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Hi
No Ive not been in Spain for years now as I am very ill (caused by surgical error during spinal surgery in spain) so I had to come back for medical reasons.
I personally have seen a solicitor a few times but been told they cannot take on the CSA, I have written to literally hundreds of solicitors. I have written to my MP, no response, and as I mentioned, the ombudsman cannot do anything until ICE have, and ICE have a years backlog, so even once I were to get through ICE, I then would face another year or more wait with the ombudsman as they also have a very large backlog. No where to turn·!!!
that is why I thought it best to get this on the television, radio, and very public, wherever you turn. I am going to be writing or contacting the newspapers this week too.
sarah
That is truly dreadful, and awful too that the Independent Case Examiner has a backlog of a year.
That is truly dreadful, and awful too that the Independent Case Examiner has a backlog of a year.
Exactly, so how are we to fight the CSA, and get some form of justice for the children if the actual body set up to help has such a backlog because of the CSA failings! its all ludicrous. And there seems to have been a publicity black out, I dont know why but there is and no one is willing to take this story on and tackle it.
It appears that in government papers they claim that the CSA is improving and will be better by 2014 but they are not addressing the parents and children have failed since 1993 when it was set up.
I am not going to give up, I am going to ring them daily, and drive them mad. im going to write daily too, ok it will cost me in stamps but I need a resolution and I need this money that is owed. My son is waiting for me to be able to afford for him to go to university and due to my surgical error and losing my business etc, I am sueing the hospital in spain that carried out the surgeries but that money will take time to come through and in the mean time I have to live on practically nothing.
So why is that fair, when the CSA clearly owe me such a large amount of money!
Hi Sarah,
I am currently working on a website at present for this exact reason i am sick and tired of the csa and am setting up Action Against CSA something has to be done for us parens with care.
My ex paid as and when he chose to. He decided he could afford to become a full time student so because he is doing that i dont get a penny. How fair is that if it is his choice to become a student why should my daughtr suffer. Plus i know he is working at the same timebut at present cant prove it. I am sick of them thinking of him and his family what about my daughter. He owes me about 2k in back pay but it was written off by previou caseworkers for some reason and the attitude you get from these people is disgusting they just do not care. How can they be cally the child support agency when they arent helping me support my child.
I want ideas from people about the next step this thing has to go national and we cant wait for the governmenet to change it and make it easier for these low lifes to get out of paying.
xx
Hi
I have now written to Watchdog, and there are a lot of us that have a lot of threads going on both CSAhell.com and CSAhell.com on facebook. I also am asking for ideas from anyone as a way to make this more national and more public. If there is anything I can do for you either on an admin basis or phone calls or anything you need please do not hesitate to let me know.
My friend (also on facebook) has been campaigning now for many years (we met through the website i made a few years ago) and has interviews aplenty, radio interviews, television contacts and you name it shes got it or can get it. She is currently awaiting an interview with the monkey of Stephen Geraghty and we hope to get loads of us to go up, ideally someone with camera skills and make a film of it. But that is all in the pipeline at the moment, the best thing would be to get a live meeting with audience with Stephen Geraghty himself but not sure if thats going to be attainable.
Anyway just let me know what if anything you want me to do as i would love to help and being ill, I am at home all day every day so have plenty of time.
xx
Hi i have spoken to Gingerbread today who are 'lobbying hard' against the CSA new reforms to charge us for using them...we will see!
I've been thinking of how to answer this post, as I'm one who has accepted (and not without many rants!) that The Git chooses not to pay maintenance.
I think CSA is a fantastic idea - on paper, and I'm sure that it was thought that this would solve many problems. The costs though chasing these non resident parents though must be horrendous.
I find the stopping of legal-aid equally if not more worrying. At least with legal aid you could pursue child maintenance issues.
A parent can either choose to be reponsible or not be responsible. That includes honesty.
In my case, the non resident parent chooses not to be responsible, and I have given up chasing him via CSA - and now he's a full time student, there's no chance, anyway. My youngest will be at least fifteen and a half before he's working again.
I'm sorry you're going through this hell. I just wish there was a way that things could be done without the nrp seeing it as one big game.
