CSA - what can I do?

chugalug

I have posted on here before about my situation so I'll just give a recap -

First marriage - children - break up - no maintenance - CSA. Fast forward years my children are now 20 and 21, no money paid for years, thousands in arrears but ex has 3 more children with new partner. Talk to kids decide to let case go, forget arrears and the time and money I've spent chasing the CSA.

Have second marriage, one son now 12. Ex voluntarily pays maintenance until April 07 when decides that £40 pw is too much and cuts it to £20. I contact CSA again (after much deliberation and questions on here!)

Because of first case my new case has to go clerical(first mistake). Then my caseworker contacts me (unusual) to say that because they haven't contacted my ex the CSA will be responsible for paying any maintenance due one month from when I contacted them. Fair enough - now my case has been sent to Bolton (hopeless), my ex still hasn't been contacted and this is now 5 months down the line.

I'm really reluctant to start chasing them again - I know how ineffectual it is. But I'm also loathe to let my ex get away with only paying £20pw when he earns £25000 a year. What can I do now? Is there any point chasing them constantly? Will they really pay the maintenance due for the last 4 months? Any ideas???

naughtybits1uk

Hi,

I had a similar situation where i worked abroad for a year, came back, tried to claim CSA from my ex, only to be told after 3 months of chasing that it will have to go clerical. I kept chasing them, and got very fed up with all the excuses they gave me. I then contacted the local MP and they got in touch with the CSA, that got things moving. After 9 months i started getting paid including all the arrears from when they first tried to put the case onto computer.

Please dont give up. My children are really getting the benefit out of the money, treats, season football ticket, magazine subscriptions. Its worth fighting for and why should the non resident parent get away with not bringing up their children if they are earning a decent wage.

Hope this helps.

lill

Chase them up, I spent 4 years on and off chasing them up eventually going to the independent case tribunal.
I received back dated awards that ended up in the CSA paying nearly £7000 in arrears because of mistakes that they made in the case I also received 2 payments of the maximum compensation that the CSA are required to give for mistakes ( I think it was £200 at the time but it could have been £100)

and one of the compensation payments was raised to +£50 due to the fact that despite the investigation they still sent out a letter to me with the wrong date on it.

frannyann

fight and fight, CSA are useless, i think most will agree. But the money is for you son and the extras it gets him. good luck

enemes

Hi Chugalug ...

Unlike you, I am new to this game ... and the wonderful world of the CSA!

My experiences so far are running on another thread here ( http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=518465 ).

However, the help and encouragement that I have received from others on this site have given me the courage to not lie down. Most importantly, like me, you shopuld fight for the sake of your children ... that's whats important here. And also for the sake of millions of others in the future, as our experience of their failings will hopefully make things better for them in the future. If we were all to shy away, then the mayhem at the CSA will just continue as it does today.

Good Luck ... and go for it.

chugalug

Thanks guys, really appreciate it!! I think part of the problem is that I know how much time and energy it takes to get nowhere with the CSA!! I know I shouldn't give up but it just seems so daunting and pointless sometimes.

Mind you, I won't let it get so far this time given my previous experience with them............

MP it is then.

chugalug

Quick update - we are now in October and the CSA still haven't even contacted my ex. Apparently the 'guidelines' state he should be contacted within a month. Do you think I'll get a big bonus for Christmas?:rotfl::rotfl:

Mr_Green_Genes

chugalug wrote: »

Quick update - we are now in October and the CSA still haven't even contacted my ex. Apparently the 'guidelines' state he should be contacted within a month. Do you think I'll get a big bonus for Christmas?:rotfl::rotfl:

We can't answer that question - you didn't specify which year. :D:D

kelloggs36

I hope you have made a formal complaint and followed it up with a visit to your MP to make enquiries as to why it has taken them over 6 months to send out a MEF to your ex. YOu should be asking for a consolitory payment for the loss of maintenance which would be due but for the fact that they haven't even sent the MEF out yet!!! Trouble is, they can't calculate that until they have sent the MEF, got it back and worked out what he should pay. Then they can work out what he should have paidl, and pay it to you themselves. Do it now.

Mr_Green_Genes

kelloggs36 wrote: »

I hope you have made a formal complaint and followed it up with a visit to your MP to make enquiries as to why it has taken them over 6 months to send out a MEF to your ex. YOu should be asking for a consolitory payment for the loss of maintenance which would be due but for the fact that they haven't even sent the MEF out yet!!! Trouble is, they can't calculate that until they have sent the MEF, got it back and worked out what he should pay. Then they can work out what he should have paidl, and pay it to you themselves. Do it now.

The consolatory payment won't be to cover the loss of maintenance, that's just for their own maladministration, and the sum involved will be nominal (generally £50 - £100).

To cover the actual losses involved, i.e. the maintenance not collected, loss of interest and/or bank charges etc incurred, not to mention costs of phone calls, letters etc. you claim using a handy little book from the DWP called "Guide to Financial Redress for Maladministration". Details are available in the useful links thread at the top of the page. Using it, and with the help of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, I got over £1000 out of the CSA for their failure to contact my ex. Persistence pays!

Needless to say, the DWP (incl. the CSA) don't like this to be publicised widely because of the cost implications. Equally needless to say, I publicise it as widely as possible to increase the embarrassment factor and to ensure that people who have been scr*wed over by the CSA get what is rightfully theirs.

kelloggs36

Fine- I was referring to it as the consolitory payment as I didn't know what the other was called! The PWC can get back the loss of maintenance from the CSA.