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Lone parents

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Original poster

CSA question!

39 replies

kiminutter · 17/02/2007 19:41

I have been told by the CSA that I am to receive a consolidation payment! Apparently they can't possibly make my ex pay his arrears from before my case was moved to the 'new rules' system, as their computer will not let them do that. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? And WHY doesn't HE have to pay??

OP posts:
Tinkerbel5 · 19/02/2007 17:21

whatever monies you do receive treat it as a bonus and never rely on it, I have been waiting 10 months for the CSA to take £5 per week off my ex's benefit, but apparently the dss are refusing the payment

Original poster
kiminutter · 19/02/2007 17:45

Hi Tinkerbel5, good luck with your case!
I have been waiting since June 1998 for this money that I am owed. I have tried the usual channels of complaint (including letters to the chief executive) and am going to see my MP on 2nd March. I have recently found out that someone at the CSA closed the case for my DS1 in 1999 'in error', and didn't receive any money for DD until 2005.
The most annoying thing is that NOW they are saying my ex does not have to pay his arrears, as they can't work out how much I am owed. Surely it is THE LAW that he pays off his arrears, instead of letting tax payers bail him out? Aaaargh!!!

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Tinkerbel5 · 19/02/2007 19:58

hope you get a result by going to your MP, it has been known for arrears to be written off, on the MSE site there are other people on there with CSA problems, some lone parents being owed over 20K, disgraceful it really is x

buktus · 19/02/2007 20:01

isnt it something to do with the old system relying on means testing where as the new sytem just relies on gross wages a week, which means they cant means test from the past

Devilyouknow · 26/02/2007 11:32

I have recently found out that someone at the CSA closed the case for my DS1 in 1999 'in error', and didn't receive any money for DD until 2005.
The most annoying thing is that NOW they are saying my ex does not have to pay his arrears, as they can't work out how much I am owed.

They should base the missing payments on the last assessment he had done before the case was closed in error.

I would also tell them they need to look at his present assessment and average it out.

One for the Parliamentary Ombudsman me thinks.

Have they indicated how much the consolidatory payment is? It should be quite a lot.

You should receive interest too. It was not your ex's fault the case was closed.Just another example of gross maladminstration.

Good Luck.

Devilyouknow · 26/02/2007 11:38

Kim

Just read another thread in which you state ex owes you 20K.

Definitely take this to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The same thing happened to me.

Original poster
kiminutter · 04/03/2007 00:59

Thanks, Devilyouknow, I went to see my MP on Friday and he was as good as useless. The Ombudsman is next on my list!
I have no idea how much this payment is gonna be, I was told in Jan that i would find out by the end of Feb (been and gone!) and I can't get through to the person dealing with my case.
Did you contact the ombudsman? What happened?

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kellogs · 28/03/2007 20:18

Hi Kimi
I've been waiting for 13 mths to get a payment from the csa even though my ex IS paying. Someone who they won't name messed my case up & it has to be sorted out by hand, i worked it out that the csa owe me nearly 600 quid.
But my ex wasn't paying for nearly 10 years & they wiped his slate clean when they put my case & his 2nd ex wifes case together, so he managed to walk free of 1000 of pounds worth of arrears.

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 20:32

How annoying!! Your story sounds similar to mine. My case has finally gone to the Special Payments Section, but I have also written a lovely complaint letter to the client Services Department. Next stop Parliamentary Ombudsman. If they are refusing to tell you what went wrong and why, have you tried applying for a copy of your files? May be worth a try!

OP posts:
Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 20:35

By the way, what reason did they give you for wiping out his arrears? I'm so cross with them for you!

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kellogs · 28/03/2007 21:37

Hi Kimi
Stated a computer error as the reason i've not been paid. Wiped his debts due to them being unable to collect them. Also new system new rules so he was able to start afresh. Did have compensation, a whole whopping 60 quid. Was told i'd be contacted in 3 weeks to inform me of any progress cos mine has been sent to special payment heard nothing from them since. Told them i would take them to court & sue them for their negligence.
What annoys me is his 2nd x wife is havin no problems & my son is older than her daughter by about 6/7 years.

