to close CSA case?

[BattlingFanjos]

Because they don't seem to have the first clue of what they're meant to do?

DS was born in the March of 08 and I went to the CSA in the October. Since then he has had three payments of £5 because my ex signed on. He change jobs frequently and is very open about why he does it. When they get too near to pinning him down for payments, he leaves work. He works in an industry where he has plenty of friends, some of who again openly admit they have not sent relevant information to the CSA as "it will get him in shit". I have told the CSA where he's worked for the past three jobs. He's been in his current place since September and they're still waiting for paperwork (wage slips etc) from them. He earns a lot more than i do and pays no rent/council tax/utilities and yet the people who are meant to be the ones pinning him down either just can't be arsed or have no idea how! I asked after 4 years to have it transferred to the legal enforcement team but they feel the need to give him more chances. Now there's talk of them "charging for the service" what fucking service?!
AIBU just to shut the case and forget about it?

[BattlingFanjos]

I know, I know. I couldn't agree more. All it takes is a little logic and organisation. I just do not understand why they go around the houses and nothing get done and how they can justify it. I never will. All I ever hear from them is how short staffed they are but they wouldn't be if the majority of the staff weren't on wild goose chases, wasting time and money. I've found a way I can personally take him to court so have messaged him telling him I will (which means he will also pay the court fees) if he doesn't get in touch with the CSA or comply. Doubt it will change but he can't say he hasn't had fair warning.

[ConferencePear]

I wish you luck BattlingFanjos, but I won't hold my breath.
If you succeed I hope you'll post on here.

[wannabedreams]

I know several cases of single parents (through the fault of the OH not theirs) who are going through the csa and receive rarely more than a few quid as the OH are changing jobs / self employed / claiming they are not working.
I don't understand why nothing is done, and furthermore I don't understand in cases where the OH insists on access why it should be given when they don't contribute financially a reasonable amount on a regular basis?

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

Wannabe it's because maintenance and access aren't linked. As you can see from some of the posts on this thread, people lie about whether they are paying/receiving maintenance so it wouldn't be fair to link the two.

Battling I didn't realise you can complain via the website! Would you mind linking please, as I can't seem to find it. Will have another look shortly. I'm currently putting together a letter to complain to them about gross maladministration and other things, but it's difficult because I have so much I want to say and loads of examples that it's hard to put it into words in a succinct manner. I also didn't realise that you can personally take the ex to court (not that I can afford to do that anyway). Can you only do that if you were married? I wasn't, and as far as I'm aware I can only try to claim maintenance via the CSA and not via court/solicitor. I don't even know where my ex lives, so it'd be difficult to contact him anyway.

Smells you need to go into politics!

[Catchingmockingbirds]

I'd keep it open, he can't run forever surely and you don't actually have to do much apart from the odd phonecall to see if they've got anything out of him yet. You can only get backdated money too for as long as a claim has been open. When the charges come into force then I'd close the case but not before.

[BattlingFanjos]

Catching its me that has found his address and work place everytime except once when they actually did their job so in essence I am actually doing all the running.

www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/how-to-complain first time I've linked anything so hope it works.

Also found www.childsupportlaws.co.uk/court-procedures-for-obtaining-child-support.html if its any help. Might be worthwhile having a look, I read somewhere that you can. We weren't married either. Might be wrong, but the threat might always help things along as he won't find out if its true or not

Send a complaint in, they should reply within 15 days if not get in touch with your MP, still no joy keep going until they listen. Its the only thing I've found that works but this is my third complaint (!) good luck Soft

And my vote goes to smells

[BattlingFanjos]

Also wannabe I don't agree with no access because that just punishes the child more "he/she won't pay so they can't see baby x" "well I can't see baby x so I won't pay" its the children that ultimately lose out although this doesn't apply to me as my ex has no contact anyway

[Catchingmockingbirds]

Yes but you don't have to. You can still keep the claim open and just stop doing all the running around.

[BattlingFanjos]

But then I'm back to my first point which is nothing gets done, so what use is the of the Child Support Agency on a whole if they don't do what they intend. I completely understand your point, the whole thing just infuriates me.

Conference yes I will post what happens. I'm not holding out much hope but stranger things have happened.

[Catchingmockingbirds]

The CSA have never been able to find my ex's workplace or address either so I can sympathise. I've always had to hunt for it myself (luckily he posts it all over fb and has no privacy settings), but if I was fed up of chasing I would just stop and let them do it themselves, rather than closing the case just incase they manage to do their jobs properly and so DS would still be entitled to the backdated money.

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

Catching if you don't do the running around, your case goes to the bottom of the pile and gets forgotten about. Trust me, you have to chase them. bug them, irritate them and keep on their case (so to speak) otherwise it goes nowhere. Come to think of it, it goes nowhere anyway .

