Csa demands-any advice?

[hellswelshy]

Hi, following from a previous thread, just to summarise, my husband has just had his csa money reviewed (as requested by his ex partner)back last year. Its taken a long time to complete the review and this hasnt been because he has delayed it, but just that the csa would ring and ask for information from my husband, he would have a discussion with them then they would deny having said conversation! The problem revolved around a payslip that my husband genuinely didnt have, so offered to send in a different one to which they originally agreed and then said no they needed the missing one. After lots of conversations, my husband gave them permission to contact his employer (mindful that arrears were mounting) but was told this could take 'weeks at least'. He then got the payslip himself from his employer and sent it in. Now after they have declined his application for travelling costs to see his daughter (another issue), they say he has 10 months of arrears to pay and as he 'deliberately delayed the review' he has to pay in two large lump sums!!! I wasnt present for the conversation he had with them over the telephone, but he ended up getting annoyed and frustrated as he totally disagrees with that and cannot afford to pay these lumps sums; is not trying to avoid payment but wants to spread payment out a bit. We are very upset about this as they just seem to be very unconcerned he cant afford to do this, and apart from the worry of now having to travel a long distance to see his daughter now and pay for that too, he now has to pay this large amount in just two months. They seem to be very able just to brand my husband in this way, and its unacceptable, he is far from an absent father and has never ever failed to pay his share of maintenance. Does anyone have any advice or experience on this? Is it worth challenging? Is it better to do this in writing?
Any help would be appreciated

I am not sure about this - it certainly seems unfair that he can't spread out the payments. I'm not too sure about how the arrears built up though. Was he not allowed to pay at the original rate while the review was being done? I would appeal and make a firm offer in writing on how you wish to pay the arrears.

It seems like they nail down hard on the ones who are willing to pay because it is easy for them to get them off the system. The arse holes who don't even answer the phone get ignored and people like your husband get treated like criminals!

How horrid for him. Is there no way he can go to the childs mother and arrange a private agreement to pay the arrears and then maintenance ongoing? Or is that a stupid question?!

Could he not have been paying while the CSA were working on the claim so that the arrears didnt mount up quite so much?

Thanks. No arrangement with ex partner not possible, i wont go into it, but its not a two way arrangement unfortunately. She is really only interested in having the money, and doesnt care about anything else...I hate to say it in that way as dont want to be the bitter new wife, but she would be more than happy if he never contacted his daughter again, as long as the money rolled in...

He was still paying his normal amount every month, but this has taken so long to sort out its mounted up a fair bit. Another reason for the delay was he put in a request for travel expenses, so until they looked at that (which took ages too) they didnt reassess his payments. Not his fault really! It just angers me, as you say they seem to get really heavy with the non-resident parents who are willing to pay and have always done so - it doesnt make sense? Its not like he said no i wont pay, its just he said look we have a mortgage to pay and two children ourselves, can i not stretch out the payments somehow. His only option apart from this is to take it out of the account he was saving money for his daughter...something i really dont want him to have to do, otherwise she is losing out. Feels like he is losing out at every turn right now, he is so down, all he wants is to see her reguarly but fears her mother is only interested in the money. I have run out of encouraging things to say at this point!!

Yes they are tough on people, dh owed money and they took it straight out of his bank (with his normal payment) and then informed him afterwards .

Hope your dh manages to sort something out.

I would take it from savings as its' money for his daughter - she isn't losing out as it will be the mums responsibility to use the CSA money wisely and I would hope that she is planning to save for her child - if money is spare.

When you received the CSA assessment I would have suggested working out the calculator rate and putting that amount by in an account. We have the similar situation so I do know what it is like. So frustrating - my husband contributes a signifcant amount to his daughter - if I received that for my child I would be saving for them (as there is certainly more than enough for the childs' needs).

The CSA never seems to make an allowance for Dad's travelling costs - all I can suggest is that your husband asks the courts to decide this. If you have 2 young children and excessive costs due to the distance the courts will look at what resources are available to each parent and determine if each parent could share some of the responsibility for driving.

We went through this so PM me if you want

The maximum they can take from him is 40% of his net income a month.