CSA

[Stephie69]

My ex quit his job on the 1st March and set up his own business on the 2nd March. He works 5-6 days a week as a farrier but has not paid towards our son since the 1st February. We currently talk through a lawyer so I contacted the CSA to arrange maintenance. I just received a letter saying his net income was less than £5 a week so he does not have to pay. I phoned the CSA saying I know he earns a LOT more but they replied his accountant had sent a detailed letter and there was nothing they could do. They then hung up. It's sickening especially as his Facebook includes regular pictures of his brand new van with logo, and customers wearing custom made hoodies. Is there anything I can do?

I'm no expert but if you are able to provide any evidence that your ex's lifestyle suggests he earns more than £5 pw then that might persuade them to investigate further. Problem is, he can probably write a lot of his earnings off against his tax liability as his business is fairly new, and no amount of additional digging will yield any further income for your DC. It's a massive black hole in how the CSA operates, and should be changed to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

you should try a variation on the basis of lifestyle inconsistent with income. If he's plastering himself all over facebook business-wise, take screen shots and date them and keep them. Don't hold your breath however - very difficult to prove but if you are persistent you might get somewhere.

it is very difficult getting maintenance out of self employed people who don't want to pay. I am over 4 years in and haven't managed it. However, I manage generally and I figure he will shoot himself in the foot with it eventually as they are aware, despite their tender age, of just who supports them and who doesn't.

My ex made the mistake of putting it in an email. Said he was going to tell CSA he earnt £XX.XX when he didn't I sent the email and they investigated it properly.

They even informed me your friends can write statements stating he earns more than £5 a week as well as you and send it off and they should look at it again

hi,
i am going through same situation,except its ds mum who is refusing to pay.
Shes a bankrupt, but is working on a self employed basis.
She hides the vast majority of her income, and channels it to other peoples accounts.
The CSA ,bless em, have tried to get her to pay, but to no avail.
Bailiffs have been to her rented flat, but have not been able to get anything.
A CSA employee, told me that until recently, persistant non payers could face prison, but this has now changed, and a european court ruling has stated that people cannot be imprisoned for non payment of child support.

The CSA have the power to remove a driving licence from a non payer, but I have been told the courts are reluctant to do this because it stops that person earning a living, which kind of defeats the object.

The csa have told me that as a last resort , they could go straight into the persons bank account, and freeze it, but self employed people are usually quite clever, and will have more than 1 account, and constantly shift monies around.

Very dificult to get child support rom the self employed, who dont want to pay....dont give up though, I havent.

Really? People can do this?

How is this legal? Surely the CSA can look into profits

Can't they?