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Hi There,
I need some advice here; the CSA are refusing to assist me in any way, so am here to see if someone has been through the same thing before and can offer me any advice...
I am a 'non-resident parent' and volunteered to pay money to the CSA for my only daughter, to be given to my ex ( I actually called the CSA and volunteered payments when I split from the ex, not had them chase me...)
I only have one child so am under the impression I should only pay 15% of my NET (take home) wages. My deductions are taken from source from my wage packet.
My issue is that I have been a 'temp' and 'contract' worker for the past 7 years (since dealing with the CSA) and the CSA have continually been late getting on to the payroll of my contractor, then I start a new contract elsewhere, they are late getting on to the contractor, then I start a new contract elsewhere... and the same vicious circle keeps going. The CSA now say I am thousands in arrears.
My problem is that I have worked at MANY different pay rates over the last 7 years. The CSA seem to only calculate my deductions based on the HIGHEST of all pay rates I have ever had. As a result they say I should pay £xxx amount each month, which is equating to 40% of my take home wages. I have asked for another re-calculation (must be the 20th at least) to amend it yet again, but they tell me that they will not recalculate historical payments.
My issue is, that if I total up my entire earnings over the last 7 years, and then my entire CSA payments over the last 7 years, they have actually taken nearly 30% of my NET earnings, and they say I still owe arrears?!!
The CSA are refusing point blank to adjust my deductions based on previous earnings and payments, they say that it was my responsibility to correct them if any payment amounts were wrong, my argument is that my deductions are not 15% of the net figure on my P60, and never have been. They don't seem to care.
My questions: Is this legal? and does anyone on here know how I can go about getting this issue resolved and rectified with the CSA..?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hi
We do have a few members who might be able to comment on your specific issues and hopefully they will be along.
In general terms, it's worth speaking with your local CAB and MP and they should be able to help you take this further.
Good luck
Definitely get your MP involved as soon as possible, and I'd also look at appealing - this might help https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-can-i-appeal-against-a-child-maintenance-decision
Hi
As of Dec 2013 - almost all CSA cases would have moved over the CMS and the new child maintenance rules. So my questions are:
1. When did you last speak to the "CSA" about this...?
2. Can you confirm you are on the new CMS rules (i.e. confirm if your case has moved over to the new rules - probably you will need to look at paperwork or call them).
3. The new CMS rules are based upon "gross pay", so your comments regarding net pay (and percentages of net pay) - may or may not be true representations/meaningful.
Before digging more - can you confirm if you are talking about the value of arrears or the current maintenance calculation?
Hello,
Thanks for even looking at this... my responses:
1. I spoke with the CSA on Friday 26/02/2016, they told me that I am being transferred over to the CMS in April of this year and asked if I understood what this meant.
2. I have no idea what rules I am on sorry... as to what I am paying currently, if this helps as an example:
this month I had GROSS earnings of £1314.62, minus £86 tax and £77.11 NI, my NET wage was £1151.51, out of that the CSA has deducted £392.18, I took home £759.33
3. Is it now 11% of gross I am to pay for a single child under CMS as opposed to the 15% of NET it previously was under CSA..?
My issue... that I do not believe I have any arrears at all. I know that the CSA take months to get in touch with my next contractor every time I have started a new contract (which creates arrears obviously) but they then seem to be taking such a high rate from me that any arrears are covered and then some...
I have today (Monday 29/02/2016) contacted the CSA again and requested a complete record of all deductions taken from my wages, ever.
As soon as I receive this I will add up all deductions, then add up all my earnings listed on P60's and I can work out an exact % the CSA will have ever taken from me...
At that point I will write off to the CSA/CMS (whoever is in charge at that moment in time) and also copy in my MP, then see if they can balance the figures out.
Again, thank you for even looking at this.
I will update this thread as soon as possible.
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