Aaarrghhhh CSA again- Just been told computer says no........

[littlelamb]

Yep, that is their new excuse. Now they have finally managed to keep exs payslips on the system (they have lost them twice) there is now an 'incident' on my file, which is being blamed on a 'computer problem'. They will not give me any more details. They won't say if it's a problem with the documents, or a software problem because apperently they don't have those details, just a note on the file recording a problem . I am getting angrier and angrier with these idiots. My claim has been open since September fgs and I still haven't seen a penny. Aparently my case is now with the 'incident' team who have a 14 day turnaround . Can I request to see my file? Surely with freedom of information etc I should be able to see it? I want so badly to complain, but I know it will do no good [banging head against wall emoticon]

[fransmom]

i don't know sweetheart xxx

[mumoftwo37]

Littlelamb you can ask to meet a CSA reprenstative in your area who should have your file sent to them to bring when they come.
I hate the CSA, my DH has a DS with XW . He always paid maintenace and thenwhen I was preg with DS she contacted CSA. We paid what they asked for every month from then on but did appeal and I took them on on DH's behalf at a tribunal and won. We are now free of them. However, they owe us 3 months money from this time last year that we overpaid yet we haven't seen a penny!

We put everything in writing to them and kept copies. A trip to them MP always helped us too.
Good luck!

[littlelamb]

Mumoftwo37 thats brilliant to know, thank you. I will ring them tomorrow and ask to send someone to meet me. The woman I spoke to promised to ring me back when she had spoken to someone else, and she hasn't . Nothing surprises me about these people anymore. I could understand it if my ex was being awkward,but he has done everything they have asked, the problem is always with the CSA messing up! I am now worried somehting is wrong wiht my claim and I will have to start it all again I honestly wish I'd never started my claim and had just sorted something out with my ex. He is going to have such a hard time paying the backlog when it is finally assessed. Do the CSA ever give compensation when they screw up?

[oiFoiF]

have you wrote a complaint letter?

you need to look at their website and follow their procedure and then they have to do what you say. If you complain I think they have to respond within 14 days or something

[littlelamb]

I am going to complain, no question. For it to take 2 weeks for them to sort out an error is just laughable, after all the mistakes they have already made. I doubt it will get me anywhere though. Of all the people I hve spoken to there, not one will take responsibility for the mistakes. Its obvious that they are trained to admit to no responsibility when things go wrong.

[oiFoiF]

littlelamb, who are you talking to? are you writing down all their names, times phoned etc?

are you writing and faxing letters?

You need to get a named person, higher up than their switchboard junior wankers and get their fax number.

Writs a letter and complain and fax it through and follow up with a letter with the same material in. Back it up with whatever evidence you have and all correspondance off them.

Dont rely on just phonecalls. They are wankers, this is without doubt! But if you complain theyb try and sort it out before you get mp involved etc

[Harra]

Hi Littlelamb,
As the other posters say, keep phoning, keep writing, keep a record of every time you do this. I wrote to the Chief Executive, Stephen Geraghty, Room M0801, Durham House, Washington, Tyne and Wear. NE38 7SF. Still took 14 months for my case (ended up with a tribunal). I did ask for compensation and am told I will get £100 (haven't got it yet).
Once I had written to him, every time I rang the CSA it automatically went to their complaints dept I found them to be a bit more clued up than the others. But it is a long haul and hugely frustrating. Good luck.

[neva]

Your MP can help you through the complaints procedure - you complain to your MP and he/she writes on your behalf to the correct person at the CSA - at last that's what mine did. After exhausting the CSA's complaints procedure, you can go to the Independent Case Examiner. I found them to be very helpful.

[goingbonkers]

Echo what others have said about getting your MP involved. Mine was fantastic and got me a few hundred in compensation as they had failed to send letters to my ex when they received my claim and therefore couldn't backdate the claim to when I sent in the form. (Lost 9 months worth of money)

However, after 3.5 yrs I still haven't seen a penny from my ex!

Good luck and try not to let the frustration take over your life. I used to get so mad and obsessed with it and then one day I just accepted that I was never going to get anywhere. I still call them to find out what is going on occasionally but they never seem to know where my case is! I've always found they seem to put the NRP first instead of the child/ren. They give them loads of notice of action they are going to take which gives them chance to get out of it!! What a bunch of wankers!