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 21:46

Yes, that's what's happening with me. I went to a solicitor and he basically laughed at me. 'Receiving money from the CSA? It'll never happen!' My ex husband also has another child 6/7 years younger than my kids, the mother has no problems either!
You should still be entitled to the money that you never received. If they can't collect from your ex the CSA should pay you themselves. How long ago did your case go to the Special Payment Section? I was told to expect a reply within 30 working days (in Feb), however I rang yesterday and they haven't even assigned a case worker to look at it yet

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kellogs · 28/03/2007 21:54

Hi Kimi
my case went in Feb i think but was told it would take some time as my case is completely messed up.
I'm going to give them until the end March then i'll call them again. weird thing is was told i would recieve compensation after my case was resolved but recieved it several weeks ago, so i've got no idea whats going on.

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 22:03

I have been given some great advice on another forum, I have some very useful addresses/information, if you want to CAT me I can send you as much info as I can to help. Maybe we could join forces and chain ourselves to the railings outside 10 Downing Street? LOL!
My case is also VERY complicated, two ex's, 3 kids and over 20k arrears dating back to 1998.

PS My case was sent to SPS on 5th March, I was told to ring them after 27th April for an update.

OP posts:
kellogs · 28/03/2007 22:09

we could do the fathers for justice thing & scale tall buildings in silly costumes might wait till i've had the bump 1st though!!
going to sound very blonde now (sorry to all blondes) but what does cat mean, (duh)

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 22:11

Contact another talker, click on the little envelope in the blue bar at the top of the post

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kellogs · 28/03/2007 22:18

thanks Kimi
i'll have to subscribe that way can get the details

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 22:21

I have CATed you my email addy!

OP posts:
Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 22:25

I have been advised that the CSA should pay me all the maintenance I should have received, AND THEN SOME! Compensation for bank charges, loan interest, stress(!) etc... I am writing a list at the moment of everything I can think of. Any expenses that have caused financial hardship during the time the CSA were supposed to be collecting my child support. And that is a LOT of money

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kellogs · 28/03/2007 22:31

Thanks Kimi
I'll have a look for it now. Was told that i'd been over paid years ago & had to pay it back, bit i was able to prove if that was thecase why was i paid 500 quid when they messed it up the 1st time!! Keep saying i might not be entitled to anythimg & will have to start from scratch again!!

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 22:40

OMG th CSA actually OVERpaid someone? That's a new one to me! Their main objective is to collect revenue for the government, regardless of the children involved. What about 'child poverty'? The CSA actually took 7 months of maintenance payments from my ex (about 2000 quid) but did not give me the money. 'The computer' said I was claiming benefits, when I was working 40 hours a week! And that was just last year.........

OP posts:
kellogs · 28/03/2007 22:45

i told the women dealing with my case that if it wasn't sorted out & i didn't get the money they owed my son i was going to sue all the people that had dealt with my case, including her she said she'd make it her top priorty
also told her computer errors don't happen due to them needing humans to input the data to begin with so the next time i was told it was a computer error she couldn't really say a lot.

Original poster
kiminutter · 28/03/2007 22:51

Ha, yes, I am always told that 'the computer generates work'....
I told my complaints officer yesterday that it would be common courtesy to ring my ex with a full explanation and apology (they have let arrears mount up and haven't bothered to tell him - but they have informed the debt collection department). I also said I would ring tomorrow night to check that it has been done. I am so fed up with having to tell them how to do their job! Aaargh!

OP posts:
Original poster
kiminutter · 30/03/2007 21:54

Hi Kellogs, did you get my email addy? I got a result today through writing letters to the right people! My payments are going up by 90 quid a month! Still have the addresses for you if you are interested!

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kellogs · 30/03/2007 21:59

Hi kimi
yeah had to contact mn cos i weren't getting mail, defo want the numbers. i'm really pleased that your case seems to have been resolved, fingers crossed so will mine soon. i'll call them on monday to see how far they've gotten