Ex evicted our daughter but kept claiming CSA
I have always paid CSA by direct debit, standing order or counter payment.
All monies are are clearly identified in bank statements (not counter payment – reciepts held).
My ex wife decided with / without her live in boyfried to permanently eject our youngest daughter from the former matrimonial home on or about 1st May 2011 and failed to inform CSA, CHB and Tax Credits of change in circumstance.
However she still took payments for all, leving our daughter almost destitute.
Our daughter (at her wits end) arranged with others a payday loan at extortionate interest rates and got into difficulties. She then through the contact with me “declared all” and asked for assistance.
As a responsible parent (father) I helped as she only basically had the clothes she was wearing plus the odd clothes. My ex wife refused to allow her access to “her home” to retrieve them.
I contacted CSA and informed them of change of circumstances of my daughter and ex wife having no parental responsibility requesting how refunds were made as payments were given to daughter direct for well being and other needs.
CSA responded as CHB (child benefit) was still being paid therfore CSA payments were also required to the adult with no parental responsibilities.
Over the last year, my relationship has improved with my daughter as she was informed by my ex wife to have no dealings with me in any matter.
Having written to CSA on numerous occasions for information they have refused to suppy any satisfactory resolvement in the case. So much so that they are now threatening to go to court for payment which has been made direct to my ex wife and also to my daughter to help her out. This will mean paying the same amount for the 3rd time.
My complaint with CSA is now with Independent Case Examiner and at this time is progressing.
Summary of Points of Complaint :
The Child Support Agency has failed in its duty to:
- Supply information requested in various letters.
- Discuss this case with my daughter when express authorisation had been given by one parent (as this is within their procedures).
- Provide details of how overpayments are returned to the payer.
- Provide a satisfactory explanation of why payments must be made when there is no parental responsibility involved.
- To comply with their own procedures on more than on occasion.
- To supply remedial measures taken to prevent them sending information to wrong addresses and CSA providing incorrect phone numbers.
- To supply findings of their reviews including methods of appeal.
- Take into account evidence of variance of greater than 5% net income by conducting a review.
- To supply a national phone number starting 01, 02 or 03.
- To respond to matters within their service agreement.
- Seek agreement to deviate from their service agreement as published (12 weeks).
- Provide a suitable response to all of the above as now approaching up to 12 months.
6 thoughts on “Ex evicted our daughter but kept claiming CSA”
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Did you inform child benefit and tax credits, because your ex was committing benefit fraud…unfortunately if cb is still being paid then cs continues to the parent receiving the benefit. We also had this issue, csa didn’t want to know but got onto benefit fraud and the mp asap, mother on our case claiming cb for 3 years when daughter left home at 16, didn’t find this out til last year via an arrears letter, his daughter now 24! Makes you question how much of this type of fraud is going on, and how little the government care. Hope you get money back and so called pwc gets her just desserts!
Yes, been there and done all that ending in catch 22 CSA who say speak to CHB who speak to CSA who say speak to CHB ………
Also contacted Fraud Helpline and no joy there either.
Now resorted to MP’s and Media
Update from Aug 2012
No meaninfull responses from PM, Deputy PM, Shadow PD etc – just pass the buck to other MP’s or Departments – No Joy their either.
Latests update because the Ex Wife (PWC) but no parental responsibilities lied to CHB in order to obtain Working Tax Credits and continuance of CSA Payments.
CSA have failed to honour an agreement with the “Independent Case Examiner – ICE” (Complaints against Government Departments – CHB, HMRC, CSA etc) by Nov 2012.
Case under review by ICE and ongoing.
CSA applied and obtained Court Order for DOE as lump sum, identified in March 2013 pay packet. No notification or sending Court Order to me in order to object and respont to. CSA state this was sent in Feb 2013 – dont know where or who to other than employer (attempting to obtain copy from them).
CSA have also stated all payments have been made; this is confirmed by Ex wife (including payments when no parental responsibility – overpayments). Now large lump sum of money deducted from earnings in one go. Having to borrow to live for next few months.
Crux of all this, all payments made, additional payment (lump sum) made , fraud investigation ongoing before informing CHB of findings. CHB are required to conduct their own investigation and pass their findings onto CSA for further investigation – who may reimburse all over payments (not guaranteed) but the timescale is :???
At least 4 years due to shortage of staff investigators and further investigations.
So when told FRAUD does not pay – It does and all Government Dept acknowledge and agrree to this as the AB is the fall guy – 100% and all Departments get bonus’s for Failure.
So when told FRAUD does not pay – It does and all Government Dept acknowledge and agrree to this as the AB is the fall guy – 100% and all Departments get bonus’s for Failure
Have to totally agree when the CSA, ICE and Ombudsman condone PWC fraud.
What I cannot get to bottom of is that
CSA state all necessary payments have been made.
Ex confirms with them that all have been recieved; but
CSA state there is an outstanding arrears but cannot be specific where it arose despite several requests. I cannot trace payments through bank with the statement “it was sometime during the last X years but dont know when”
Have never met so much total incompetance from the CSA
Update to FRAUD by Ex Wife :
Have recieved a letter from Independent Case Examiner (ICE) who have supplied a further breakdown of the alleged arrears.
part comes from the pure incompetance of the CSA who were being paid by Direct Debit – but failed to inform me of them not taking enough; thus accruing an arrear.
Remember the West Coast Fiasco – Civil Servants making a monumental F++K UP wasting tax payers money then the taxpayer paying again to correct their mistake (2 x £40Million+). Says it all. Make the Civil Service do without the costs in their budgets for their errors – might get them to be more concientios with tax payers money – some how I dont think so – bonus for failure – bring it on (the more the merrier).
How can you accrue arrears by paying by Direct Debit ?? Another CSA C**K UP and they still expect the maintenance money for the 3rd time.
1st to the Ex Wife (with no parental responsibility)
2nd direct to daughter (as Ex Wife pocketed money + Child Benefit + Working Tax Credits)
3rd by Court Order (DOE) to pay the Benefit Fraudulent Ex Wife again.
Where is Justice ??