Some advice please! Heres my story so far...
Back in December last year after the father of my 3 children didn't even bother to send a card or phone the children I thought it was about time he started paying for the kids he helped create and then abandon.
He hasn't paid me a penny upkeep for them in nearly 2 years and I stopped contact last September after I found out he was basically leaving them alone when he had them and going out drinking.
So I rang the CSA early January. After a month or so they said he had to start paying £75 a week for them starting January the 6th. Since then I have received 1 measly payment off him for £288. Every month he has in one way or another managed to worm his way out of making any further payments and I was told after 3 late payments (or missing payments in my case!) they would send inspector's into his company's office to give them a "warning".
Last month I received a call from them explaining that he couldn't afford the payments (rubbish as he earns £500+ a week and rents rooms out in his huge house to students for cash) and that his arrears were to be taken at £9 a week, therefore I would receive £84 a week.
Once again last month and this month I have had NO payment from him. I have just phoned the CSA and explained that now surely they can send the inspector's out to his employer's to issue the warning, however, now they say that as his schedule was reset he has only made one late payment according to their system.
The most akward part of this whole sorry mess is that my ex works for friends of his so they are doing there best to make things as impossible as they can. They have even admitted to me in a gloating conversation that they pay my ex half in cash and half in cheque so the CSA do not know his true earnings.
I really thought that the CSA would help someone in my position and feel my children have been badly let down by a system that is supposed to help them yet they seem to let people like my ex, who abandon and hurt there own flesh and blood, simply get away with it.
Any advice would be so much appreciated as I honestly don't know where to turn now. I am considering visiting a solicitor but would love to be pointed in the direction of anyone who can help my Children and I.
Many thanks in advance :)