This morning I've had another call from the Child support agency telling me that they can't get in contact with my childs feckless absent father. This in itself is no great surprise considering that I've had ONE £12 payment from him in the last TWO years and before that any payments were a bit hit and miss (DS is 3.9).
It seems to be beyond the csa to comprehend that a father who doesn't want to pay is probably changing his number to avoid their calls and them asking me (multiple times) for his contact number is a bit pointless. He left when DS was 1 month old and effectivly dissapeared. The CSA have the contact details that I was able to give them over 3 1/2 years ago and as I have no idea where he is or what he's doing, asking me is a complete waste of time!
At the end of the call the new changes that are going to be put in place in the next year or so we're explained to me. I was basically told that I would have to pay a one off fee of £20 to keep my case open. If I don't pay this then it will be closed and any arrears that have been added to the account (a considerable amount, even though I'm not getting them!) will be written off...WTF?! Why, when im already struggling on a low income with no support from the other parent, would I pay for the privilege of getting nothing?! But if I don't, then any chance of getting anything (mainly arrears) will go poof! There'll also be an extra 4% taken off me from any maintenence payments they receive!
What a shit and unfair system to put in place and once again, me (the parent that didn't fuck off and has been raising a child on almost thin air) is being punished whilst the other piece of human shit parent gets off scot-free, again!
So, AIBU to just forget it all? Close my account and focus on raising DS with no support, or should I contiue to try to get his father to live up to his responsibilities and support his son?