Ex and I split up 8 years ago - we had an arrangement for him to pay £300 a month maintenance for our DD which he kept to.
DD started secondary school in September and costs rose for lunches, school bus, trips and going out at weekends with friends etc... teenagers are expensive!!
I asked ex for more money to help but he said he couldn't afford it as he has a new wife and 2 other children.
I contacted the CSA and they have done an assessment on him and have come back with £14 a week maintenance !!! How can anyone cope on that? It's a joke - she costs me that a day. I asked them to look at it again and they have come back and said they believe the amount is correct but I can appeal if I want to.
If he could manage £300 a month before surely he shouldn't pay any less now - ex is saying he will pay what CSA want and no more but I can't meet the bills on £60 a month. I know his new wife works so they must have more income than that.
Has anyone else appealed a CSA decision? How does the system work? Is it enough to show what he was paying previously as proof he can afford more? Even if it goes back to £300 a month it would be better.