I think what is interesting is that if you have left a violent relationship and still feel very vulnerable, then you can sign a form that says that you don't wish to press the CSA matter, which then means that the abusive partner gets away scot free! :0
I think we should follow the Swedish lines of getting the government to pay CSA then they have to chase the absent parent for the money and it has nothing to do with the mum.
Or does that make it very impersonal?? After all, we did choose to have children with these people, once upon a time??
I just find it amazing that a person finds it in them to choose not to be a responsible parent.
Yup, I agree sparkling, it is so surprising.
Hi I have read this thread with interest. As someone who has been involved with the workings of the CSA since 1990 when the idea was just a twinkling in Maggie Thatcher's eye, I have to say that things are getting better and I never thought that I would admit that! The CSA often still work exceedingly slowly but they are getting better at enforcement and calculating the amounts due. We only work with complicated cases and the more complications, the more delay.
Having a non compliant NRP makes the problem worse and it is often like a game of chess trying to plan and anticipate the various moves. I am going to contact hemyinspain directly to see if I can offer her any way to get resolution for her case.
Cases are often very complicated and many factors need to be taken into consideration. But simple reading of this thread makes me wonder why it hasn't been sorted out.
The delay in being able to access ICE I cannot comment on only to say that this is the only way for an individual to get resolution and investigation. Not going to ICE will stagnate the case even more. Just having ICE contact the CSA means the CSA will look at the case BUT if there are lots of cases, you go at the back of the queue as they are dealt with in date order so there might still be delays.
In light of the potential cutbacks in the civil service, the delays are likely to get longer!
Bolton was set up to deal with clerical cases for the Eastern Business Unit and is one step removed from the CSA - official body but not civil service. They should be accountable for their actions but it is very difficult to speak to them about it. We have been successful at making them follow procedures/putting cases right so it is not impossible once you can get in there.
This is the 2nd reform of the CSA (1993 and 2003) I would be very surprised if anyone could get the government to consider further ones. Why would the government replace it at all?
What people have to remember now is that using the CSA is a choice - there is no longer a requirment to co-operate. Parents use the service of their own free will; those who can make their own arrangements are encouraged to do so. All maintenance is disregarded in terms of calculating benefits and tax credits . There is no financial gain to the state to have the CSA apart from the potential to help reduce child poverty for those lucky enough to receive child support.
There have been articles in the press about charging people for the priviledge of using the service - they tried this back in the early years and quickly dropped it because the service was not worth paying for.
Perhaps "customers" could write to their MPs and let them know their views on the subject of paying because sometimes things are leaked to the press to test the public outcry - if no one screams, it just goes through.
I agree why can't the government pay the parent with care and they chase the nrp. they do it for people with benefits because they apparently off set it against their benefits.
Hi
Hope you don't mind me adding this.
Maintenance no longer affects benefit, and for a while you were able to keep up to £10, so not quite off-set against benefits.
If The Git didn't pay, then that £10 was not replaced.
Yes Sparklinglime, the child support payments are disregarded when calculating income support,JSA,housing benefit.council tax benefit,taxcredits etc. This applies to all cases now.
New rules cases had a disregard before the old rules cases did.
I've sent the CSA Hell Facebook link to my boyfriend for him to join - because the CSA can fail 'non resident' parents big time too!!! Basically, his two eldest children chose to stay and live with him. The younger two got no choice - they were dragged out of the house late one Friday night by their mother. He works and earns only a very modest wage. The mother and her new partner are literally twice as well off as him on benefits. Because they are on benefits, the CSA cannot 'touch' them except to the tune of £2.50 a week towards the children that live with my bf. He, however, pays a substantial amount to subsidise their fairly lavish lifestyle. while the daughters living with him have to do without. But the CSA can do nothing about this really unfair situation. Logical? I don't think so.
Hi....I'm the bf mentioned above.....and I perhaps ought to point out that the previous poster and I only got together some considerable time after my ex abandoned two of her children because she thought that the grass was greener on the other side with a man that not only prevents me seeing one of the children that she took with her, makes it extremely hard for me to see the other child......and also prevents the ex from seeing the two girls with me....the other man being the common denominator in all this that good old Cafcrap could identify or understand...but that is another story!!!
