CSA. Please help

[tigereyes1817]

I have explained before about the problems we have with the CSA. We have finally got a face to face officer and DH has been talking to her yesterday. She is preparing a report and we just hope that something gets sorted and our arrears are reduced as we, like so many other believe that we were wrongly assessed and departure not taken into consideration.

The problem I really have now is I have just received a phone call from this Face to Face officer and she has just asked for the details of our youngest as they do not seem to have them on file.

I have just asked about who receives these details as I do not want DH ex to know our youngest details as she has made several threats to other children and I do not want her knowing all the details of our youngest as I believe it has nothing to do with DH ex. The face to Face officer has just told me that Ex will know the details as it forms part of the assessment and that there nothing that we can do. Unless we do not give them details then our youngest will not be part of the assesment. I know I might sound petty but I have been there when she has made the threats against my chuildren and also against my child who died. SO you can imagine how little I think of her. We moved 100 miles away partly to do with her. So why does she needs our information and details? I just do not understand.

I couldn't get much sense of the lady on the phone she just kept saying that if she didn't have the details then we would have to pay more money. Can anyone tell why ex have to have such details.

They have sent dh letters on more than one occasion telling him they've decided he should pay by bank credit, and would he please go to his bank and pay x amount in immediately.

He even got sent one letter saying they've reviewed his payments and he owes £0.00. Yes, big fat zero. Then enclosed paying in slips for him to go to the bank and pay in £0.00.

He's paid by standing order for 9 years and never missed a payment!

agree it's all entirely the fault of CSA being shite - was really replying to the other posts about ex wives not helping situ.

HIJACK-sorry Tiger

Join NACSA now - they are the best support forum out there for the CSA jokers.

btw the CSA have NO right to have ANY information about the "NRP" partner. Just say that the NRP partner does not consent to the release of private confidential information about their pay and the CSA will have to write to the NRP partner directly and independently to get this information as it is a Data Protection issue.

Never deal with the CSA on the phone, they are liars and hopeless. Always deal with them in writing and get the name and direct contact details of who you are dealing with. This way it provides a paper trail.

Keep copes of ALL correspondence with the CSA - post everyting recorded delivery so they can't claim they haven't received anything.

If you don't any joy with the CSA you should consider taking your case to ICE - independent case examiner.

But I would finally recommend joining NACSA, I'm a member too - very useful they are. Best £40 you will spend.

keep strong and good luck. PM me if you need any help.

(ElanorRigby's fella)

Thanks so much, yerblurt. I've made a note

keep strong, the CSA will be defeated!

You have to use their procedures and if they can't justify their figures then you have grounds for appeal.

never ever pay the ex in cash, there is no proof of it. but the damage is done now.

join NACSA and get some top quality advice and help from these guys, they have helped hundreds of people out.

good luck!

There should be a site devoted to us. There is so mucn out there to support single parents (whom I totally support and think deserve this support, if they are genuine!)
AND I support a service like the CSA if it chases REAL absent parents not those who help and see and pay towards their children anyway. But there is nothing there for second time around wives/partners who live their lives under surveilance by the CSA just because they mnet someone who already had a child. Threatening letters demanding from £0- 000'S with no foundation and threatening court action and deductions from wages etc its ridicuolous.
What about a persons right to find happiness after a relationship breakdown?
-the pressure from ex wives and partners and the CSA has split up so many new families that could other wise have made it, its not justice its harrassment and very sad.

Yes that's so true.

The CSA is a failed organisation as recognised by its death - but don't build any hopes up of any change, as the new reincarnation as C-MEC (or C-MESS as it should be known) will be NO different to the CSA.

CMEC will be using the same software and IT system as the CSA, which is in such a mess.

CSA also has the usual targets to meet and they are nothing more than a revenue raising organisation. They will now be going after the easy cases and that is people like ourselves who are trying to do the best by our kids.

So don't let them beat us, take action - and again, join NACSA. They have all the advise and can actually support and take on your case to help you with the CSA, they have the experience of using the CSAs procedures to make them justify and back up their assessments (which are usually wrong!)

Do not accept any form of DOE (deduction of earnings), make sure you have proof of communication with the CSA - i.e. ALWAYS communicate in writing, NEVER on the phone. Do not let them bully you or accept any threats from them without proof of accuracy of assessment and proof of their calculations.

Remember that any information the CSA have on you, you have a right to that information under the Data Protection Act. You can put in subject access application under Section 7(1) of the Data Protection Act for such information, you'll probably have to pay a tenner fee...
www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/subject_access_-_guide fordata_subjects.pdf

Don't let them walk over you!

Thank God I'm not the only one out there. As for hijacking not at all. I'm pleased (Nope wrong word) that there are folk who understand my frustration.

The CSA did not have my permission to use my details. I did not supply my details. They got my NINO somehow then did an assessment using the pitance I bring in. When the assesment came I called straight away and asked where the had got my information from. How had they got hold of the information as they did not have my permission to use it. The answer was They do not need my permission and that if they get my details then they would put a penalty on DH assesment so that he would have to pay more due to me not handing over my details. I did ask that should my DH die before me, then would they then do an assesment on me to pay towards my DSC, considering they are expecting me contribute now. Their answer was No. But I justed wanted to check as I am still totally biwildered as to why any of my money has to come into the assesment.

They are bullies and they do tell lies over andover again. They are very nasty on the phone.

