I was contacted by the CSA 2 weeks ago telling me that I needed to confirm my address and such with them. After that they informed me that I will be receiving some letters in the post which I got a total of 8 letters come through which seemed to have been a selection of letters over a number of years but all dated with the same date.
With that I the penny dropped and I realised there is a strong possibility that I have a daughter that I had no.idea about. I asked informed the CSA that I had no idea and didn't know if the child was mine Ect but they told me it was too late for a dna test but if I wanted to get fund one myself with one of there recommended labs and it came back negative I could. So I managed to get some pictures via Facebook of my 'daughter' which I then decided there is no need for a dna test. I tried to contact my ex but she's just blocked me and I have no way of contacting her now.
The CSA then called me on Thursday and told me about all the arrears for the maintenance. Over £5800 which there is no chance I can afford Which I Explained to the lady on the phone. She told me I need to make a minimum payment of £345. Shortly after that I blacked out and am struggling to remember much of what was said on the phone. (medical condition I suffer with) My employer noticed that I had blacked out and explained this to the lady on the phone and she said she will call me Tuesday.
Anyway. I am employed just above minimum wage and take home £235 per week. I have a daughter of 3 which I am in her life all the time As recently just split up with my ex and pay her £30 a week towards my daugter. After my rent and all the other bills I'm left with around about £50 a week which covers my food and transpor.
Anyone know where I stand with paying this huge bill the CSA are demanding I pay?
Kind regards
Perry
I am trying to prove that I'm not the father of a 9 year old child.
My partner is supporting me in this nightmare. The CSA just keep taking 1k a month . It's a circle going around and getting nowhere my Solicitor just keeps sending me bills as well. Is there any way to get off this trap.
I have written to my MP but show no support in this matter.
If I was the Father I would happily pay, but I've been given no Guidance of how to resolve this on going nightmare it's now into 8k and the CSA do not respond.
That's Crazy Mr.G
I know that will be the next thing they will hit me with is taking money out of my wage. I just hope I can get them to listen to me before they do. If they go ahead and take money off of me I will have no home by the end of the month.
Looking at the pictures that I found on Fb I have no doubt that the Lil girl involved in this is mine and I have no issues with paying my way for her. But I can only contribute what i can contribute.
Is driving me insane because all i can do is wait. I feel completely powerless in all this and it's pulling me apart to be honest. Basically, I suffer with low blood pressure and when I get stressed the arteries in the back of my neck tighten and I black out. Until Thursday it was coming up a year since I last blacked out. And since then I keep getting worked up about it and have blacked out 4 times since Thursday. Been lucky I have always landed softly but sadly that's not always been the case lol.
Hi Zepez
Unfortunately, the CSA are somewhat brutal with their collections, and if I recall correctly, they can take 40% of your takehome pay to cover ongoing maintenance and clear arrears, and they don't seem to be prepared to negotiate longer terms with a lesser amount (I think they have take a harder line once it was established that the CMS would be taking over from the CSA) - there will be a reduction because you are paying towards your other daughter, but because you are paying directly, I'm not sure how they calculate that. It might be worth speaking to the step change debt charity - www.stepchange.org to see if they are able to help.
MrG - you should be able to dispute paternity, and then take an approved DNA test. If you are proved not to be the father (or your ex refuses to have the DNA test done), then your liability ends (unfortunately not any arrears though) and you should be able to claim the cost of the DNA test back if it's a negative.