I have my gf to thank for retaining my sanity...and the story she tells on my behalf with regards the CSA is a very simple one. My ex.....and her idiot.....don't work...and clearly have no intention of working......to receive the net benefits that they get...if working they would need PAYE income in excess of £50k. But because its not PAYE income....its from benefits.....the maximum the CSA will take from them is £5 week. Of that...£2.50 per week goes to the idiot other's man's estranged wife....so only £2.50 comes to me for my 15 year old daughter (I mentioned two girls being with me...but the eldest is over 18)
The £2.50 was awarded in August...but erm.....I've not seen any of it yet...in my last conversation with the CSA...they struggled to decide which office was dealing with it...then said it did not appear that the money was being taken from the idiots' benefits. So basically.....absent parent household income >£50k...but I get nothing from her to support a fifteen year old girl.
As for me....I work......but my salary plus tax credits etc.....works out at less than half than the income of the ex and partner on benefits. From that I am trying to support my fifteen year old, eldest who is a full time student, and retain and maintain the FMH...so that it remains and asset that can be shared in the divorce proceedings...rather than repossessed and worthless. Basically...I have more going out than coming in...I can't afford to live...and am steadily sinking financially.
But...I have earned income......the CSA ignore what I am paying out on the mortgage....they ignore the cost of other debts I have incurred simply trying to survive...they ignore the fact that anyone who owns or rents could easily work out that I already have more going out than coming in......and most of all...they ignore the fact that my ex has over twice my income.....and a lifestyle more akin to a company executive than a 'doley' as she used to like to call people like she has now become.
So....as my gf says....I therefore have to pay money through the CSA to further subsidise my ex's already lavish lifestyle.
What I will say here is please do not be too hard on the CSA staff....or abuse them. Everyone I have spoken to at various offices around the country has been extremely understanding. The staff know that the rules they work with are crap..and stink.....they know that the service they provide is rubbish....but realistically....there is not a lot they can do about it until the law is changed by the politicians.....not just the CSA rules....but also the benefits system.
Personally...every spare minute of my own time is currently taken with fighting my own corner with the CSA, in the divorce court, and over the children.....one of whom I have not seen now for over a year...simply because the demented man that my wife ran off with doesn't want her to.....and no-one in authority dares challenge him...because he is 'disabled'....and my daughter.....because the child's apparent 'wishes and feelings' overide any suspicions that the child could have been brainwashed......
So many battles on so many fronts.....but if anyone on here wants me to lend my support to any campaigns against the CSA.....I will attempt to do so...just point me in the right direction...I will in due course be contacting my local MP....I'll need to do so anyway due to my job...so I may as well throw in a personal issue when I eventually get to meet him.
Sarah...if you're reading this....I'm a bit confused by the whole CSA Hell thing and how people like me might be able to help...but feel free to message me if you feel that I have anything that I could add to your campaign....I assume you can message on here....if not I am on the FB page.
Hello Gelf61
Thank you for sharing your story. I totally agree about the inequalities of the system and have personal experience of them, as well as witnessing what has happened to many of my friends. I have seen parents with majority care given no help at all and I have also seen parents without majority care plunged into poverty, whilst susbidising the very comfortable lifestyle of the other parent. Of course one size will never fit all but the system at the moment is dreadful!
This is whole concept of the CSA is ill-conceived. There has been an artifical creation of this 'parent with care' and 'resident parent' status VS the 'non-resident' parent status . You cannot remove the biological rights of the parent and at the same time enforce the responsibilities and expect that this going to ever be acceptable to people. When you have a society that makes no distinction between the role of the mother and role of the father and you can even same sex parents then this mess that has resulted is really the fault of that society and no one elses. But it seems that this society always wants to have their cake and eat it too!
Parents with care are the ones who are in receipt of any child related state benefits i.e child benefit and child tax credit. They are able to take advantage of that position to the max and the child is used as a means to exploit the welfare and legal system citing the child as a burden and not as a privilege. If they are working , they are earning a income and in addition are in receipt of state benefits, yet they still demand more from the goverment that it is its duty to pursue the 'non-resident parent ' for even more funds for their child. The 'non- resident parent' is not in any receipt of child- related state benefits and more often than not , not is as typically assumed an 'absent parent' and will be paying for their child whenever that child resides with them out of their own pocket.
