http://www.csahell.com/forums/ CSA advice forum » Forum: CSA Advice - Recent Posts en Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:20:19 +0000 http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-5213 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:47:05 +0000 Mark148 5213@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>What was the substance of the letters in the past?</p> <p>When and how have they tried to contact you before?</p> <p>Have you been paying maintenance not via the CSA?</p> <p>If so how much and how often?</p> <p>What was your net earnings when making these payments? </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/diputed-arrears#post-5189 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:28:07 +0000 Eddie 5189@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Thanks for your advice Mr Pink. I spoke to them today and they have nearly finished my statement with the payments I have made thus far (requested a financial breakdown on the 09th Nov 2011). When I have got the exact period of missed payments I will send copies of my P14 for that period. Thanks again for your help. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/diputed-arrears#post-5188 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:13:44 +0000 mr.pink 5188@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>The CSA make plenty of errors and have historically been slow in updating maintenance calculations. I don&#039;t see why this can&#039;t work both ways, in this case, in your favour.<br /> Write in with copies of your P14 for the period in question, ask them to make a calculation based on your actual earnings and to run off an account statement so you can see what they have calculated for each period and the payments you have made. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/diputed-arrears#post-5185 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:59:30 +0000 Eddie 5185@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Hi there,</p> <p>My son was born in 1991, and me and my partner split up shortly after. The CSA contacted me and between 1991 and 2001 I paid various amounts from £70.00 - £95.00 per week through an attachment to earnings order, even though I was paying regulary in the first instance. I was a postman at the time, so the only way I could cover these kind of payments was through overtime. My mother then became ill and I took four months off work unpaid to look after her. I also lost my London flat in 2001 after getting behind on my morgatge payments and moved jobs later that year. I admit my mistake in not informing the CSA of moving jobs, but it was an extremely stressful time. The CSA then got back in contact with me in 2003 and advised that my new payment would be £35 per month. (greatly reduced due to my greatly reduced wage). This was paid until 2008. I then received a letter from IQOR debt collectors for the £7000 arrears I had supposedly amounted. I did not question this at the time and it was arranged that I would pay £5 per week via standing order of which I never missed a payment. IQOR had been in contact at various points over the last few years, but in November last year they advised that they were going for an attachment to earnings and I upped my weekly payments to £10 per week. They have now sent a request to my employer for £110.00 per month which is quite a big leap and will place me in financial trouble. The CSA advised me today that the £7000 arrears are made up of a sum £87.50 per week for the 22 months (roughly) that I did not inform them of my new job which was alot lower wage then when I was with Royal Mail. I suppose my question is, can I appeal against these arrears? Can IQOR enforce an attachment to earnings, and if so why have they took five years to apply for one? Thank you for any advice. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-5181 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:42:47 +0000 mr.pink 5181@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Again; The maintenance starts when you are advised a claim had been submitted. So, no backdating if you have never had contact with the CSA. But you say &quot;I last had a letter from them about 8 years ago&quot;.<br /> If you want reasonable advice, you need to come clean. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/do-student-partners-count-as-dependents#post-5173 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:01:58 +0000 mr.pink 5173@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>If you are under 19 and studying A levels yes you would be classed as a dependent.<br /> A full time student (over 12 hours of tuition per week ) pays nothing, but you&#039;re not the NRP. Assuming you&#039;re over 19, I think you would be treated as a non-earning partner which would not have a bearing on his assessment. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/do-student-partners-count-as-dependents#post-5165 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:38:57 +0000 Zen 5165@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>My partner pays CSA. Does the fact that I&#039;m a full-time student affect this, ie am i classed as a dependent? And would this have an effect on his payments?<br /> Thanks! </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/worried-about-affording-life#post-5108 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:01:22 +0000 robyn89 5108@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Thanks for this response. I was sure that it was wrong as my partner&#039;s on minimum wage. We will be writing to CSA first thing in the morning now we know the figures. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/worried-about-affording-life#post-5106 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:55:06 +0000 mr.pink 5106@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>From CSL 109:p58<br /> He should be paying the &quot;Basic Rate&quot; which is 25% of his weekly income for 3 or more qualifying children.