csa

[Zzzzzzz]

I live 250 miles away from my children. Even though I have a court order my ex has refused me access. I submitted a C1 application to the court and regular fortnightly contact dates have now been set. This is to be reviewed again at the end of November to make sure my ex is actually allowing contact.

Child support has always been paid through the CSA. Never missed a payment or complained about it. However, this morning I received a new assessment from them. This has increased by 135% on the original assessment. I received no forms to complete and this was the first I knew of a revised assessment. None of my living costs (mortgage) or travel expenses to see my children have been taken into account . After speaking to the CSA I have now faxed over the documentation that they have requested.

I have also been told though that the increased payments will still be taken from my account until the case has been reviewed, which could take 8 weeks. I've also been told that this will be backdated to April leaving me owing thousands of pounds!

If these increased payments leave my account it will make it impossible for me to travel to see my children, therefore breaking the contact order.

I'm at my wits end! I really don't know what to do anymore.

Has anyone got any good advice?

[ojread2]

I find it deplorable that the CSA can just increase willy nilly the amount of money anyone pays for their children. Sadly it is usually the mums or dads who do pay that are slaughtered.
But, if you really cannot afford to have an increase of 135% (!! Who could??!!) then you will get that back or a new assessment with the amount overpaid as a reduction in your payments.
Do you pay by DD? All I can suggest and I'm not sure of it's legality, is to stop the DD payments but make sure you put aside your payments plus, say an extra 10% until; the assessment is finished and dealt with - ask for payment slips to pay OTC at the PO.
There will always be a way to see your children even if you have to travel by cheap National Express to see them once a month
Best of Luck!
ojx

[plowter]

The CSA operates at least three different systems, depending on when your case started. I assume you are in full-time employment.

The latest method of calculation works out maintenance at 15% of net income for one child, 20% for two children and and 25% for three or more.

I'd suggest you ask for clarification of the calculation used to make the original assessment. Also ask why there has been a reassessment. Have your circumstances changed? Has you income changed? Was the original assessment wrong?

If the calculation is correct, then you'll probably have to pay the new maintenance amount from the date of the new assessment. If there are any arrears then there are methods of challenging them.

The best advice is to make an appointment with Citizens Advice. They can intervene with CSA to help you understand how your assessment has been calculated. They can also help you appeal any arrears. They also have debt advisors who may be able to help with any other debts you have.

Good luck.

[Zzzzzzz]

Hi - thanks for the advice. I'm going to go and see CAB next week.

My circumstances haven't changed but my ex's have. My ex has been sacked, had the house repossessed, marriage has broken down etc. which is why I believe they have asked for a re-assessment.

I faxed a copy of the court order to the CSA along with the documents that they wanted so i'm hoping it's all reviewed as a matter of urgency - although I won't hold my breath!

I'm confident that the assessment is incorrect although I don't doubt it has increased by the usual amount - 135% increase is a little over the top though!

[Pippa68]

Can I say 'Good Luck' to you?

Mr Pippa has around �12,000 of arrears due to the CSA's continual stuff ups and general incompetence. They take so long to work out assessments, building up arrears..and in our case have taken Mr P's ex's word for it regarding earnings.

They are a shambles.

[plowter]

The CSA can be difficult to deal with. But ignoring the rights and wrongs of the CSA, a debt to the CSA is like any other debt - it can be challenged.

If you've got arrears don't be afraid to challenge them. You can ask for details of your account which shows how the debt has built up month-by-month. You can ask for details of the calculations used to assess the maintenance payments. If the CSA has used the wrong income details then you can challenge that.

CSA usually expect arrears to be paid off within 9-12 months! But like any other debt if you can demonstrate that you can't afford the payments they expect, that it would leave you in hardship or that it would affect your new family you can negotiate a more reasonable amount.

If the arrears go back a few years, and if there have been 'difficulties' over the calculation you can request that some of the arrears be discounted. The total arrears will still exist but they won't pursue the discounted amount.

If you need more detailed info, get hold of a copy of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) Child Support Handbook, published annually. You should be able to find one in your local library. Or make an appointment with your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

[Reverandfunk]

I always thought the CSA was there to track absent fathers when in fact all thewy appear to do is takes fathers who do pay and want to pay and keep increasing their payments while the blokes who father kids with old slappers who have several by different fathers pay jack sh&t.

I'm glad I had the snip lol

[plowter]

Mr Reverandfunk, you'll be pleased to hear that the Home Secretary is thinking about trialling Absent Father Detector Vans. lol

The latest incarnation of the CSA will be the snappily-titled Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. No, seriously.

The CSA's stated role is to reduce the financial burden on the Exchequer of parents who live apart. Their main interest is in getting the absent parent who works to pay for the parent with care who is on welfare benefits.

When the parent with care makes an application for welfare benefits this is treated as an automatic application to the CSA. However much the CSA wrings out the of absent parent, the parent with care only gets the welfare benefits to which they're entitled, plus a maximum CSA payment of �10 per week. How does this help the children?

It's easier for the CSA to pursue salaried absent parents because they can traced through HMRC and they can make deductions from wages based on incorrect assessments. It's more difficult to pursue the workers who change employer regularly, the self-employed and those who can afford to employ accountants.

As for chavs and chavettes, am sure there's a human rights loophole that means they don't have to co-operate with the CSA at all.

[Zzzzzzz]

Plowter - thanks for the excellent advice. You've been really helpful.

I've never had any debts, especially not with the CSA. However, since they did my new assessment they've backdated it to April of this year, when the assessment apparantly started. As my payments have increased by 135% then obviously it has incurred a debt of several thousand pounds in back payment.

I'm certain the assessment is wrong so hopefully the debt will decrease considerably when a correct assessment is done!