Their is clearly a situation which encourages greed and using children as means to extract money from goverment coffers - 'parents with care' seem to spend an awful lot of time and energy pursuing the 'non resident parent' from whom they have officially broken ties except to see them as a source of income? That time and energy would be better spent on appreciating the fact that presumably for the majority their child is in their care and company and that worth more than the weekly 'maintenance payment' surely? Perhaps that is expecting too much this side of a 'civilised' society. They could seek to improve their own financial situation through all the other (legal) avenues that are available to all the rest of the public rather than going down the easy route of goverment backed welfare schemes or maybe that it self has become a full time profession for many?
Hi affy
You raise some very interesting points. I agree that the position of the parent without majority care can be very difficult. Whilst I know from my ten years of working with separated families that there are some cases where that parent appears to want no involvement (financial or emotional), I also know of many more where either the parent without care does not see the child and yet is expected to pay up every month, and even more where the parent does make a contribution and this leaves them in poverty themselves, whereas the benefits are all going to the person who is caring for the child. The CSA system takes no account of the financial situation of the parent with care either, so I could be a millionairess and my children's father could be on minimum wage and yet he would be expected to pay a certain percentage of his income to me.
However, I cannot agree that "the child is used as a means to exploit the welfare and legal system". Of course having a child is a blessing and not a burden, but the child still has to eat and be housed and clothed. Perhaps you are suggesting that the workhouse system be reintroduced? That's just me being facetious; I am sure that is not what you are suggesting! but it seems reasonable to me that the other person responsible for the creation of a child should be expected to contribute to its care.
May I ask how long you have been a single parent and how old are your children?
Hello Sarah,
I am with you on this one, i've been battling for maintenance arrears for over 10 years. I now have a letter from the CSA telling me my case has been closed! Because my sons fathers circumstances mean he doesn't have to pay! They don't tell me what those circumstances are, but it doesnt appear to stop him travelling 120 miles to the town in which I live. Nor does it stop him owning a house. He's not disabled, and appears completely able. Able enough to threaten to slit my throat when i called him and asked why he doesnt even send our son a Xmas card.
Shall I set up a word press site and on that site we all log the names of the non paying parents and give a brief description of how much is owed, and where the person lives. Lets publicly name and shame these non paying parents.
It truly does appear that we're ignored, pushed aside, forgotten. The economy is in decline and the Tories are looking to make money. Well I can see a whole lot of money that could be found to help the economy. Money that could help lone parents who are struggling to pay mortgages, child minders and educate their children.
The levels of unemployment for under 25's is growing and growing, they don't have enough money to live, they can't find jobs, so instead they are going onto benefits.
Lone parents are being crippled due to having to work and support their children on their own, which results in them either becoming depressed or too ill to work, again, their next port of call is to go on benefits.
The non paying parents surely must be pushing the welfare system to breaking point, why should the state pay, why should taxes be used to support parents who should be being supported by non paying parents?
A little help in the way of monies for my children would have helped me so much, instead of us having to live off beans and not able to afford holidays or even school trips.
I've been made redundant four times, nearly lost my house after loosing my business during foot and mouth, i've struggled to finance my two children over the years but i've never gone on to benefits, but i could so easily have, and i am sure many do.
These non paying parents are heaping more strain on to a system that's already creaking at the seams. Why doesn't the government wake up and smell the roses and do something about this situation? Dont they wonder why the levels of disability benefits are rising and rising, why people are depressed , why lone parents feel like they can't cope any more and decide to do what everyone else appears to do - by signing on and getting disability.
It seems that we need one point of call , one place to simply register these non paying parents. Its not enough to ramble on inside an online chat facility. We need a simple straight forward system. Make it fun for people , let everyone check their town or county and read who in their community isnt paying for their children. We'll advertise it on twitter and facebook, organise separate facebook accounts for each town in the UK, stick to one format. The non paying parents name, and the town in which they live and the amount owed. This way it will be simple to search for towns,and people, and let everyone in the community watch them and talk about them and point the finger and know that these people are putting a huge strain on the economy , that they dont care about their own children and that they really are the scum of the earth. A great place for employers to see what kind of employees they have, or indeed before employing someone , they can check to see if this person has integrity or not.
