CSA mistakes mean I cannot afford to do anything with my children

I read with interest Martin’s story of 2nd October and would like him to know that he is not the only one in that position . My ex and I separated in April 2011 and are now going through divorce proceedings. We had in place an amicable agreement until she started demanding more and in July this year she applied to the CSA to make a formal claim.

I have three wonderful children whom I love dearly and whom I have supported since they were born. I will always support them there is no question of that but I really think that the CSA do not take into account the NRPs own circumstances.

I earn a good salary but have to pay a small fortune to travel to work where including travel I am doing a 60 hour week . I pay half the mortgage in which the ex still lives with the children and two significant loans which y ex has had the benefit of. I moved into rented accomodation in January this year so have rent and other related bills to pay.

The CSA want 25% of my net salary which is a payment of over £1000 per month.

I also pay school fees for my eldest daughter at £950 per month and the ex is giving me all the emotional blackmail possible about these. Yes, I could take my eldest daughter out of school but she is in her GCSE year and I cannot do that to her.

At the end of the month I am lucky if I have £150 to live on without even thinking about bills, food and petrol.

The CSA simply doesnt care.

I filled in a variations form which they confirmed was received by them on 3rd August. 8 weeks on and nothing… I called them last week to make the maintenance payment and at the same time asked about the variations.

Their response “We have lost your form within the department”.

They simply do not care and all they can do is send me another form… which a week later I havent received.

The process takes at least 8 weeks in any event so at the earliest they may look at this 16 weeks after I initially sent it off and in the meantime I am left with little money to do anything apart from scrape by.

I cannot afford to do anything with the children when I have them at weekends unless I put it on my credit card which is spiralling

All the time the ex works part time, received mind numbingly amounts of other benefits and over £1000 from me, lives in a 4 bed house and from the comments on her social networking file is living a lovely life

I am my wits end with all of this. There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel and all the time the ex is asking for more from me. I do not know where to turn !!