Child Support Agency.....what's the point of them exactly?!?!?!?

[gr8kids]

I'm desperately looking for some experiences mums have had please. Just so I know it's not just me that's losing out and getting seriously worked up about it. Here's the story....I have 2 girls from my previous marriage. He hasn't seen them since 2004 or bothered to contact them. The only reason I even knew he was alive was because at that point I was lucky enough to know where he worked so the CSA took maintenance straight from his wages as he wasn't prepared to give anything to his children. Every 6 months I would have problems with the money coming through until I hounded CSA and they got it sorted out....it kept on happening. Then last September it happened again, no money came in. Well as per usual I got onto CSA and they said they'll sort it out. It is now almost a year later and still nothing has been done. They keep telling me they waiting to find out from tax office if his working again. In the mean time he isn't paying a penny and my girls end up losing out. I've just had enough now and want to take this further. Anybody out there gone through the same or any info please please help

I have exactly the same thing.. no payments ring them they issue letters etc and then the cycle continues.. Always me ringing to chase them up.

I don't think they do all they can to chase these men to provide for their children. It drives me mental!!! I have to do something about this but what though because he can't keep on getting away with providing for his children.

I have to be firm but fair and give them dates of all the calls I have made and then they contact him to try and get a payment over the phone. My ex has his own business and that allows him to do what he pleases.

Not good. There must be something we can do to get it sorted. Can anyone give up some advice please. I am considering taking CSA to court as i don't believe they have provided the service they promise. I think if they had acted sooner and actually used all the resources they have to get hold of him and take what is rightfully due to my daughters.

Put in (another) complaint.

Put everything in writing & send it to them recorded delivery with tracking.

Make notes of everything that is said & ask for the name of the person you speak to.

Hassle them every week until you get action.

They are the biggest bunch if inefficient tossers I have had the misfortune to encounter.

Hi Bossy, thanks for your advice. We have pretty much done that and except for putting in another complaint because they reckon the other complaint isn't closed yet. But then when I get them to explain what they doing about it and when this will happen, I get the usual shpeel of crap they promise everytime we phone. They need to pay for messing things up this way. Something has to change and in order for that to happen someone needs to take it further. Reckon I'm going to give it a go and see how far I get. I am sick and tired of fighting with these people. Enough is enough already hey

If you feel they aren't dealing with the first complaint satisfactorily you can complain to the ombudsman - there is a leaflet about the process of handling complaints here: www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@benefits/documents/digitalasset/dg_198866.pdf

We've had dealings with the other side of the csa (dh's ex believed - wrongly - that he was earning much more than he was and should be making higher payments) and they are monumentally incompetent. Huge delays and cockups even when the man is contributing on schedule and when both sides are phoning daily to try and get it sorted out.