But before i go ahead, give me some feedback and if there's anyone out there who's a legal beagle, can you give me some idea of what you can and cannot say before being slapped with a liable order, or slander? Also, what kind of disclaimer we'd need so that everyone is responsible for their own post and not the owner of the site.
I still think this is a case for the court of human rights, where are our rights?
Hello pinkprincess,
I missed your post, too busy ranting in my own little space. I'd love to see your site, i am currently learning how to make the most of wordpress. If you see my post down below it appears that we're thinking along the same lines. It would be great to have a simple site, one without ranting and people's pain. Just a nice simple site with towns listed with a search facility, so that people can put the name of a specific town and see who in their community isn't taking responsibility for bringing a child into the world.
That way at least we can see how many people are not paying, and then we can see how bad this situation is. "Name and shame" is where i am coming from; it might be a bit radical, but its obvious that ranting about our situation isnt achieving much at all. if we can gather statistics, we can put forward a stronger case. My argument is that those parents who dont pay are contributing to an increase in sickness, disability and unemployment claims from the parents who are left without financial support for their children.
Yeah, i've worked full time to support my children, but i've seen many friends just keel over and give up and go onto benefits because the hurdles you have to jump through to even get a job and keep one, can be overwhelming.
Paying child minders was always my area of concern; registered ones were as rare as hens teeth, so I had to pay a non registered one at £10 an hour x 2 children. Therefore i had to work shifts to get better pay, and enough to cover my child care costs and make a bit more to cover our bills. then there was the horror of being let down by child minders. i used to hate phoning my employer to say, the child minder is ill , so i have to take a day off. Working shifts made me hate myself, i had less time with my children , but i felt i had no choice, i felt like a failure because i was always so tired, and it was all i could do to keep the mortgage paid, heat the house and feed us. I certainly wasn't Mrs Beeton or the perfect mummy i so wanted to be.
Given that the government is cutting and hacking; and trying to get people off benefits, if we could show how many people are not paying and in turn what effect that is having on the benefit system, then we're surely onto a winner.
People love a bit of juicy gossip, look at all the celebrity sites, it also seems like all the world and its mother is on facebook reading what's going on, and i am sure mostly its prying on each others situations for a bit of salacious gossip :)
Imagine a site where you could search for your own town and see people in your town that are not paying.
I used to think one man in our town was such a lovely guy until i heard his ex wife crying in the dr's surgery, yup, he was a dr and he refused to pay a penny. Ohhh er.. missus! Fingers pointed, and too bloody right!
I could see a site like that gaining interest from the press, I could see people checking it and I could even see it growing in popularity and gaining revenue from advertising. Though what it would advertise doesnt bear thinking about ha! Laxatives - for putting into the exes tea? "Itchy berry" underwear for the perfect 'non paying parents' xmas present, t-shirts bearing catchy slogans, "I married this ****" or "I Smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish and i Pay Zero my kid." etc etc.
Some serious thought on what statistics we would need to gather would be a good start. We could ask people to complete an online form too, with questions like. How much are you owed? How much per month did the CSA calculate your payments to be? Are you currently on benefits? Has the situation made you give up work? Stopped you working? Can your children go on school trips? Have you lost your house as a result of getting divorced? etc etc .
Any statisticians out there, we could do with your help in asking the right questions and how to calculate the responses. It would also be interesting to know what people's income was before divorce and then after. Does your ex partner work, did they before?
I think that parents who do not contribute towards their children, are putting a huge strain on society. Children are growing up with less in the way of emotional support and care, because one parent just cannot provide the same amount of love and support and finance as two.
I know myself that when i was married, i had a job, but it wasnt hugely taxing, my husband earned more than i ever did. I worked part time, cared for the children, ironed the hubbies shirts, fed and loved him. Made sure that he was supported so that he could in turn support us back. Now, I work full time, I am away from home 3 nights a week, i am paying for one child to go to Uni, supporting the other one through school, i pay someone to clean the house in my absence, i get tesco to bring the food, I 've paid people to care for my children, I decorate the house, pay the bills etc ...... and then its down to physics A level support and helping the other with degree work....... I am not baking bread anymore, or being there for them as much as i want, and with the lack of financial or even physical support from the other parent ... i am stretched to ............ well... breaking point quite often.. but i try to laugh.
