CSA help/Advice is this right?

[1sttimedadtobe]

First off, I just wanna say I am NOT trying to get out of paying CSA

I was paying my ex CSA payments, was sending 12% of whatever my gross pay was that week. I did this despite her refusal of putting my name on the birth certificate. Unfortunately for a few weeks I was earning next to nothing because I was off work because of having surgery. I was still sending 12% of my sick pay. She decided it wasn't enough and decided to go through CSA.

I honestly thought they wouldn't do anything because I'm not on my sons birth certificate, oh how I was wrong. They have worked their calculations out and based if off my pay from previous tax year which not only was I on a higher hourly rate then, but worked a lot of overtime. They sent me a sum to pay each week which worked out as an average. Because of being on sick pay some weeks the sum I had to pay ended up being 70% of what I earned that week.

Anyways as I said I have no issue paying CSA, but their responce to me not being on birth certificate was they don't care, unless I contested being a father and paid out court costs for DNA etc they would just take the money from my pay if I didn't agree or pay.

Now I understand there are fathers out there who just walk away and are not around to be put on the birth certificate, yet I find it unfair that I want to be around and want to have my son and be in his life, yet she went behind my back and registered him without me and can will demand CSA and get away with it because we were not married.

Unfortunately to make things worse since CSA started I lost my job, crashed car on way in and couldn't get to work as no public transport to it so left on mutual terms. Am starting a new job next week closer to home so not trying to avoid paying.

I'm hoping to start court proceedings soon especially now I'm going to be earning again just so can get my name on my sons birth certificate and have some actual rights to him. I begged and pleaded with her for weeks to put me on, but she knew my financial situation and knew I couldn't afford to start court proceedings and wouldn't back down.

Not pretending to be perfect and not wrong at all throughout this, just feel our son is being used as a power control and bargaining tool. Not fair on him either. He's only 2 months old and dont want this to be his life

[Hopoindown31]

At the end of the day he is your son so please get your name on the certificate. I would suggest a DNA test though.

You need to be telling CSA that your circumstances have changed and you cannot afford the payments they have calculated. They can't make you destitute.

[HeddaGarbled]

Don’t get hung up on the birth certificate thing. What you want is a Parental Responsibility Order:

www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities/who-has-parental-responsibility

[Pregnantlabour432]

If it’s 25% higher or lower than what you are earning now then they will recalculate it for you. You just need to provide evidence of your earnings now, the letter you received will explain that. You will need last three payslips

[StanleySteamer]

Even if you end up in court I doubt they would put you in jail. If they did how could you make payments? They would most likely work out a more reasonable payment plan. They are more severe on fathers who outright refuse to pay, you are not doing that.
Do you have anysuspicions the child may not be yours? If she refuses to do a DNA test, this might tell you something.

[confuseddadUK]

I seperated from my wife approximately 4 years ago (recently finalise our divorce) and we agreed child payments together without going through CSA. Everything has been amicable but she has recently asked for my salary and wants to start the CSA process. My question is will the CSA take my current salary as baseline or my salary when we seperated?

[Gooseygoosey12345]

@confuseddadUK it will be last "tax" years earning, unless you provide information from your last 3 payments.