 yrs and have two ex partners from whom I receive money and from my experience you have to keep ringing and ringing until they get fed up with you I ring everyday if I have a problem and ask for the persons name so I can see on a daily basis what is being done, they tend to help more if they know you will ringing again tomorrow!. If you ever know that your ex has changed jobs and you know where they have gone ring the CSA immediately and give them the information. If you have any problems that you can't sort through CSA then definately go to your local MP, I have had several problems and they only get sorted once the MP gets involved and the results I had are really good.

I would also like to warn anyone who has a child who will be leaving school next year my 16 left school this year and I kept querying about the arrears that stand at £4800 they kept telling me that he would have to continue paying off the arrears and that they would try and claw it back within 2 yrs. This amazingly changed when I rung as I got a letter saying that the arrears would only have to be paid back at £40 a month which will actually take 10yrs to pay back, they contacted my ex who was told that by law he only has to pay me £26 a month until paid which would take a lot more than 10yrs but he said out of the kindness of his heart he would up it to £40 he is taking the P*** but I am now going to be contacting my MP again and I am in the process of appealling against the decision. So just to advise if you have a lot of arrears and your child will be leaving school next year get onto them now and ask for the arrears to be upped so as to get them paid off as once your child leaves school it then becomes a 'nil' assessment but the most they can claim through arrears is £26.00.

enemes

To throw the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons ...

I started this thread, wondering if being a man (PWC) would be a hinderance in this CSA charade.

Well, it's official ... It appears that it helps! I got a call form my assigned Complaints Resolution Officer ( a male one!) this morning. He has been calling me every fortnight to let me know how my application is proceeding.

Despite the fact the the NRP is considered by the CSA as non-compliant, the CRO is making every effort to bring my case on. After remarking how speedily everything seems to be going, he told me "well, it's nice to see the bloke with the other shoe on ..." .

Make what you like of that ... nonetheless, still haven't seen any money yet, but still live in hope - a bit more hope than last week

Mr_Green_Genes

Good for you! I'm glad things have improved since I was in your position.

:beer::beer::beer:

enemes

Mr_Green_Genes wrote: »

Good for you! I'm glad things have improved since I was in your position.

:beer::beer::beer:

Thanks Mr GG.

Things have improved in the sense that the case is going forward. They haven't improved in the sense that I have no money yet. It is encouraging to read of others, like yourself, who were once in the same position as I am now, and have progressed to "better" times.