CSA - doesn't Data Protection apply??

Jummy

Too cut a long story short.......
The CSA have recently written to my partners ex telling her how much maintenence she will be getting each week.
Also in the letter they sent her they have told her exactly what we both earn and other personal financial info that she doesn't need to know about(regarding disabled son we have).
Are they allowed to do this?
I'm furious that his ex now knows exactly what we earn each week and has also been given info on my son that has nothing to do with her claim.
When we filled out the forms i do not remember seeing anything about the fact that they disclose everything to the ex partner.

foreverskint

I think it's appaling. What right does the ex have to know your financial details.

If the CSA were capable of working out figures correctly, there would be no need to disclose this information.

newfunk

I had this problem with the CSA, demanding I tell them what my partner earns..My partner refused(which i dont blame her), The CSA said this was breaking the law, I told thme to stick it, unless they told me how much my Ex's partner earnt. Thye said they were not obliged to give me this information...

Its wrong that they have to know how much a new partner earns. It could easily break up another relationship... The CSA stinks, and is heavily weighed in favour of the women. I was told this by an employee of the CSA!!

foreverskint

And it's almost laughable,if it were not so cruel, that they take tax credits into account in your maintenance assement. After leaving work as I had a new baby, we discovered that our payment to my partners ex was to increase, as we now got tax credits. I thought wrongly it seems that the tax credit was to benefit the child of the family to whom it was awarded.

System

Far be it for me to stick up for the CSA ( my friend is a stressed, jaded and frustrated member of their staff) but they are currently trying to work under 2 sets of rules (old and new) and the so called saviour (the new computer system) which accompanies the new rules frequently fails. There is a huge turnover in staff with many of those still there actively requesting transfers or searching for alternate jobs.

I personally think it is sad that there has to be such an agency but unfortunately quite a few "Non resident parents" ( and these are mostly men)think they are perfectly entitled to opt out of "Supporting their Children" and let the taxpayer support them via benefit payments.

I do agree with comments about the amount of financial information given to the "Parent with care" about their ex's new partners but I think they are entitled to know what their ex is declaring as his income as they may be lying.

I also think the system is flawed in the way maintenance is calculated ie: Jummy the amount of maintenance your partner pays to his own children is reduced because of your disabled son being in his new family unit, it doesn't matter that he isn't his own flesh and blood. Conversely Foreverskint is penalised because of the tax credits she and her partner are now receiving.

It should be noted however that the person at the end of the CSA phone whom it is so tempting to take your frustration out on is just another person grateful to be in employment to pay their bills. They are trying to administer an unreliable badly thought out system the processes of which they have no control over. The controllers and decision makers reside in Westminster and were elected by the people of England, Scotland and Wales.

wobblebottom

do agree with comments about the amount of financial information given to the "Parent with care" about their ex's new partners but I think they are entitled to know what their ex is declaring as his income as they may be lying.

Cannot Agree more.. over the last 2 yrs my ex husband has repeatedly had a substantial amount of his income "hidden" through various methods including being paid in cash for half his earnings.. and more... the company he works for are notorious for this.. i just wish i had proof ... wheres the odd payslip when you need one..!

making the payments to me so laughable it isnt worth even getting them.. (£11)pwk for 2 kids.. .. yes you read correctly.. instead of the £30-40 amount it should be..

He also claims hes paying his new partner for the upkeep of a new child born to them.. but the strange thing is he lives with her.. but is using a freinds address as his residence.. and this is damn annoying.. When i know hes earning double what is declared to CSA.. and his employers cant even pay up on time either.. !

Sorry.. RANT over...

jos_4

I know that isn't a lot of money but at least it's something, a friend of mine her ex has said that if she starts proceedings against him to claim any money he will leave the country so she should be grateful for what he gives her i.e. Money if she begs because she has run out of food, gas or electric. Can anybody tell me if he is right in thinking that if he his not in the country he doesn't have to pay?

Jummy

Just to clarify my partner is the father of our disabled son.
We rang the CSA as we had a query on my partners net pay and were very surprised to find thet take into account my Child Tax Credit.
We thought they only used Working Tax Credit in the claim.
I receive more child Tax Credit as we get Disability Living Allowance for my son.
I think its disgusting that the extra money i receive is now lost and given to an ex partner who has a healthy child and is in a well paying job.
I do not have a problem with the ex receiving money for her child,but i dont see why money given to me for my son is taken from me to give to her.
Rant over!!
Jos-
I have a friend who's ex lives in Greece....according to her the ex would not have to pay as he is out of the country.
She is lucky though because he gives her money every month for their daughter but he could get away with not paying if he wished.

wobblebottom

I too was in a similar situation over my ExH first wife and her CSA claim.. They had me down as working well after i had finished and took into account(on old system) my earnings when they werent allowed to.. And as werent married then i took them to a tribunal and won.. !
I suggest you contend the assesment .. afer all if you dont try you dont know... I really hope you get somewhere.. I just kept plodding on..and keeping in contact with the CSA and to this day i keep demanding that a regular -reassement is done on my ExH in the hope that eventually his lies and deceipt will be his downfall..

Keep your chin up.. I hope you get somewhere...

creditcardking_2

jos wrote:

I know that isn't a lot of money but at least it's something, a friend of mine her ex has said that if she starts proceedings against him to claim any money he will leave the country so she should be grateful for what he gives her i.e. Money if she begs because she has run out of food, gas or electric. Can anybody tell me if he is right in thinking that if he his not in the country he doesn't have to pay?

Correct he does not have to pay if he is not resident in the country, however he will build up a debt with the CSA until the child is 18 years old and should he return he will have a hefty bill to pay.

mrsdee

there are wrongs on all sides.

In our own case, husband's ex is saying she wants to take him to court if he wont make a financial disclosure as she wants more money from him "for the children". She says he will have to pay her costs. Unfortunately he is earning very little at the moment but still makes his payments to her at the rate that was agreed between both sets of solicitors at the divorce. Now, because he is married to me and I am lucky enough to earn over £50K, and she sees he has nice lifestyle (holidays, new car, nice house etc) she wants some of it too! The agreement wasnt with the CSA, it was made by solicitors and we checked the CSA website - according to that, and his current earnings, he is paying her way way more than the CSA guide. If she does take him to court, will my earnings be taken into account? I am paying all our bills (mortgage, monthly bills etc) plus of course food and outings and birthday/christmas presents and fun things for when the children are here... It doesnt seem right, if so.