Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

CSA/access

9 replies

meandmyfour · 28/02/2013 14:21

I'll try to be brief. I've posted before but not for a couple of years. My ex partner (of three years) has never paid any kind of child support and has now withdrawn his promise of paying our children's nursery fees leaving me in a really difficult financial situation. After a really tough few years I'm starting to feel that life is getting back on track but the ongoing stress and tension between us still makes things very difficult. He refuses to have any of our four children at his flat, always comes to my house, expects to eat with us, settles himself on the sofa and wants things to be just like they were. I've always been to scared to contact the CSA due to the many volatile incidents that have gone on but promised myself that if he let me down with the nursery fees then I would. Of course, that day has come and now I'm still hesitating for fear of how he'll react. I've always found setting boundaries hard, am getting better but really I want to have as minimal contact with him as possible...I want him to have a great relationship with his children but am so fed up of having him at the house for hours at a time and the tense atmosphere is really starting to affect our eldest son.
I would like to say that he has to come and pick the children up and take them out but he doesn't drive, it's freezing cold and we have three year old triplets so getting anywhere isn't always easy. How can I do the best thing for the children and encourage a good relationship with their dad but also do what's right for me and distance myself from him as much as possible. Another added complication is that he still hasn't accepted that our relationship is over and I feel very suffocated by that.

I've not been very clear on what I'm asking you all! I guess the whole CSA thing, do I contact them and how do I make that final break..do I have to spend hours every week with for the sake of the children??
Thank you!

OP posts:
Lueji · 28/02/2013 14:41

Ok, he doesn't drive.
Can he get public transport or a cab?

They are 3 years old, not 3 months old.

Start by contacting CSA, then not allowing him in the house.

cestlavielife · 28/02/2013 14:50

do you get out the house with them all at once? yes? then he can.

local cafe/soft play/library etc. friends house or family? his parents?

just stop having him in your house...let him find another way to see them.

you ahve to cut the contact so that the n you not worried how he willrect -will be his prblem.
does he have a key to your place?
if yes - get it back, now.

or change locks,

if he turns up and rants - call police. you ahve to resolve to make things better and that means cutting contact. if it means kids dont see him fo a week or too while he rants and raves - wll they will be fine.

meandmyfour · 28/02/2013 15:12

Thank you - the advice I thought I'd receive. it's all common sense and obvious but my biggest problem is setting boundaries and not being worn down by the ranting and verbal abuse.

OP posts:
SignoraStronza · 28/02/2013 15:27

Yes, contact the csa. I've done just this and it was fairly straightforward, although apparently I've ruined his lifeGrin . I used to have my ex in my previous house and tbh it was really unsettling for dc. He'd knock on the door at 2:00 am after driving from the airport (lived abroad) and demand to kip on my sofa. Then he'd do a big stinky poo in my bathroom and expect to be furnished with breakfast before interacting with dc.

Since I've moved, he doesn't set for over the threshold, which is better all round - in fact he's never been to our village let alone house as dh would kill him

Make the call to the csa today and once it is sorted, the payments due will be backdated to today.

meandmyfour · 28/02/2013 15:32

thanks signora..the thing is he's just lost his job so I know he won't have to anything to give me until he's working again, whenever that might be...

OP posts:
postmanpatscat · 28/02/2013 15:56

Just to correct that, the claim starts from when they speak to him, not from today, so could be at least two weeks time. However, 25% of nothing is still nothing!

meandmyfour · 28/02/2013 16:07

Does anyone know the tone of the first letter that the CSA send? So that I can brace myself for his fury when he receives it!!

OP posts:
postmanpatscat · 28/02/2013 16:13

They phone first if you are able to give them his number.

balia · 28/02/2013 17:52

The first letter used to be a computer-generated type thing with basic facts and a bunch of leaflets etc with advice (Don't know if it has changed since). His reaction might do you a favour, my ex was so foul and abusive to the case worker she was really sympathetic with me and was determined to get some money out of him.

I was the same as you, went years without bothering to pursue him for support until finally he let me down over a school ski-ing trip he had promised to pay half of. I had to borrow money from my Mum and Dad so DD could go. I've never regreted it.

DEf get him out of the house, entitled bastard. Last straw time - get ANGRY! It isn't you he's dropped in the financial crap, it is his kids! So - calm, firm letter saying that now the children are older you no longer consider it necessary to provide a venue for contact and if he wants to see them he can sort it out himself.

As for the verbals, do a list and put it by the phone and door eg

Put the phone down.
Unplug phone.
Shut the door.
Call police.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page