So yes princess, lets do it, send me your thoughts.
Has anything happened with the intended site?
Hi LinCSA, we have not heard anything for a while now. Are you having issues with the CSA?
Hi Anna, I think that a lot of people have issues with the CSA, some are PWC's and some are NRP's, I beleive that the fundamental idea of the CSA to be worthy, insofar as NRP's should contribute to their childs welfare, however, the flaws within the system leave a lot to be desired.
I totally agree, csa have recognised that i have two children by my ex but for some reason have trouble putting him on the system so when my ex pays his csa his ex wife with whom he has children with also (2) gets two thirds of the money and i get one third, it should be split in half as he has two children with me and two with another ex. However the csa are having trouble calculating this and in the meantime im losing out on money for my youngest!!! A load of C**P.
Simple mathematics have never been a strong point of the CSA, maybe just a lack of calculators, who knows!!
How do you make contact with the CSA by writing or by telephone?
I have very lengthy telephone calls which now i have given up on to be honest as im getting nowhere!!
Back up any or all telephone calls in writing, send your letters recorded deilvery and remember to keep a copy, always worth mentioning in your letter that you are going to get your MP involved, it works wonders!!
Telephone cals are generally a waste of time but a nesessary process to go through.
Thankyou LinCSA ihavent really thought of writing to them as the phone calls are so off putting that im just about to give up. What really gets me is that im on income support not much money to spare and the other mother that my ex pays to has a very well payed job no mortgage and lives in a house worth at least £150,000.00 . I know that shouldnt make a difference that my ex has a responsibility to pay for all four children which he is doing why cant they just split it fairly, it just feels the worse off you are for money the harder you are hit the other mother obviously doesnt need it as much as me.
However i am going to send a letter though as putting a child onto the system shouldnt take forever!!!!!
No one has ever said that its a 'fair' system, write your letter, remember to send it recorded delivery though and keep a copy!!
Anyone who needs help with a CSA problem, is encouraged to consult our CSA Expert, here at One Space, by filling in this form
Just discovered that my ex has not been truthful with the CSA about his earnings. I contested it in the begininning and was told that I didn't need to do anymore becasue they would check his wage slips every year. CALL ME STUPID but I believed them. So for 5 years I have been getting the same so I queried it. they basicaly told me I should have contested every 6 months to a year. His wages in this time has gone from £24000 - £80000. How was I supposed to know I have absolutely no contact with him. Apparently they now say they acan't back date so he has successfully stollen many thousands of my childrens money becasue the CSA actaully do nothing. Really really gutted. Couldn't even afford a new school uniform this year.
I can't say much about the CSA as I feel they didn't really do what they could in my case.
I will always argue though that the absent parent should WANT to support their children.
I do hope that things are now being updated for you.
They are going to update it now. I only found out because I had a letter in april saying he was paying an extra full year ( daughter now 18 and just gone to uni) and then last week they reversed it. So I queried it and they then told me they hadn't queestioned his earnings since the beginnings. he has had 3 round the world trips on the girls money - and we couldn't afford a holiday. But he now thinks his money is going down as only youngest now counts - I think it will go up again. I just feel such a mug for trusting them.Most people are a lot worse of then me though, at least he paid hi meagre amount regularly. The system needs an overhaul and the booklet provided is very misleading. it says the paying partner is legally obliged to tell them of any changes or there can be a fine. i
Apologies Louise, I thought that this was an open forum. If you'd rather I stay out then just say.
Jilly, the CSA used to have to do a reassesmnet once a year, they changed it to every two years, so in a way they told you correctly but ultimately they have failed and let you down. If you have it in writing that you were told not to do anything, then get a copy off to them with a letter of complaint.
I would aslo be requesting an assesment immediately, your 18 year old will still qualify as a 'child' even though at Uni, so long as she is not in advanced education, studying for a degree for instance, there is still the youngest child to consider so a request for a reassesment is still worth doing.
Sparkling....I agree that NRP's should want to contribute towards their childs upkeep, unfortunately some PWC's will want more than the Law says should be paid, its a very grey area as to what one thinks is enough yet the other says it is never enough.
Thanks for replie.
