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CSA advice forum » Child Support Agency

1. lynzi999
   Member
   
   

   Hi, this is going to take a while to explain and any advice of guidance would be appreciated.
   My husband of 5 years opened his payslip yesterday and had a deduction of 370.99 from the CSA. Immediately he phoned them to ascertain the reason.
   Background: Husband has a son from a previous relationship, he has weekend access and pays maintenance direct to his mum by standing order. All ok and CSA agree no issue.
   There was another case brought against my husband by a woman who claimed he fathered her son in 2003. At the time he and his ex (still friends) filled out forms to dispute parentage and to request DNA test. My husband had NEVER even had sex with this woman so it's impossible for him to be the father. The woman refused a DNA test and the CSA sent paperwork in 2004 to state no payments were owed or due, case closed.
   In Aug 2011 this woman contacted ME via facebook claiming my husband was the dad of her son. My husband had been honest from the start of our relationship so I knew about her already and any stirring she was trying to do wasn't going to work. I asked her to explain their relationship, had he paid any money, why had she not done a DNA test. Everything she said I could counter with paper evidence (payslips, CSA letter). My husband contacted the CSA to notify them what the woman was up to and they confirmed that there was no case to answer.
   So why NOW have they taken money from his wages, we've had no letters notifying us of their intentions and he is not the child's dad. It making us sick with worry, we have bills and rent as well as two young sons to feed. When he contacted them asking for an explaination the operators are so vague and keep saying we'll get back to you in 5 working days! And then if they do get back to us what if this isn't the end of it?! So scared of what will happen next.
   We will be writing to them and sending photocopies of paperwork they sent regarding this in the past which they now deny all knowledge and getting a copy of the paperwork nmy husband's payroll received, hopefully they'll be the name of someone at the CSA we can direct our anger and frustration to. So sorry for the long ranting post.

   Posted 2 months ago #

2. mr.pink
   Member
   
   

   You have to tackle this in writing. Make it a letter of Compalint. You will hardly ever get the same person dealing with your queries. Send with it copies of your eveidence and by Recorded Delivery. If you don't get a reasonable response after say 8 weeks, lodge a Complaint with the Independent Case Examiner in Chester.
   The CSA also have a Data Protection Unit which, for a fee of £10 will give you a copy of your entire file, including voice recordings (voice recordings are kept for 2 years, I believe).
   you might well find copies of the letters the CSA say they have not received, they are not above telling porkies.
   Just keep at it and keep escalating the Complaints procedure.

   Posted 2 months ago #

3. lynzi999
   Member
   
   

   Thank you for your advice.
   We sent a letter to their PO box in Crewe using special delivery service. It's 3 pages long and VERY angry. Copies of the paperwork they deny all knowledge of has been enclosed to. My husband has been calling them everyday to make sure they get the message that he's not going to let this lie.
   He was told that the mail goes to the central sorting office in Crewe which then sends them on to the correct office, this can take between 1-2 weeks.
   A parenting officer has now been assigned to the case and are due to get in touch in the next 48hrs. I've asked my husband to make sure that he demands that any decisions or declarations made by this parenting officer over the phone are backed up with something written.
   The letter we sent warns them we will be contacting our MP if this farce of a sitation is not resolved.
   Will keep the forum posted on results.

   Posted 2 months ago #

4. mr.pink
   Member
   
   

   The advice I always give is to keep written records. Decline incoming calls, ask them to put in writing. If you take a call, you can 'demand' all you want, they will NOT confirm in writing.
   Threatening them with contacting your MP will have no effect whatsoever on the servive you rceive. The MP will send your complaint to the ICE and does nothing else except act as a conduit between the ICE and yourself. You are better off just making contact directly with the ICE.

   Posted 2 months ago #

5. lynzi999
   Member
   
   

   The joke of a situation continues. The parenting officer realised the case was too complex for him to deal with so it got moved to a case worker who apparently is working on my 'behalf of the NRP'.
   She has moved this forward very quickly. The Quality and Finance dept were the ones who took the money.....still no reason given as to why!
   The case worker wants a DNA test carried out which is welcome news as this will determine without doubt whether he is the dad or not. The paperwork MUST be returned within 7 days and the PWC must also return in 7 days, if she doesn't the case is closed.
   Will keep the forum posted on what happens next.

   Posted 2 months ago #

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