Any CSA advice?

[stopusingallthenn]

I've name changed for this as my usual name gives a bit too much away.

I have just spoken to the CSA as I've had enough of my ex getting away with paying sod all child support.

He hadn't told them he was working so he will have to send in tax returns apparently. Does anyone have experience of this? I haven't done it to get years of back pay-it's more the principle that she is his child too, and he should be supporting her as I do.

I have let him get away with it for years for a quiet life, after a devastating break up. Fool that I am. He made me feel as though I was unreasonable for wanting the child support and a 'money grabber' . I totally accept I let him make me feel like this, but it's a hard feeling to shake.

Just needed to get that off my chest I think!

In my experience, you will need to chase them every week to have a hope in hell of getting even a penny. If you're relying on his cooperation, how likely is it that he'll comply and send in his tax returns, income details etc? My ex is totally non-compliant and, almost six years after DS was born and I submitted a claim, I get the vast amount of ..... fuck all. But I'll be chasing them again tomorrow to see what's going on and where we go next. Sometimes I wonder why I bother but I didn't conceive my DS by myself so why should I be the only parent being financially responsible?

Good luck - and remember to keep chasing them.

Yes chase chase chase. Find out who your key worker is, or at least the name of someone helpful that you can try to speak to each time. Take names etc each time you call and write down what was discussed and what you were told. I keep being told different thigs each time and I've kicked off at them today and finally, hopefully I'm getting somewhere. Not holding my breath though.

Find out the time frames of each stage and call them back at the times that they say things should be sorted, e.g. if they give an NRP 7 days to respond to letter, call them back in say 10 days, that gives them time to receive the letter and do something about it, or to move onto the next stage if they don't receive anything from the nrp. If that is the case you will need to push them to move onto the next stage. It's taken a lot from me today to get them to go to the Inland Revenue, but finally they've agreed to do so. You need to be tough with them though.

Treat everything they tell you with healthy suspicion - there is a wide range of abilities amongst their case workers - some seem really clued up, but others are numpties not so good.

In my experience, it's even worth questioning the amount they give you in arrears if you get that far - they have been known frequently to make mistakes and overpay -then stop payments completely for a while

Not sure if you're aware of this but you won't get years of back pay. Your maintenance starts not from when you make the claim but from their first contact with him. This is important. They should contact the nrp within six weeks so you do need to chase. I lost six months of maintenance because they didn't contact my ex in any way. When they do contact him, well best of luck. It took them three years to get me any kind of payment the first time. I then dropped the case and re-opened it which was when I had the six month delay. They've also "lost" payments, had payments "stuck" in their system, lost bank details, lost nrp details, overpaid me again and again despite my phonecalls to alert them....they are a nightmare. Every one of them you speak to will tell you something different, you'll tear your hair out when they insist the nrp address you've given them isn't correct, when you know it is..but due to data protection they can't discuss it. Oh and lets not forget...if you fail the security questions because they have made a mistake with your details you wont be able to access your own case and will have the phone put down on you when you try to tell them they need to check again.

They never call back when they say they're going to either...if you call you'll be told to call another office. 90 minutes I spent one day trying to find someone who could access my case, five different offices...they can't transfer you..noooo that would be too easy.

(and breathe froggy, breathe)

Thanks for your replies.

The first person I spoke to said he could have to pay from when he started work. So that would be about five years ago. That's why I mention back pay in my OP. I'm not looking for that though, just the recognition and support for my DD.

It's come to a point now where I will push for the money. I know he lives a comfortable lifestyle. I know this because DD does see her father and therefore knows about the holidays and expensive gadgets he has for himself and his wife and kids and gives me chapter and verse.

I provide everything she needs and she doesn't go without at all. But that isnt the point is it. Even £10 per week would mean he was contributing something.

As I get nothing now, I've nothing to lose by pushing it with the CSA.

In my case the CSA went back one year only (a year from the date of contact) even though the case had been open 15 months.

Anyway my motto is 'More than Zero' for my two as I'm fed up with his excuses and lack of support, and willing to see this through to the end of a tribunal. It's the principle he should be supporting his girls; It can't go down any further as the dates I'm appealing its set at zero (he claims his business made no money & his partner supporting him which is tosh) or the CSA have not taken all his income into account, so I have nothing to lose in trying for my girls!

Stopusingallthenn : When did you first approach the CSA to organise child support? Was it recently or years ago and he hasn't been paying?

CSA no longer backdate claims so i was informed by them anyways, they are honestly usless, ive been with them since december and have recieved one months maintenance, exp works full time but just gets away time and time again after me phoning them countless times i managed to get them to agree to take money straight from exp's work/wages. what i didnt no exp is entitled to so much protected wages so csa have no legal rights at touching this so for the last 2 months exp has went on the sick convientely after hes earned this amount so ds is still recieving nothing
good luck though i really hope you can sort something out just never rely on any money coming in even if they send you out a letter or indeed confirm it on the phone, wait till its in your bank before spending it as it may never arrive

You'll have to phone them. Weekly. And push for everything

I've just had the debt actualised with a liability order after 3 years of EX messing me around.

They do backdate, but only to the date they first attempt to contact the non resident parent by mail or make contact by telephone. They will not backdate it to before a case was ever opened. That's why I asked the OP when she opened her case originally. It might be she has had a case opened for years.

If you have any problems with the csa op, go straight to your m.p. I did and had a year's worth of fuck ups (by them) sorted within two weeks and my first payment a month later. Good luck!

Jus to give you hope. I started my case with the CSA in October and first payment came through by Xmas. I have a spreadsheet of all contact with them but never had a problem in over 2yrs.

and chochobnob is right, backdating can only be done from date of first contact with the CSA.