Thanks for the links Battling I'll take a look this afternoon/evening. I've already written to my MP three times, this was back in 2007/8 though but if I need to I'll do it again. I would be happy if they just paid me what is owed, then chased him to get it back. He owes over £6k which I know isn't much when compared to others, but I'm utterly skint and really need that money to help raise DS.

[Catchingmockingbirds]

Yes but in a few years if you do decide to check where he's working and let them know then that's a few years worth of money added rather than just nothing.

[Catchingmockingbirds]

And CSA still has to be paid if a child is under 21 (I think 21?) and in full time education so if DS wanted to go digging when he's 16 - 21 then he would still be entitled to all the backdated money.

[BattlingFanjos]

I also think the more arrears the NRP owes the less chance of you getting it. I don't even think they know how much my ex owes because of all the reassessing and changing jobs. I sincerely doubt my DS will see any of this money. I have no faith in the system, none at all.

I know im contradicting myself catching I am just bitching while trying yo find a way round it.

soft thats why I agree with smells idea to pay the RPs then the NRPs owe them. They would be a hell of a lot quicker to get the money then! I want to go in and say "Right! Its not working, everyone stop. Here's what we're going to do" in my best mum voice!

Let me know how you get on soft good luck!

[BattlingFanjos]

Have just received another call from CSA. They've contacted my ex and his employer! Hmmm all since the complaint last night!

[Catchingmockingbirds]

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you see some money soon then battling.

[BattlingFanjos]

Thank you its not about the money anymore its the fact that he just does not care, in the slightest.

[RedHelenB]

Personally I think fathers that dodge the system they should be charged with neglect. If the RPs didn't spend any money on their children they would be deemed to be neglectful & face court etc.

[MrsTomHardy]

Keep on at them Battling.
I know exactly how you feel as I'm going through this right now.

They can take him to court once he has arrears of £500....or so I was told last Thursday!
They do have powers but its wether they choose to use them

They keep phoning my xp and he puts the phone down on them time and time again....when I keep asking what they r going to do next then all I get is "oh he might ring back, we'll give him a couple of days" aargh

But now they have finally got round to sending a warning letter....the shit is already hitting the fan

It's not money grabbing, it's money that our DC have the right too.....it's not my DC's problem XP keeps have children when he can't afford it.....

I could rant on for hours about this subject but I won't bore you all..

[Catchingmockingbirds]

It's not money grabbing, it's money that our DC have the right too

Absolutely, and about fathers taking some financial responsibility for the children they've created.

[BattlingFanjos]

Red you're right. Its completely neglectful. I have always said how does my ex know that I am looking after DS well. That he is looked after, fed, loved and encouraged. This is just another way of him showing he doesn't give a flying.

Mrs I didn't know that about the arrears. His will be WELL over £500 Glad they've moved it forward forward for you (albeit not much ) this is the first time I have seen the productive side of the CSA wonder if they have a MN spy so fingers crossed it continues!! Rant away m'dear! I'm always up for a good CSA bashing

[MrsTomHardy]

Don't temp me,

The Csa are shite, every time I phone (and believe me it's every day this month) I speak to a different person who tells me something different, it's soooooo annoying!!

I keep a book now and I log everything, even the persons name, time, date etc....they contradict themselves all the bloody time! And some of them have no sense of humour

They can't do a deductions of earnings on XP as self employed....he won't send in wage slips (he works for a company), he won't talk to them or pay up....and it's not just for my DS, it's for 2 dc's....he owes hundreds.........but he is a knob, always was (I was too blind to see) and always will be....

[BattlingFanjos]

Oooh I'm getting me a CSA black book! I write bits and bobs and have kept all letters (ridiculous amount of duplicates!) same here re talking to different people, this is the first time that I have gotten a name for one person dealing with it. I know its only because I complained again though which is crap.
I have a feeling they've only managed to speak to him because I messaged him last night threatening court action if he didn't get in touch.
I get EVERYTHING you're saying. There are enough of us kicking off about it, but what the bloody hell can you do to change it? Besides what we're doing now obviously

[MrsTomHardy]

I dread to think what my phone bill will be at end if the month but if you don't keep on at them then nothing gets done!

With my xh case, we've been with Csa for about 9 years and believe me they have been a total pain in the arse in that time...he doesn't seen dc's at all, his choice, he pays £12 a week for 2 kids and every bloody month I have to phone Csa as my money goes into a secondary account and just sits there!!!!!!! It then takes 7 days from when I phone to get if into my bank, so that's 7 days longer than it should take.....all because its a penny out or he pays on a different day

[MrsTomHardy]

And mines a pink book