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Hi all, first off I've always had problems with the ex either with money or seeing the kids.(age 9 and 8) we split by her getting with my best mate, children were aged 3 and 2 when this happened. At this point I was seeing them on a regular basis this is when the csa got involved. First off for back dated arrears from birth of the first child even though we lived together up until the point we split up. After we split I was paying her weekly stupidly cash in her hand so no evidence of it. She told them I haven't give her a penny. After a while she stopped me seeing both kids she also stopped my whole family seeing them. My kids where my life shortly after this I lost my job and fell into a bad state got involved with the wrong crowd and hit the alcohol and drugs hard. This went on for a long time. I was off and on JSA and ESA for years trying to sort my life back out, i had no fixed address i had nothing especially no chance of seeing my kids because of the hole I'd dug it was the worst time of my life. The CSA sent mail to my parents at this time I explained to the CSA about my situation through forms and over the phone and they said if I'm not signing on I must be working so wanted information on where I worked etc which was like talking to a wall. Eventually after a long and costly court case my parents gained access to see kids. A few years passed and my mother said your daughter keeps asking about you and wants to see you her mother said shes sick of her saying it and said you can see them again. with in a few months I quit drugs and alcohol for good and have spent the last couple of years seeing my kids again and trying to rebuild my life only to get a letter last year saying I was 3000 in arrears and not only that there was a 3 child's name on the letter. I instantly contacted the csa asking for a breakdown of my payments on the list had two amounts marked adjustments of a thousand pound each no explanation or anything. Shorty after I received another letter saying I should pay 125 a week in total for maintenance and arrears I contacted them and told them I was not working or claiming jsa so how have they come up with that figure, they said that they have been informed I was working (my ex again) I told them I could send bank statements credit reports anything they need to show I'm not. Months passed and I received no letters from them eventually (recently) I met someone we h child and we moved in together and made a joint claim for JSA I notified the CSA about my changes in circumstances only to get a letter through the door saying my arrears now are at £9000. I just cant take it no more I asked if they could look over the case because there has been a massive mistake in the amount owed I told them my situation multiple times in the past but my ex has insisted to them that I have been working some highly paid job. If they looked into it they would know I'm not. I have requested them to send out relevant documents so I can send in anything they need to show I'm not had haven't been. I just dont know where to start or what to do my lifes finally almost back on track and I feel like the csa are dragging me back into the hole I just climbed out of. I told them I will pay any arrears I have but they need to be corrected first. Any suggestions?
Hello bazz
This sounds like a frustrating and worrying time for you. When someone is not happy with how the Child Support Agency (CSA) deals with their case, there is a complaints and appeals procedure which can be followed. This includes asking the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) to look into your complaint if you’ve already been through the full complaints process and asking your MP to get the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to look into it. You can find information on how to follow this process here, https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/complaints-and-appeals.
If you would like information about the different options available for arranging maintenance and a more personalised service, you can contact Child Maintenance Options directly, http://www.cmoptions.org. However, please note that Child Maintenance Options cannot answer specific questions about your CSA case.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have a web application, ‘Sorting out separation’. It aims to make it much easier for separating and separated parents (and childless couples) to find the support they need, when and where they need it, and encourages them to collaborate on a range of issues. The link is http://www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
Regards
William
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