We had no communicetion from then about arrears until a debt collection agengy letter turned up demanding that we pay £50 arrears as well as our £50 a week Assessment money. We struggle to pay the assessment money let a lone pay the arrears. So when we called to say that we could not pay arrears and where had these arrears come from the said from a previous assesment and if we did not pay then they would go direct to DH employers and take it straight from his wages. We offered £10 a week and they said no. We have tried to sort this out with CSA but they constantly fob us off. We have suince involved our local MP and he has managed to get us a face to face officer, who isn't that much cop either but at least she is listening a bit more to us than CSA orignally did. But then she informed me that Ex would found out our details. Which as I am sure I have made clear, I am really not happy about.

Why don't CSA actually ply the resorces into finding the actual 'absent' fathers and make them pay by what ever means and leave us families and dads who are doing what they can alone. We are ok when we are left to get on with it. DSC love coming we love having them here, pity its not more, but CSA are making it more and more impossible to do this.

Thank you for you advise. We are waiting now with bated breath as to what they are going to say next and then I am going to contact NACSA. With the recent developments. As we won't be able to take it any further. I am losing the strength to carry on fighting as it is.

Something else I really can't understand is Why is it that they say they won't take into consideration any travelling until it is 150 miles by the way the crow flies? Who the hell travels to pick their kids up in a helicopter? We travel by car by main roads and motorways generally at rush hour. A good 2 hours traveling, and that's on a good run. God help us if and when we hit traffic it can and has taken us 6 hours both ways before and more than once. How the hell CSA can't take that into consideration. It cost us a lot of money treveling alone. What does cost BM. Nowt not a penny. So how much benefits is that using up. None! unless the BM is saying it does of course then of course they are right aren't they because everything they say is right. Isn't it? I mean my DSC mother is not bitter and twisted in the slightest that when she ran off with another women and then was promptly dumped and my DH didn't welcome her back eith open arms that she know hates everything about him and his family and anything that he has done since finding new life and happiness. Of course she will always tell the truth and never lie!!!

Sorry to hear about your history of messing around by the CSA - all too common I'm afraid...

But you've done the right thing by contacting NACSA

... I'm shocked (but not surprised) to hear the CSA say they don't need your permission to use your details ... of course they do! otherwise they are breaking the data protection act.

you need to request all your details under the DPA, if they have broken this then bring it to their attention.

What scheme are you under? CSA1 or CSA2? The threat of paying a higher amount if you don't supply you're details is a common tactic, but in reality you probably wouldn't have paid much more - if any.

Basically I would advise hand it over to NACSA and let them represent you, you will get a better result and stop these monkey's messing around too much in your life. good luck.

The last assesment was done 06.

I did bring to their attention that they had not got my permission to use my details and I asked for a copy of my written permission which of course they could not provide. But stated that they did not need my permission and they got it anyway and as they had it then they had ever right to use it in the assesment and did. Then informed me that if they were to take it out then they would do an assessment without my details but penalise DH assessment as I had refused to give details so DH assesment would be more than what they had assessed him for. I said that they had broken the law. With data protection act. Their reply I can not talk to you any longer as the assessment is in your DH name so due to data protection. What a bloody cheek.

Wow, this is a brilliant thread. of course i dont mean brilliant that ouy are all going through this. THAT is bloody terrible. But hearing whats going on with other people is really interesting and reassuring in some respects.
lots of good advice and info too which i will be passing on to my Dh to help us with him requesting a reveiw of his payments to his ex witch wife.

we have our own daughter, and he cannot afford to keep making the maintenance payments to her and support us all in the way he wants to, and needs to. Ex has a new partner, who supports her and my DH's Ds. She has NO financial issues at all. She is comfortable, has a roof over her head ( paid for by my DH with his inheritance from his parents passing away) We are struggling financially, we cannot afford to own a house, we're in rented accomodation. All of that on top of the fact she wont even let him see his son! his son doesnt even know he has a new baby sister.

Its just bloody awful. Also, should he be able to see his son it would be over 300 miles to get there, and of course, thats not taken into account either!

bunch of bloody charlatans imo. the ex, her new partner ( who incidentally she was having an affair with, hence the break up of their marriage) and the CSA. all taking innocent people, who want to give support to their children, taking them to the cleaners.
It is MY dd who is now going to suffer. it is our little family that is now struggling. the ex is fine. sitting up there in her house with her new partner. it is just SO in- just! so unfair. surely there must be a better way than this, SURLEY???

No there isn't this is it. Now you have to make a decision DO you stay with it and slog it out together as a family and take very few and far between highs and the many more lows? Or DO you go? And start afresh with your own little bundle promising not to put DH/DP through again what he is going through and making your child/ren yet another Statisic. Another single parent family and seeing daddy as and when.

No you don't because you want more for your child/ren you want then to experience a happy loving and caring family growing up with great velues and morals with the support of a 'family'.

But do they actually get this when you have Ex given you grief because she can, CSA hounding you for money you simiply have not got as you are constantly trying to make everyone happy and trying deseparately to keep some kind of normality going, whatever that is, as you stride to help your child/ren and your DSC to face the world and all its fears. You stand there absolutely petrified that it is all going to be pulled from under your feet as you are slowly loosing the strength and character that you once had. Can you actually keep up the pretence for the sake of your beloved child/ren and DSC? Do thy know the hurt and pain you are feeling? Do they feel it too? You know they can and you know that you are trying your hardest not to let them know that you are hurting too, that all will be ok because you all work hard to be good people and that you rely on the knowledge that you have tried your best. But is that best ever ever good enough? Is it? Can you do more? Should you have done more? Do your child/ren blame you for what has happened. They must you think, as you blame yourself constantly. They can see that. How can you protect them more how can you stop their hurt their pain. If only we could actually have these answers. After it all who are the ones who are suffering the most. Me DH/DP other step parents the exs. CSA the govenment. Schools. No the child/ren all the children. Sweet and innocence pure totally bewildered by this world. All our child/ren.