Second Complaint Letter to the CSA – Complaints Department

This is my second letter of complaint to the CSA:

Complaints Department
CSA Hastings.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Further to my letter of 20th September 2009, addressed to Mrs Willis The Team Leader Manager of the Legal Enforcement Department, Room D2, CSA Hastings, setting out several issues and a complaint, I am disgusted that almost 5 weeks later, I am yet to receive any form of response.

If you are unaware of my original letter, I have supplied a copy for your perusal. During previous communication with my case worker Clare Weale and Mrs Willis, I was criticized for allegedly not responding to any letters that the CSA sent me. It was this alleged behaviour which resulted in the CSA taking the action they have against me, which is to basically put my family and I under immense psychological and financial pressure, just to try and “teach me a lesson”.

If this second complaint shows anything, is that the CSA have also failed to deal with the issues to hand, even though the complaint was sent by first class recorded delivery to the exact person and department it need to go to. I can prove that the CSA have received my letter…..can the same be true of the CSA and the supposed correspondence that was sent to me, where as a result of me not receiving it and then failing to contact yourselves, I have been punished. However, it’s not just me who is suffering, it is my entire family and they are innocent victims of the CSA’s bullying and over zealous incompetence.

Almost £600 is being taken direct from my salary per month (40% of my earnings) by way of DEO, which I’m sure you can appreciate, just how anxious I am for the CSA to respond. The information I have asked for, should be at the touch of a button, however, I have waited all this time and still no information has been forthcoming…..why?

My partner has issued me with an ultimatum, that either she obtains a bank loan to pay off the CSA what is owed or reach an agreement with Miss Baker (which makes her sick to the pit of her stomach, that she should have to consider taking out a bank loan at a high interest rate, to pay a bitter ex partner. A person who she knows has continued to deny us access to a daughter I love, despite Court Orders in my favour.) Or, we will have to split up!!!

She is taking these drastic measures despite the fact that this is forcing her into long term debt (I cannot apply, as I am Bankrupt and do not even own a Bank Account!!!) to reduce the crippling DEO, just so that I can keep my job and keep us together. Surely, this cannot be right, that the CSA can in the name of collecting cash for one child, deny the cash needed to support 3 other children and plunge them into debt and hardship????? Both she and I are desperate for this not to happen, but we may not have a choice in the matter, unless the CSA are willing to negotiate and be sensible. Financially, she would be far better off without me and would have less stress, but she realises, that this will have a huge impact on both of her children from a former marriage and our 2 1/2 year old son, who will all surely suffer.

What does this achieve, apart from proving that the CSA needs scrapping? The CSA is an autocratic Government Agency that was initially set up to help ensure that children got the financial support they needed from absent fathers, who were unwilling to pay. Instead, it uses it’s almost unlimited power to chase loving fathers who are denied the right to play a part in their child’s life and when they get the chance to be loving fathers as part of a new family set-up, the CSA then penalises not only the father, but his whole family and gives money to one child, by taking it away from the others. As I always was and have always maintained, that I am a responsible father, it seems absurd and disgraceful that the CSA and in particular, Clare Weale and Mrs Willis have adopted this hardline approach to my situation, which was verified during a home visit by Mrs Dyer, a CSA Compliance Officer from Canterbury, sometime late summer/autumn of 2008.

Apart from the fact that I need to know facts and figures, before my partner takes drastic action of one sort or another, I also need to know, so that we can at least try and deal with the Liability Orders against me (first one has been paid, but have received no confirmation from the CSA of such….why?).

The information I would like is this:

1. Proof of CSA law or legislation that states that the maximum percentage of salary 40% has to be taken against all people, or whether this is something that can be discussed and agreed.

2. Proof of CSA law or legislation that states that the arrears must be recovered in 2 years or less, or whether this can be negotiated and agreed.

3. Proof of CSA law or legislation that if I were forced to give up my job, that I could be prosecuted by the CSA.

4. How much of the alleged outstanding money is owed to the CSA and how much to Miss Baker?

5. As the CSA has no proof that mail sent to me was actually received, how can they penalise me for saying that I deliberately ignored letters I never received? At least my mail has been sent by first class recorded delivery.

6. Proof that the money you claim I owe, is correct and accurate. In particular the £2000 which you state is from a former claim, which Miss Baker wrote to you, asking to come out of the CSA and stated that any agreement made, was in full and final settlement of any arrears outstanding.

7. If I am able to “negotiate” a settlement with Miss Baker which is less, than the CSA claims that I owe, at the point that I am no longer responsible for maintenance for my daughter, will the CSA accept that this is in full and final settlement, or will they continue to recover all amounts outstanding, irrespective of any financial agreement made?

These are just some of the immediate questions I would like answering.

Finally, I want to ensure that one of my original complaints is dealt with and that is concerning the bullying and threats made and the demeaning language and offensive attitude displayed toward me. To imply that I am a liar and an errant and irresponsible father who does not have any legitimate issues or complaints, is nothing short of unprofessional, crass and insensitive. They know nothing about me, but dare to judge me and “sentence” me, because I challenge them over the fact that I had not received correspondence, which as I have already stated, they have no proof that I received it.

I asked for the opportunity to speak with a senior CSA Manager face to face to resolve the financial issues in the best interests of all, which of course includes Miss Baker, my daughter and my current family. So far, this has been denied to me….why? I have been told that because my case is with Enforcement, it has gone as high as it can, however, I don’t ever recall a point, when it went from a casefile to Enforcement in the first place!!!

I would be grateful if I could receive a response to all these issues and my complaints as set out in this and my first letter within the next 14 days. I shall be taking this up with my local MP, and all Government party leaders should I continue to be treated in the same obtuse manner as I initially was by Miss Weale and Mrs Willis.

Yours Sincerely,

Sean Bryant