Daughter Doing and Undergrad degree. - so he doesn't have to pay. Unfortuantely they told both me and my new husband on the phone that they automatically reassessed sp have no proof :0(
Hi LinCSA
Oh yes it is an open forum, I was just posting the link if anyone wanted to ask our expert about their individual case, sorry if that came across wrongly 
..please continue to discuss here!
i am on the opposite side my ex starts csa so i dig all paperwork out send it to them ! i recieve a huge bill then agree payment dates with them then they contact to say she has stopped the claim ! a few weeks later it happens again then a few months later ! so i say to csa work it out ill pay you ? they say no because mother has stopped it grrrrr surely this shouldnt be allowed to keep stop and starting i really causes probs because i cannot up my borrowing for house etc incase i have to start paying agin
As LinCSA said, there are people on both sides of things who are affected by the CSA shenanigans. The system needs a massive overhaul.
Trouble is, the system is to get an overhaul next year, unfortunately I fear not for the better!
I am quite capable of earning a living wage, however I need help with childcare to do this. Rather than the £19.71 that my ex has been told to pay by the CSA (and to date not one penny has he paid), I would rather there was legislation to make the other parent do their fair share of the childcare...there is NO registered childcare in my villiage, I have no option but to work from home which is a c**p wage, I have a degree that I worked hard for. If he would even take her after school 2 days I could work part time, but he refuses. Surely it is his responsibility to look after her as much as it its mine? Why do dads get to walk off and not have to do their share? He never asked for custody or even access, I had to fight to get him to take her once a fortnight. He wanted the baby as much as I did, but yet he does none of the care...why are they allowed to get away with this? I dont want cash...I want a life and a career, why can he have it and thats ok, but its assumed that mum will be on hand all the time? Legislation needs to catch up and the parent that can earn the most should be the one that works and the other should do the care regardless of gender...it really makes me mad that I sit at home pennyless while he works a few hours a week for beer money and not a minute more...I would work 40-50 hours a week to give my kid a better life but I cant cos theres no one I can get to look after her while i do!
NOTE FROM MODERATOR, THE POST BELOW WAS ON ANOTHER THREAD AND I HAVE MERGED THESE TWO POSTS
I had a great job, well paid. However I had to give it up because my
ex kept letting my daughter call me when I was on a sleepover shift and
crying to come home. She would also be late for school on his days.
So I took a local 9-5 on minimum wage and relied on the out of school
club and tax credits. Then the out of school club closed leaving no
registered childcare in our village. So I registered as a childminder,
but am struggling to find enough kids to make a living. I am so fed up.
I have a degree and management experience, but there is just no
childcare availability in the area for after school and school holidays.
I don't want to move, I can't anyway because I am in a housing
association house and basically have no money to move.
My
ex is selp employed and owes more than a years maintenance, I only
applied to the CSA when I had to give up my good job and so far have had
no payment at all. I have no money and feel so trapped. I have no
family members I can rely on for childcare as everybody works. I put
all my savings into setting up as a childminder but so far only have
part timers and earn less than £100 a week. My credit cards are all
maxed and I am dreading Christmas. If only there was some was of
forcing dad to do his share I could at least get a part time job. There
should be some sort of leglislation to make dad do his bit surely?
Hello alexandraelizabeth
Many parents will agree with you about the forcing the other parent to have involvement idea.....not just for work reasons but also to give the parent with majority care a break and to take their share of parental responsibility as well. The system just does not allow for this and as you rightly say, IF there is an underlying expectation that the parent with care "should not" work then why is this not reflected in the benefit system and in the family courts, the legal system and the CSA?
Thinking about your own situation, I would be inclined to find another parent who could care for your child after school the couple of days a week that you would find helpful......and Ok you could not claim this back as it is not "registered childcare" but the other parent would no doubt be glad of a bit of extra cash from you....or you could set up a reciprocal arrnagement. You say that you yourself are prepared to be a childminder, but there aren't enough children....is this a chicken and egg situation and there would be more children if people knew that childcare was available with you?
the csa is not for the benifit of children..fact
hi there, just found this site. im glad to see thier are some well informed people out there.
im a litigant in person,i sacked the lawers and barristers long ago
im just about to go to court next week to be told that i owe 4.000,and that they will seek and get a liabillity order agianst me,becuse there is no right to to a defence..in there eyes.
