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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed (understatement) that not only have the CSA messed up £280 of my money, but then tell XP that I am being unreasonable!

18 replies

ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 10:18

Annoyed is putting it mildly, I am fuming!

After dealing with the CSA for months finally a wages arrestment was put in place and last month XP has £280 arrested from his wages, I have been contacted by the csa several times over the past few weeks/months leading up to this and there was never any doubt over where the money would be going, it was always coming to me/dd.

So at the end of Feb the csa case worker phones me and asks for my bank details, tells me the £280 should be in my account on the 3rd March.

It's not, so i phone on the 4th of march, get told, that sorry they had "forgotten" to process it and they would do it that day and it should be in my account within 10 working days. Hurrah i think!

Yesterday I come home from work and have a voice mail message from the CSA to phone them ASAP, I do, only to be told that apparently I have been misinformed and that the money wasn't coming to me, but instead would be going to the secretary of state to clear off debt XP has?!

Obviously i am not happy and i say that i have been told the money was coming to me, she says i should never have been told that and now the money has gone to the secretary of state, it can't be reversed, and that's it. I asked to speak to her supervisor, but everyone appeared to be on strike except her

So i ask her to explain and apprently the money went to "where there was the most urgency" ie a government pot rather than a child. But "not to worry" as she is sure I will get the money next month Not really the point is it?!

I get told someone will phone me back today, when they are not on strike.

So i phone XP (as much as this annoys me) to see what he was told, and he was always told that the money was going to DD and he was paying a seperate payment to the SoS thing. He said he would phone.

So he does and then calls back and says they say that basically they have mucked it up, but now the payment has been made it can't be reversed, so tough basically.

Then the woman dealing with XP says to him, "I am so glad I got to deal with you, rather than your XP, she seems to be a bit mad, went totally off her head, so glad I got the most reasonable party"

(this may be because i shouted "the most urgency?? Does the secretary of state have food in his house?" )

So it's nice that they have a confidentiality policy. Also they may want to think about how reasonable they would be if someone took £280 of their money! And maybe consider how reasonable a man is when he has to get a wages arrestment before he pays up for his child! I mean, that's not exactly first step in the process is it?!

Waaaaaaaaaah

OP posts:
racmac · 09/03/2010 10:42

Start an offical complaint and
Get in touch with your MP - straight away

CSA are useless - and no YANBU

RealityKindaLingers · 09/03/2010 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

HanBanan · 09/03/2010 10:51

What?! I'd be fuming. They misled you and your XP about where the money was going. Misled.... actually stole that money from you is what it is. What has his debt got to do with your DD's maintenance? That's just plain outrageous.
What's wrong with these people?

ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 11:19

Thanks everyone, i am still so angry!

My local Councillor has a surgery tonight in DD's school, so i was going to go along to that and see if he would be any help, what do you think?

I will also go through their official complaints procedure, but i don't think i will get much joy there, but will do it anyway.

They are so, so incompetent!

OP posts:
cruelladepoppins · 09/03/2010 11:27

Hi - I wouldn't bother with local councillor - not because he/she wouldn't try to help but because this isn't within the Council's remit. Because it's a central govt thing you need your MP. Most of them have surgeries or you can get in touch by email. They follow up your case. Good luck.

amber1979 · 09/03/2010 11:30

Just want to reinforce the MP idea.

I've been through hell with the local housing office - I threatened to get my MP involved and it was magically sorted.....

ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 11:44

Right thanks, I wont bother with the councillor then, I will try to find out about their surgery, or failing that will email.

I will also mention to the CSA today when i call back that i will be going to my MP.

Thanks

OP posts:
Stripycat23 · 09/03/2010 11:52

Email your MP. They HAVE to reply to your letter. On the rare occasion I've needed my MPs help they were extremely helpful. Best of luck.

ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 12:49

I will do. Will do it tonight. I looked up the MP surgery, but they are all on either the first Thursday or Saturday of the month, so i have just missed them, so will email rather than wait for the next one.

Thanks

OP posts:
ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 16:46

Quick update, spoke to the same person as yesterday and threatened with speaking to my MP etc, they went off to see what they could do. Called back and surprise, surprise, it appears they can get the payment back after all....

But do to strikes it will take ages...I'm doubtful I will see the money, but I will keep chasing it up.

May still put in a complaint about them calling me mad and saying XP was the more reasonable one...not sure.

Thanks all for the MP advice, even just the mention of it seemed to work

OP posts:
amber1979 · 09/03/2010 16:53

Amazing isn't it?

I spent three months stalking the housing officer...Threatened writing to my MP last week, now currently browsing a list of potential homes.

mampam · 09/03/2010 16:59

Unbelievable. Stick to your guns and make sure you get that money.

ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 17:02

It is actually shocking! I'm so glad I started this thread and discovered the power of the MP threat!

I will give them to the end of next week, then if there is no money in my account, I will phone them daily, several times

OP posts:
amber1979 · 09/03/2010 17:09

Yep - they forget that we're all voters - plus there is an election coming.

If there is no money in your account next week, write to them and keep a copy.

fallon8 · 09/03/2010 17:20

Is this legal to do this? Go to the press as well.go to the offices and refuse to leave until they fix it

ElizabethWakefield · 09/03/2010 21:04

I am definitely not going to stop hassling them until i get the money in my account. I can only hope that after this month it will all go more smoothly.

I mean what is the point of a wages arrestment, if the money never reaches us?

OP posts:
cruelladepoppins · 10/03/2010 19:19

Just had a thought - once Parliament is dissolved for an election it's harder (if not impossible) for MPs to follow these things up - so if you ARE going to involve yours make sure you do it soon. Otherwise you'll be waiting till after the election. All the best.

Minshu · 10/03/2010 21:37

Any outstanding arrears should go to the parent with care before the secretary of state, so don't understand what's going on there at all.

I'd still get in touch with your MP, ASAP.

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