Why is the CSA treating us like criminals?

October 31, 2014

To start off with let me explain that I have been paying CSA payments for the past 15-16 years. During that time I have had no contact with any of my children through no choice of my own.

I had no idea where any of my children were because of their mothers influence over them meant they didn’t want to know me. Without going into detail lets just say my divorce was not very smooth at all!!!! Marriage from hell would be an understatement!!!!

In 2003 I lost my job and I wasn’t working for 6 weeks. During that time I moved to a new area and found a new job. I contacted the CSA to update my details with them so that I could carry on with my payments. It was at that point they put a deductions of earnings order on me because I had missed payments for the time I was out of work. The CSA didn’t seem to care that during the 6 weeks I wasn’t actually working. Since that time they have just helped themselves each month with significant increases along the way.

A couple of months ago I was sent yet another payment schedule by the CSA for the next 12 months. As I do each year I queried it because instead of the amounts coming down they were remaining the same despite the fact that my daughter has now turned 20. I was expecting the amount to reduce because I would only have my youngest son left on the CSA file or so I thought.

The lady I spoke to at the CSA said she would do a Child Benefit check and see what was going on. 3 weeks later I received a call from the CSA to say that the CSA payments for my daughter should have finished in July this year so there was indeed a error. A over payment of 2-3 months. Also she informed me that payments for my youngest son should have stopped 2 years ago because he had left education which was a complete shock to me.

I have phoned them a few times now to try and find out what is going on and I have to say I am getting passed around all over the place. I have asked for a statement of account and was told I would have to wait for 2-3 weeks before I could have one. Yesterday I spoke to yet another lady there and she asked me if I really wanted to pursue it stating that “it would affect the quality of life for the children”. What children? They are all now adults?

I have said I want to pursue it and I want a full refund for the 26 months over payment in total. I have also informed them that I have instructed a solicitor to pursue the matter if they do not sort the mess out soon. This doesn’t seem to have any effect on them at all.

It seems in such cases we have no rights. They will not give me any information at all other than they are looking into it. I have also already been told that it is probably unlikely I will ever see the money that I have over paid.

The CSA is seriously out of control. I think that in the beginning when they were set up the intention was good but somewhere along the way things have gone very badly wrong and non resident parents are treated like we are criminals. Has anyone else been through anything similar? May I ask what the outcome was for you?

Comments

  • mae says:

    You need to make an appointment and see your mp. Stop phoning them and put everything down in a letter marked complaint. Take it to tribunal if you have to.

    Do not let this drop, if the PwC was no longer claiming child benefit then where’s your money gone?

    Best of luck.

  • Bill says:

    As the PWC received the money the CSA will expect repayment from them before you will be reimbursed.

  • MrWhitey says:

    “As the PWC received the money the CSA will expect repayment from them before you will be reimbursed.”

    Assuming of course that the payments ever found their way to the PWC.

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