<br /> There is also &quot;shared care&quot; to consider (p69) where an NRP provides overnight care for at least 52 nights per year. there is a table<br /> 52 to 103 nights reduces the maintenance by 14.3%<br /> 104 to 155 nights reduces the maintenance by 28.6% etc.<br /> The moral argument of the PWC not being bothered to work is ignored. CSA view is &quot;tough!&quot;<br /> Write to the CSA, ask them to review your case as it sounds like you are paying too much. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/worried-about-affording-life#post-5105 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:44:29 +0000 robyn89 5105@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Sorry got that the wrong way round it&#039;s 40% to CSA, 60% to my partner but that&#039;s only £500 a month. His ex won&#039;t tell CSA that we take the children overnight as she would lose some money, we have considered trying to move closer to them so we could share custody but because of rent arrears we are stuck here. We have been to CAB and that didn&#039;t help much. Visiting our MP is a great idea, we didn&#039;t think of going that far. The worst thing is the strain its putting on our relationship. I knew it wouldn&#039;t be easy but I didn&#039;t think it would be this difficult. Thanks for the reply </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/worried-about-affording-life#post-5102 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:48:08 +0000 coldem 5102@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>I thought the maximum amount they could take was 40% because that is what they have done to us and that&#039;s what I understood. Have they taken into account that you have the children overnight?</p> <p>It is an awful scenario and you don&#039;t get any other help at all. CSA take maintenance the same as a deduction of tax and national insurance and do not care about your other credit commitments including house expenses. They would rather see people out on the street or bankrupt than being fair! Their advice to me was contact Citizens Advice for help with debt problems - told them it was the CSA and maintenance that had caused the problem, rest of the debts were manageable!</p> <p>Has your partner went to his MP for help? That&#039;s the road we have had to take and now the CSA are taking 30% of his salary and we are still arguing as none of their assessments and details of arrears are correct. They are a total nightmare </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/worried-about-affording-life#post-5100 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:29:34 +0000 robyn89 5100@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>I should probably post that the children are 10, 11, 12 and 13. Their mother has also never had a job and is perfectly happy not to work, to provide for her own children. My partners parents also contribute a lot, they pay for all clothes and extra curricular activities. We also take the children to his parents for 3 weeks a year. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/worried-about-affording-life#post-5098 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:18:50 +0000 robyn89 5098@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>My partner of 4 years has 4 children to a previous partner. We have no children as we cant afford them. His kids stay with us every weekend in our 1 bedroom council flat. Currently my partner has a wages arrestment order which gives 60% of his wage to his ex, He is left with £500 +/- per month. I am currently off work on Statutory Sick Pay (£86 per week)and have been off for 3months. We have been declined for housing benefit and any other benefits as my partners income before deductions is too high. We are really struggling to pay rent and are currently over £1000 in debt. I understand that my partner should provide for his children but the financial situation doesn&#039;t quite make sense to me. Could anyone give me any advice? </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-5090 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:48:25 +0000 coldem 5090@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Think it might be in your interests to get your MP involved. The CSA are a law unto themselves.</p> <p>Depending on your salary there could be substantial arrears.</p> <p>Although they take forever to sort things out if you don&#039;t comply within a time limit they give you they have the right to fine you and will say you are not complying and do what they want! </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-letter-i-am-not-the-father#post-5078 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:07:17 +0000 coldem 5078@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Hi I don&#039;t think I would hand over any personal information and only let them know that you are disputing paternity. If a DNA test is done and proves you are not the father you get your money back from the CSA.</p> <p>Once you give personal details these should not be passed on to the mother of the child but she will know what your income is as it will be on any maintenance assessment. She shouldn&#039;t know who your employer is or where you work.</p> <p>Sometimes the CSA do withhold numbers and will probably contact you a few times a day. Even when you answer and ask who is calling they will say &quot;it&#039;s a personal matter&quot; and will not even say where they are from. </p> <p>In order to avoid the CSA hell you could go through it would be best to comply and get the DNA test done and get rid of this case or you will be continuously stalked </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-letter-i-am-not-the-father#post-5077 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:06:37 +0000 mr.pink 5077@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Always deal with the CSA in writing so you have a good record of events. Decline to accept incoming calls - ask them to put it in writing. You need a good record of events.