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
I have to ask a question here, but first I should explain that I live in the UK while my kids are in Australia with their mother, The Australian CSA though the UK courts have been after money while I have been unemployed, and I have had to prove that I have nothing, and this has cost me money which is my job seekers allowance, so I have done without food as a result. But I started a part time job, and now they want some money, so Ok. But, the UK court told me that if I did not pay up I could be jailed. Is the UK seriously going to foot the bill to put me in jail at the UK taxpayers expense? Or will they ask the Australian CSA to foot the cost of putting me in jail?
Australia and the UK have reciprocal csa agreements, if you are working and not paying their first action would have to be an attachment to earnings to take the money from your wages or an attempt to recover money from assets eg car, house They can also make Court application to to take a driving licence if you have one and ask for a prison sentence that would be served in the UK.
Sorry to be the harbinger of doom
Claire
This is correct, though I get the impression that the courts will only impose these sentences/penalties on fathers who are blatantly refusing to pay maintenance - if you are unable to pay through unemployment (and especially if you were paying while employed, as that would show an intention to pay), then I would hope that the court wouldn't impose such a severe penalty.
Take my Driving license away? how does that work if I need it to for work to pay CSA? or not if I do not have one?
To be honest, to think that people from overseas are costing UK taxpayers 70k plus a year to put in jail here just makes me angry,
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.