well its going to be quit an intresting time for the judge and here,s why
i have been involved with the family court system for 13 years now-76 apperances to date for my son who is 15 now. in all that time,i have never heard so much lies and deception , to call it justice is an afront to common sence and decency.
i am one of a few men who has a full shared residence order 50-50= hard won..in all of those court apperances mother submited faulse statements;11 in all. and proven to be faulse.. no sanction
in 2005 i was accused and arrested for harrasment and found guilty with no evidance, know supprise there.it was pure deception of smoke and mirrors and down right lies to manipulate the the family court. i appealed on the day of sentance and won that right to seek leave to appeal.
for 3 years, fighting the lies was tough and i learnt a good deal of how the system does not work. now, not having any lawyers or barristers, i had the birds eye view of this deception that was taking place and i defended my self with the facts of that deception and went on to clear my name and win my appeal and costs in 2008.
she commited pujury so many times,no sanction/making a fauls police statement,no sanction,the best i got out of 2 judge,s in two seperate court apparances= qout-to mrs h -you have no credabilaty of evidance & the whole thing stinks, but agian no sanction.
now to the csa ,in 2003 they have cacluliated that i have my son 1.5 nights based on what mother told them...hahaa,on what mother told them.
they have the terms of the court orders, 2001/2003/2004/2005,diary dates 2001 to 2004. i supplied the lot when it was requsted..contry to what mother stated i proved that that i had him a lot more than she stated,in fact 45% to 60% more.
to this very day they dont want to know, i have appealed=lost.
went on to the commisiner = lost.....as i see it from were im standing they the csa have rode ruff justice for me and my son by ignoring the truth and the facts since 2003 to this day,mother submited a fauls statement -agian based on faulshoods and lies.a crimminal offence yet again ....so as to next week, my defence is ,
NO CASE TO ANSWER.
no correcet assesment
all sworn statements found & proven to be based on lie,s- crimminal/family court and the csa . so if the judge wants to find against me and he will -as its a rubber stamp exersize after all, to rob NRP,S and thier kids of money...
so when he/she finds against me , they have to then inforce the uniforceble ,an unjust judgment,a judgment without due prosses, void of facts and truth..
as i siad -the judge aint going to be happy. and do i care......
Hello jay-icu
You certainly have been through a great deal of hassle with the courts. Have you beem in touch with any dads groups, such as Families Need Fathers?
Hello Everyone,
i have only read 1 persons email so i hope i have not got this wrong.
I am against the CSA because they charge me £78.50 a WEEK and hav e tried to get them to reaccess me with no luck. I have had my Mp talk to them but it has not made any difference apart from letting me now appeal but i know that it will be of no use.
I have also contacted 2 newspapers but they will not take on my story.
I have been told for years now that i am paying too much but did not do ant thing untill a few years ago.
To be honest i can see why people go on the dole or comitt sucide, they are unfair and should be closed down and replaced with a better system.
Oh I have also been asked to pay £97.00 a WEEK even though i was not in employment nor in this country foe 7 week .
I have lost interest in going to work myself because i will only be a little worse off each week, but i am a proud man with nothing left to loose.
Bodie
Hi Bodie
That does seem a lot, but it is all dependant on your income, have you been in touch with National
Association for Child Support Action - www.nacsa.co.uk
They are a service that can support non resident parents.
Hi Anna,
Thankyou for your reply,
I spent half of last night looking for this site when i should have been working lol.
Well my take home is about £220.00 aweek but i have read messages where other people are having a harder time than me.
i have told my boss that it is not worth me working any more . Fair doos he has offered to have a chat with me to see if he can help. How many bosses would do that?
I will have a look at this site. I really appreciate your help.
God bless you x
Thats great that you can have a chat with your boss, maybe he will come up with more hours? Pay rise?! 
I know it doesn't help your situation, but it can help realising that you are not alone and there are people having a harder time than yourself. I know it feels like you are stuck at the moment, but this time will pass.
Hello hemyinspain
Thanks for your post.
Are you living in Spain now and is this complicating matters?
It seems to me that a group of parents could present their cases via local MPs and/or The Ombusdsman and take a legal case against the CSA. But I am not a lawyer and you would need expert legal advice about that.
Good luck with your campaign!