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Hi guys. I’m looking for advice really. I’m considering trying to sue the csa. I’ve been paying maintenance since 1996. About a year ago I was summoned to court by the csa as they claimed there were arrears on my payments-for around 5k that I had failed to pay. I disputed this, went to court and lost. I received a 49 day prison term, suspended for two years for failure to make payments. The 5k was to be repaid over 2 years, hence the length of the suspended prison sentence. I maintained the payments over this period even though I knew it was unjust, all the while battling against the csa and trying to get them to review the case and the monies already paid and monies they claimed were still owed. They have now reviewed my case and offered to repay just under 5k back to me, sayin their assessments were incorrect in the past and I have indeed overpaid. Fair enough, right? But, they have put my wife, my children who live with me and myself through an incredibly stressful and worrying time since they first started to claim these arrears about three years ago. I have been given a suspended prison sentence, criminal record, massive financial strain and have spent untold hours trying to defend myself from a miscarriage of justice, not to mention the time and earnings I’ve lost trying to do so, which they’ve now admitted should not have happened in the first place. Is there anything I can do? Thanks
maybe you can speak to a lawyer, see if its possible to claim compensationm for all the hardship you suffered.
Absolutely shocking that you have suffered in this way and I think you are well within your rights to see redress.
I’ve had a quick scout around for you and found some info about how to complain to the Independent Case Examiner, they deal with complaints against government organisations. Here’s a link
You could get your MP involved, which might be useful if you were to escalate up to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. I believe that there is a compensation scheme, but whether that can ever fully compensate you, I just don’t know.
Best of luck with it and please do let us know how you get on.
I would see the citizens advice bureau or a solicitor about getting your criminal record removed - I have no idea about how this is done, but I would say that any cost involved should be covered by the CSA, in addition to any compensation you are fighting for.
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