Bloomin CSA

[Beanmistriss]

Hi all. My bloke has had a long running case with the CSA to get money from his ex for the period when his son lived with us. Its a very long story and I won't go into all the detals but basically thay have cocked up on numerous occasions and now he cant even get anyone to talk to him on the phone. They're always going to, "ring him back". Would getting our MP involved help do you think or is it just a waste of his time and ours?

[paraffin]

Personally I don't have experience of this but could I suggest that you could consider contacting your local Citizens Advice Bureau for free advice?

[pink-kittens]

I've no experience of your actual circumstances, but I had many years of dealings with the CSA trying to get them to get money form my ex-husband for my daughter. They sent me form pillar to post,telling me they would call back within 2 weeks etc etc blah blah and they never did. All in all it took 10 years + to get monies owed.

What I did in the end was advised to me by someone I met (actually via an internet site for women) who worked for the CSA. She advised me to call or email (I emaile
d because then I had a record of exactly what is aid) and ask for the form to make a complaint about the maladministration of my account. Within 2 days of the mail being sent I had a phone call, within 3 months my ex had a court summons on his doorstep and within 6 months I had a lot of money paid into my bank account - a week before xmas which was great! LOL

May I suggest you try the same thing? You never know

Personally the CAB are c rap with anything to do with the CSA because they know diddly squat about it. Even their solicitors know 'not a lot' as I found out when I went through a house repossession, so have little to no faith in their advice whatsoever

Good luck

[Beanmistriss]

We have alreday gone down the maladministraiton route, apparently they werent at fault as even though they cocked up on numerous occasions thay can't prove that she would have paid if they hadn't messed it up. Well of course she wouldnt, thats why we were using the csa!! They have failed to use any enforcement powers, she even managed to get her work to commit fraud to avoid payment when the took money direct from her wages and they did nothing when they found out. She is now not in work (her choice) and is going to have her house repossessed at some point. She would have been due to sell the house anyway in a few months as the youngest turns 18 but it now looks like being repossessed any time now. They have failed to put a charge on and now no one will even talk to him. We've run out of ideas and looks like we'll be getting the money at a fiver a week for the next eight and a half years! We wondered if we could get our MP to contact them they might get their fingers out and get the charge put on before its too late.

[mrs_overall]

Yes, contact your MP pronto!
One of my neices was having massive problems with the CSA making mistake after mistake.
She wrote down all the facts (don't waffle when you put it in writing - make it concise) and sent them to her MP.
Our MP employs a lovely lady who deals with all the benefits/CSA enquiries and they have a direct line to the CSA.
The CSA phoned my niece 3 days after she contacted her MP and she received the money she was owed 10 days later.
Good luck!

[paraffin]

Hi again:

You could try your MP but I really can't see that it's within his/her remit to get involved in such matters.

Another contributor has slagged off the CAB because she obviously has had an unsatisfactory experience with them. However, you could find that your local CAB are more knowledgeable than the one referred to. After all, it's only advice they give, they're not there to solve personal problems.

Your b/f could also consider writing a detailed, unemotional letter to the CSA if he has difficulty contacting them by phone or speaking to them face to face? Better, too, if it was to be typed. Perhaps the CAB could give advice to this effect?

Plus, sending such a letter by recorded delivery to the CSA means that it has to be actually signed for, therefore they couldn't claim not to have received it. It might cost a few bob more to send it but it could be money well spent. And they'd be duty bound to give him a reply I would imagine.

Good luck.

[Beanmistriss]

Thanks everyone. I think we're going to try our MP as we have to get this sorted fast or lose the oppertunity for a charge on the house. We will keep the other options in mind for if he cant help us though. Fingers crossed!