Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Long story short I had a child nearly 18 years ago, I wasn't 100% child was mine until the child was 2 following a dna test, agreed to pay maintenence through csa but appealed amount as mother was on benefits but as I lived with my partner & our child felt amount made us financially struggle...went to tribunal on the basis she had a partner living with her although claiming benefits....this went on for years they put attachment on my earning etc eventually I was working for less than half my wages due to my partners wages being used as income!
Fast forward few years married my partner had twins, wife gave up her job low wages so got full working tax & other help, so contacted csa couldn't afford to pay they told me my payments would be zero with no arrears...letter showing this, few years later wife & I split up for a short period obviously informed csa cases reopened had to pay £19 a week... then got back with wife payments increased spoke to ex explained hardship caused after all 3 other children to support agreed direct payments, since 2008 on Saturday we received a letter stating I owe over 10k obviously this has caused issues at home, I don't understand where this figure has come from especially since we have an agreement with ex, and have always payed since even when I was out of work
Have spoken to csa this morning, they told me this isn't a demand for money just letting me know what is outstanding...but are they going to chase me for payments even though ex didn't want csa involved once we had sorted payments?
I don't know what to do next.....do I need to contact legal advice or just wait and see??
Get what you can in writing from CSA and I would take advice. Maintenance issues are not my strongest area of knowledge but if you encounter difficulties, you can ask you local MP for help on the matter.
Definitely get your MP involved asap, but ask the CSA for a breakdown of how the arrears have accumulated, especially since it must be after the letter where you were told there were no arrears.
Hi There,
.
I would imagine that it's possible that when you started paying you're ex directly the CSA case wasn't closed so it stayed open and that could be where the arears have come from, have you got some proof that you have been paying you're ex as this would help.
.
As actd has said ask for a break down of the arears so you can clearly see where they have come from and then you can speak with them again, Mp's are a good place to start if you have issues as they are able to get answers you can't.
.
GTTS
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.