CSA ..quick question ! (kind of!)

[goingwiththeflow]

its a long and complicated story involving a private arrangement of maintenance being changed to a payment thru the CSA ( as demanded by the PWC) then back to private arrangement (as dictated by the PWC when they got awarded less £ than she was getting originally) .. but the 'lady' dealing with the case is very aggressive on the phone , doesn't answer questions etc etc , replies to letters asking for clarification of payments without answering the request etc etc ... and she (or somebody from the CSA office) has taken to hand delivering letters to our address in the evenings...this has happened twice now , when someone pulls up outside at around 6pm and puts the letter through the door and drives off..

Is this some sort of abuse of the personal information they hold.. are they allowed to personally call at your house? and I am allowed to take their car registration details etc and complain?

Bit cryptic I'm afraid.
Are you the absent parent? What's the problem? Surely you pay what you want now, i.e. At CSA rates rather than the higher rates previously agreed. If you voluntarily choose to pay more , no point moaning about it.
An applicant for CSA assessment can always cancel the application, but there's nothing to stop you then applying. But, seriously, why on earth would you?

I'm fairly sure the PWC doesn't have the right to 'dictate' that you go back to a private arrangement. Don't let them do it

You can abandon a claim that you initiated. I've seen it happen.

sorry my post was a bit rambling! DH's ex iniated a claim back in April 2010 when she thought he had changed jobs, then when she was awarded less.. 'cancelled' the claim through the CSA and it was agreed between my DH & the Ex that the original payments would resume through the 'private arrangement'
In the New Year received a letter saying DH owed £1800 as he had 'never made a payment', he contacted them to say he had been paying Ex directly and offered proof of standing order etc , no response until a hand delivered letter saying basically that the arrears stand and the the Ex now wishes to review the claim and all info needs to be re sent etc etc ...we asked for them to show how arrears had been calculated and sent proof of payments made and a week later another hand delivered letter put thru the door saying pay or legal action will be taken etc etc

Just ranting I suppose ! about how you constantly bang your head against a brick wall and get no answers and the fact that the Ex can keep dropping and picking up claims when she feels like it

But also wondered whether it was regular for CSA employees to hand deliver post in the evenings? don't like the fact that hey can just wander up to your front door when they feel like it ... not sure why just makes me uncomfortable .

I'd send a letter of complaint if I were you. also make a request under the data protection act for all documents associated with the claim (accompany it with a £10 cheque). You'll find out then what has prompted them to ignore your letters.

The risk is they are a law unto themselves and can make their own deduction from earnings order.

I suggest that he merely pays athe the CSA rate. Make all furture payments to the CSA - mum will receive them 2-3 weeks later but it was her choice to specify she wants payments to be made through the agency so he should abide by that direction. If he can prove he's already paid her then they shouldn't ask for it twice, but incompetence has an uncanny knack of rearing it's ugly head. the complaint might keep them oin their toes.

The hand delivery of letters is very unusual. Have you checked that they really are from the CSA?

Are these hand delivered letters actually from the CSA or someone trying to intimidate you? I would try and stay with CSA payments (or go back to them) and if you want to pay more to the PWC then do so by cheque.

Thanks .. I think it is best to go with paying thru' the CSA and stay with it regardless at least then it is done with, but I am uneasy with the fact that they still maintain we owe arrears when we don't.
Will def ask for all the info, have found that link on their website so thanks for that , maybe then we can see where its all stemming from.

The letters are on their paper and have checked the number with the website and it all matches, but there is no postmark/franking mark and its not a neighbour or anyone I recognise from the village (say if perhaps the mail had been mistakenly delivered)and the coincedence of two letters being mis delivered and both being from the CSA is a improbable

My mind says that the letters are from the CSA but this particular member of staff has for whatever reason decided to make it a personal crusade, she is the Team Leader as well and whenever we try and speak to someone else they cannot access our file as it has her name on it and she is very firm that when we ring the number to ask for 'her only'

She is calling this afternoon to 'discuss progress in this matter' so if she remains her normal aggressive self think I will ask to speak to someone else