CSA said investigator was looking into my ex’s story
My daughter, who is now 4, was placed in my care. She was removed from the care of her mother by social services after she left the baby in the house alone whilst she went to the shops to buy more alcohol to feed her ‘problem’. This was 2 and a half years ago.
A lengthy court case to resolve residence and contact ensued – all instigated by social services, who said that this was ‘the way to do things’. I was awarded full residence, and ‘supervised contact’ with her mother was organised. My ex wouldn’t go to contact, and she hasn’t seen our daughter for nearly year, although she does call intermittently.
Of course court cost a lot of money!
Just over a year ago, I finally put in a claim to CSA, as my ex had started a full time job, was living with a new partner, and it is of course only right that my ex should make some contribution to our daughter.
My ex knows the system. She has ducked, dived, dodged…..pretended to be her employer when CSA have called for information, told CSA that nobody of that name works there – and it was obvious to me that it was my ex giving them this information. Finally even the CSA agreed on description of her distinct voice that it was indeed my ex giving false information. CSA told me that her employer had even been prosecuted for failing to provide correct information.
A woman from CSA told me that an investigator was going to visit her at work and at home to try to catch her out. Whether this ever happened, I don’t know.
Eventually, a letter was sent to my ex saying that she was to pay £50 per week in maintenance and backpay. My ex immediatley walked out of her job, told CSA of a change in circumstance, then went back to work a day later for the same employer – magically less hours, less money. I believe she is still working full time anyway.
She is now running rings around CSA. Everytime they write to her employer to inform of attachment of earnings she ‘changes her circumstances’ and usual hours of work again.
She has told me that she is doing this, and is laughing at the ‘system’
So far, despite being told by CSA that I will get the all backpay building up – I have not recieved 1 penny
Can anyone tell me WHO to write/complain to, HOW to get something done. I feel completely frustrated as I keep repeating myself on the phone over and again.
It must cost thousands to keep chasing these cases, Writing to and calling her, writing to and calling me. Even if she was paying minimum of £5 per week – at least something would be happening.
Ideas please
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My (limited) understanding is that the new system (CMEC/CS3) will obtain information straight from HMRC so your ex will not be able to lie about her income (unless it’s cash in hand). I found this on the HMRC website:
“Why share information with the Child Support Agency
HMRC may provide the CSA with information to assist with the tracing of an absent parent, earnings information to assist for child support purposes, and tax credit information.”
IDG61020 – Child Support Agency: Disclosing information to the CSA in England, Scotland and Wales
The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act (2008) allows HMRC to disclose any information held for income tax, contributions, tax credits, child benefit or guardian’s allowance functions which will assist CSA in its child support functions.
Procedure to follow
•Information to trace absent parents and/or self-employment details. Only DMB may make this disclosure. All requests in relation to the above by CSA must be made on Form 720.
•Information in relation to National Insurance Contributions (NICs), or historical Non Resident Parents/employer/self employment address, self employment earnings and other income details.
Only HMRC National Insurance Contributions Office (NICO & EO) may make this disclosure.
All requests for NI records / history must be made by CSA using forms CSA709/CSF341 and addressed to Data Entry Group (DEG), NICO & EO. Alternatively if CSA require deduction records they should complete and send form CSA711/CSF238 to Microfilm and Retrieval Services (MRS), NICO & EO. No other form or contact point should be used to obtain this information. See IDG90100 for NICO & EO contact details.
•Information about Tax Credits. Only the Tax Credit Office (TCO) may make this disclosure. Any requests received for tax credit information must be passed to TCO. Offices other than TCO are not permitted to disclose this information directly to CSA.
I hope this helps in some way….
Get your MP involved. Once your MP makes contact with the Agency you will be appointed one person to contact in the Parliamentary Correspondence Unit of CSA and one contact number.
The new system will assess maintenance based on earnings info held by HMRC.
Carol… Whilst I agree that there should be one system, Im under the CSA 1 system, its still the PAYE people who will be clobbered.
It always will be Brett, basically once in PAYE system nrp are sitting ducks but then again the nrp in Jason’s case appears to be getting off with this.
Even though a new system is being introduced this Agency has far too many problems to ever overcome them and run smoothly. Everyone should be getting transferred to the new system but I am sure the CSA said that when CSA2 was introduced everyone would be moved over and that turned out to be a huge disaster!!
Your comments are very true Carol. When CSA 2 came in, I contacted the CSA and asked about being transferred from CSA1 and was fobbed off with I would be paying about the same amount so would stay on CSA1, Yeah right………