<br /> CSA 109 has a section on disputed parentage. You only have to pay maintenance if you accept you are a parent to the child.If you do not challenge the CSA will assum you are the parent and make an assessment. From that point you will be incurring arrears and believe me, you don&#039;t wanr that to happen.<br /> Write in, dispute parentage and tell them you require a DNA test and that you expect to be recompensed the cost of the test when the result comes back negative.<br /> I&#039;m not sure of the rules regarding paying for a DNA test but it would be worth shelling out a couple of hundred quid , even if is against principle, to get those blood suckers (CSA) off your case. You can argue the toss over costs later. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-letter-i-am-not-the-father#post-5054 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:05:43 +0000 seddy 5054@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>This is really strange. I have just received a letter from the CSA, stating that I have been put forward as the father of a child, born last year. It is ludicrous for me I have not slept with any woman for more than 5 years, and I have never so much as been on a date with the mother. </p> <p>It actually took me some time to work out who it was. Essentially I started a new job a few years back, and I was almost immediately pounced upon by the office gossip girl. I straight away took a dislike to her, and I am never keen on sharing my private life with people I don&#039;t know, especially when it was obvious to me that I would be the topic of conversation for all her. I was not rude but she asked me if I had a wife or girlfriend and I joked &quot;This feels like an interrogation&quot; and when she did not back off, I told her straight that I did not want to talk about my private life.</p> <p>She left the company 12 months or so later after not having anything particularly to do with me, except maybe putting 3 or 4 letters on my desk: that is the totality of our &#039;relationship&#039;.</p> <p>So:<br /> a) as is is totally impossible for me to have fathered a child with this woman why should I be forced to give personal details to the CSA? Am I obliged to share anything with them at all. (I will obviously tell them the story of mine and her &#039;relationship&#039;)<br /> b) If I am forced to give my details will she get to see them? (This could be why she is doing this, to be nosey about my personal life...I cannot imagine why else)<br /> c) I have been reading about DNA tests and the like...surely I should not be in the position to have to front money and waste my time to do this? Like I said, I have exchanged about 20 - 30 words with this woman and never seen her outside of work.<br /> d) Do the CSA use a withheld telephone number, I have a considerable number of missed called from both withheld and 0845 numbers. If yes, please tell me I can make them stop. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-4991 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:54:39 +0000 victorg 4991@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>yes i do need to know what the situation is. I have never been informed that any assesment for maintenance has ever been made, and as i havent had a letter from them for so many years im not really sure want they want from me or how they would backdate any claim made against me. I last had a letter from them about 8 years ago, i called them to find out what they wanted and they couldnt even find the file, i didnt hear anything from them after that until now. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-4980 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:45:45 +0000 Adviceguy 4980@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>too true mr pink, i would be getting in touch to find out what exatly they want before you send anything. it dosent change the fact that legally you will have to send them wage slips, but you really want to know what the situation is. and dont put it off becaue you only have 7 days from when they sent you the letter or when they called you to send them in </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-4977 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:43:23 +0000 mr.pink 4977@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>The maintenance starts when you advised a claim had been submitted. So, no backdating if you have never had contact with the CSA.<br /> You do, confusingly, say &quot;after 16 years saying that my circumstances have changed&quot; which implies you have been contacted by the CSA before.<br /> Whether there is contact or not between parent and child is irrelevant.<br /> You are legally obliged to send them your salary details.<br /> You may have had a &#039;nil&#039; assessment whilst you were a student. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-4971 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:09:34 +0000 victorg 4971@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>imm pretty sure that the woman hasnt contacted the csa, i am not on the birth certificate </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/just-recieved-a-letter-after-16-years#post-4970 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:04:13 +0000 victorg 4970@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>just recieved a letter after 16 years saying that my circumstances have changed and asking me to send in my finacial details. The child in question is 16 and i have never had any contact with him or the mother, and no maintenace has ever been calcualted by the csa. They have never taken money from my wages or when i was a student. Am i going to end up with a bill of thousands? should i send them my details? </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-taking-3-weeks-wages-slips#post-4956 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:16:37 +0000 Adviceguy 4956@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>It is possible they can use your year to date figure if you think its more reflective. But they wont not use decembers if its in your relevant week. Also any bonusfrom the past 52 weeks will be calculated into a weekly sum and added to your assesment </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-taking-3-weeks-wages-slips#post-4953 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:41:25 +0000 mr.pink 4953@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Ask for publications CSL 105 &amp; 106 (if these are still current). Both deal with Appeals.