Comments on: The CSA: Questions and Answers – by guest blogger Rachel Baul

By: 22,000 ‘thank-yous’! | Marilyn Stowe Family Law and Divorce Blog

22,000 ‘thank-yous’! | Marilyn Stowe Family Law and Divorce Blog — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:43:45 +0000

[...] 5. The CSA: Questions and Answers – by Guest Blogger Rachel Baul [...]

By: stevie f

stevie f — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:57:50 +0000

what if both parents dont want csa involed,ut they are what happens then??

By: steve

steve — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:21:54 +0000

At what age do you legally stop paying maintenance for your children???

By: trisha

trisha — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:45:26 +0000

thanks a lot for this post

By: jo conner

jo conner — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:49:25 +0000

My ex-partner has three liability orders for non-payment of child maintenance through the CSA. He owes in excess of £37,500. My son is now 17. He has never paid maintenance for his son. My ex is self employed and the figure was based on an interim assessment order. Last year he was given a suspended sentence on the condition that he pay the current £87.00 a week and £100.00 in arrears. However, our son is now on an apprenticeship and not eligible re the £87.00 per week. So, my ex has to pay the £100.00 a week. This is sporadic. I have asked the CSA to look to the courts to increase the repayment. They said it would be a waste of time and that I’m lucky to get what I am now. My ex is very wealthy and self employed. My issue is this. 7 years ago in an attempt to get my ex to pay ‘something’ I agreed to £30.00 per week as our son needed items I could not afford. My ex paid this in to our sons account, sporadically, over an 18 month period. I had no access to the account and control of the bank account was by our son only. My ex would call him to buy himself PC games, a mobile phone etc. I received a letter through the door last week from my ex’s solicitor. It stated that he can prove he paid maintenance over this period (above) and that I was to reimburse my ex (regardless of the CSA arrears!!!) or he will be taking me to the small claims court as he feels he is paying twice over the same period, even though he admits to the £37,500 debt. How is it that he can take me to the small claims court over this and yet the CSA have been so incompetent to allow the deby rise to a staggering amount? The money was never paid to me but to our son. I may have called this ‘maintenance’ to him to secure some money for his son, whom he never bought birthday / xmas presents for. What am I to do? I dont have that kind of money! I have replied stating if he paid the money he owed I would happily reduce the figure of the amount owed even though I refute this was maintenance! I have asked the CSA and they state that he was informed by tyhem 2 years ago that they did not deem this as maintenance also – so how can he take me to court, when the CSA are dealing with these issues. Surprisingly, having been told that the Enforcement Officer in the CSA would ring me back, ten days later and no return call. Can you advise me? Can my ex do this? WIth what legal clout can he do this? Why cant I demand mjy money from him this way?

By: Leonard

Leonard — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:23:30 +0000

I am currently paying for my 2 children from a previous marriage, I have since moved on and now have a new child with my current partner. Now I am aware that this will be taken into consideration, but I have been financially supporting my partners child from a previous relationship for the last 6 years, and even though biologically he is not mine I treat him and support him as my own. Does this get taken into consideration as in all but name and blood I treat and support him as my own?

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:51:01 +0000

I am having difficulty in making the CSA understand my predicament. I earn £50 thousand or so LESS than the ex husband, ( who has blatently lied throughout the claim) He has my son living with him (so called Full time education although my son is NOT attending 80 per cent but at 63) and my daughter who lives with me (but is being coaxed to live with the ex, in so called fulltime education ( I have found out that she is not attending as she should either)
He has managed to obtain an Attachment of Earnings Order to my meagre wages, whilst he is refusing to give details of his Wages Department to the CSA as he is IN ARREARS for several thousands of pounds for two years. He works on the rigs and earns NINE TIMES more than I do. HOW CAN THIS BE? He seems to think that he can lie in the Divorce Court and Lie his way through life! Totally unfair and unjust. All I want is justice and to be left alone to pay my bills.

By: The CSA: Rachel Baul Answers Your Questions

The CSA: Rachel Baul Answers Your Questions — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:51:34 +0000

[...] previous posts about the Child Support Agency and its replacement, C-MEC, drew a number of pointed comments and questions from readers. Thank you [...]

By: tom

tom — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:06:27 +0000

I have been charged arraers and the CSA cannot provide a breakdown of these arrears what can I do Im still having to pay although I know for a fact I do not owe them this is on top of what i already pay in total £320 out of £1000 a month

By: Shaun

Shaun — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:55:11 +0000

I seem to be having a lot trouble with the CSA the moment. I had my first call from them on September the 20th. They asked me if I would like to complete the application there and then or would I like the forms posted out. I explained I was at work so I would like them posted out to me. When my ex partner left the family home months prior to this conversation, she had her mail redirected to her new home. Unfortunately, a lot of my mail was redirected too so I never got the forms. I then got another call from the CSA on the 13th October. I agreed to complete the application on the phone and was informed that payments would be effective from the 13th October. I was advised by the case worker to put some money aside to cover the next two weekly payments of October. I received several letters confirming that the effective date is the 13th but whilst on the telephone with them today, they said it was their mistake and the effective date is 20th September. They have informed me that they will take 40% of my monthly salary until I catch up.