CSA advice forum

CSA advice forum » Child Support Agency

1. hollisjames
   Member
   
   

   I received a phone call from CSA nearly ten years after I split with a girl that I did not know was pregnant, after denying it, I was then dragged to the doctors (kicking and screaming) to do DNA test, it was then proven to be my child, I am now paying for a child that I have not had any contact with and not heard of the mother since splitting in 2000...this has now caused great stress with the current Fiancee and myself and due to paying CSA we no longer can afford to pay bills! we are now relying on savings to pay bills etc, etc but this was for our retirement and will not last forever!!
   my question is how can this happen after nearly ten years of no contact with either mother or child (to which I had no prior knowledge)!! is there anything that can be done as I am barely earning enough to pay the bills??

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. Indeego
   Member
   
   

   First thing, and unfortunately, if you are the childs father and a claim has been made through the CSA you are liable for the costs. This does include whether you knew or had had any contact with the child previously or not, and whether it was the choice of the mother not to say anything or you denying it at the time (which is obviously not the case given you say you had no prior knowledge) you will have to pay for the upkeep of the child ongoing.
   You do not mention arrears owing, so am assuming that this is a new claim and not the full 10 years of backdating required, which means the costs only add up from the date of the claim, providing the costs are being met each week/month you will avoid the future pain of them chasing the money, however, if there are arrears owing no matter how big or little the arrears are the CSA are able to obtain legally up to 40% of your take home until the arrears are paid, and trust me they will hold zero care/sympathy/empathy or concern over any predicament you are in, or that may occur when paying them.
   Unfortunately in terms of how this can happen, it comes purely down to the parent with care making a claim no matter what the previous or current cicumstances. Only small consolation is that you are not alone in this.

   Posted 1 year ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.