<br /> I would try to convince them to accept evidence from your last P14 as that covers a whole 12 month, or November and January to show December was particularly high.<br /> Just a sample pasted from the leaflet to get you started: -<br /> You should get in touch with the CSA at the<br /> address on the front page of<br /> the letter telling you about the decision. You should<br /> do this within one month of the date of the letter.<br /> You, or if you prefer, someone else acting<br /> for you, can:<br /> • ask for an explanation;<br /> • ask the decision maker to look again at the<br /> decision. There may be some facts you think have<br /> been overlooked, or evidence that you think may<br /> affect the decision; and<br /> • appeal against the decision. Your appeal must be<br /> in writing. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-taking-3-weeks-wages-slips#post-4952 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:39:07 +0000 Adviceguy 4952@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Wage slips are to cover an 8 week period ending the week before you were first contacted. They must be consecutive. Its possible that you can have them look at different wages but if the ones you provided covered the 8 weeks prior to being contacted known as your relevant week and they look like they are reflective of your normal income. IE you have overtime on them all and they are similar amounts then i doubt they would change the decision. All you can do is in a few weeks send more in and ask for a re assesment as your earnings have dropped. Its done this way as some people try to stop their overtime for the purpose of the calculation. Then carry on doing it. They. An contact your employer to ask if your overtime has stopped etc. but i doubt they would until you can provide the lower wage slips. </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-taking-3-weeks-wages-slips#post-4949 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:39:27 +0000 hereford1 4949@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>The csa are basing my payment amount on 3 wages slips,which are three slips in december and as a pstman these three slips are probably my three biggest pay weeks,and as such are demanding 400 a month from me,for my three kids,i was previously paying 315 a month,is there any grounds for appeal and that they could judge my payments ona greater number of weeks? many thanks </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/csa-attempting-to-contact-me-again#post-4927 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:10:08 +0000 Adviceguy 4927@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Dont avoid them as they will presume parentage. As long as yout not on the birth cert. get a dna done. If your the father pay. If not at least its an end to it. All the avoidance just racks up debt if your found to be the father as the day they post you a maintenance enquiry form or speak to you. That will be the date you pay from </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/new-relationship-is-my-new-partners-income-taken-into-account#post-4922 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:40:04 +0000 Adviceguy 4922@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Depends. They. An take tax credits into account depending on whis name its in and whos the highest earner. Not her wage though </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/nrp-please-help-new-to-csa-issues#post-4921 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:53:17 +0000 Adviceguy 4921@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Your lookin at around £27 a week. Child tax and working tax is taken into account if its in your name or if its in your wifes name and your the highest earner. Not sure about the other benefit. Youll get a 15% reduction for your new child then its 20% of whats left. Dont forget the csa only allow for taxable deductions. So your net is calculated from your gross minus tax ni and pension. Things like work lottery etc wont be taken into account. You. Need to add up your income. Minus 15% then 20% of what is left rounded to the whole pound is the monthly figure. Maintenance is calculated weekly so times 12 then divide by 52 to give you a weekly amount. Each over night shared care you have will knock off a further 1 7th for each night and that is roundedto the nearest penny </p> http://www.csahell.com/forums/topic/ex-has-remarried-am-i-still-responsible-to-pay#post-4917 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:20:51 +0000 Adviceguy 4917@http://www.csahell.com/forums/ <p>Call up and ask for an assesment on the new rules system. You may need a change of circumstances to do this. Say a change if hours. Address. Income etc. once you get your new assesment yoj may be subject to phasing. This is so the pwc doesnt get a dramatic decrease in income in one go. This. Can be done over a perid of no more than 5 years. So lets say your assesed at 180pcm and you currently pay 400 the mount will drop in increments over a certain period until your eventually paying 180. Its a flawed system. But it does work both ways. If you got a promotion and started earning alot more. And were assesed alot more on the new system. Phasing would slowly put up your payments. Not a great comfort to those whos payments remain high but thats just how it is at the moment </p>