CSA took money from my account, sending me overdrawn
July 25, 2012
A couple of weeks before the CSA were due to take my normal payment of £244.57, I rang them and said my Wife and I have come to agreement to pay her directly through Standing Order. I didn’t like the fact they were taking fees from my Son, so wanted to make sure the money went all to her instead. So, my Wife rang up to clarify the situation with them which they said was fine and no further payments will be taken from them. I even received a letter confirming this. On the same day the standing order was paid to my Wife, the CSA tooka payment they weren’t authorised to take any more. This has thrown me into my overdraft, stopped me from going to work because I live in the country and can’t afford a bus pass and I can’t even afford groceries! I’m living on sandwiches and whatever I have left in my cupboards.
Do they care? No. I’ve told them this. The lady over the phone said the refund department has been contacted and will take 5-7 days. I don’t have that long, I told her. I’m broke. I’m getting bank fees and I can’t make it into work. After I asked to be put through to the refund department she declined and said I wasn’t allowed to speak to them. I said fair enough.. can you speak to them on my behalf as a matter of importance? No, she said. We’re not allowed to speak to them either. It was at this point I started shaking with anger.
She said she would TRY to locate an email address and email them for me. I still don’t know what the outcome of this is, but I don’t like my chances. They just don’t seem to care how it affects peoples lives.
From what I’ve experienced and read, the CSA does more harm than good. We need to the whole agency replaced by a new standard, with new policies. Or just have the CSA completely stopped. They are ruining peoples lives and stealing from those who can’t afford it. How is this helping anyone?
Thanks for listening/reading,
– Brad
Has your ex received this extra payment, if she has can’t you get it from her?
She hasn’t. It’s still with the CSA. She told me it takes them about 2 weeks to get the payments to her, plus they take a cut from it. This is why I’ve set up a standing order to pay her directly.
The problem is, I have no friends or family to lend money from, so unfortunately this is my second day without food. I’ve told the CSA this and they are still taking their time. The refund I’m due is completely legitimate and they won’t let me speak to anyone in the reimbursement department, so I don’t even know where I stand.
I was told by a case worker it takes 3-7 days for a refund to take place. I contacted them just after the 16th July as a matter of urgency and I feel I’m still no closer. I don’t understand how it’s taking so long.