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Hi my name is Antony and I have been the full-time carer of my two sons for 8 years until April 2012, when the youngest was coerce to say he wanted to live with his Mother, I believe for financial reasons as at the time her partner was out of work and the council would not give her a three bed-roomed house so she was renting privately, due to the age of the boy ,14 years the court reluctantly granted her custody, stating that as he was 14 he would speak out if any harm would come to him. We immediately started getting phone calls from the CSA, who seemed sympathetic, as the Mother had paid no maintenance over the 8 years apart from a total of £120.00 which was deducted from her job seekers allowance. We still have the eldest who although is 17 nearly 18 years old will be in full-time education for the next two years. I was originally told by the CSA that they would not be pursuing the case as the Mother already owed over £1200.00 in arrears from when she worked and that as we still were carers for Frank they would close the case. We received a letter saying they had closed the case for Frank but it appears that they want to continue to harrass me for money for the youngest and have been quite rude about it, doubting that I only earned just over £6000.00 last year but as I am self employed and my partner works, we earn enough to pay our bills and we are helped with support from Family credit. The person who rang was adamant I was lying and said she would contact the Inland revenue which is obviously fine by me, as I completed my tax return a month ago.The person also told me that because I had agreed to close the case on the eldest that I would have to pay to open it, seems to me that this is totally unethical not only do they want me to continue to support my other son with no assistance from their Mother but I must also support the youngest son whom, she has paid a total of £60.00 for the last 8 years. The person that rang said that there was no record of any agreement not to pursue, I feel that not only have they lied to me but they are being biased towards the Mother even though she owes money from the last 8 years and will not contribute a penny to the eldest son. Where do I stand with this, if I start paying the CSA money I will be short for maintaining the eldest, how can this be in the best interest of the children,? Which is what they keep telling me? What can I do?
Hi
I will ask the CMO to comment on this as much as they are able - certainly I wasn't aware that there was a charge to open or reopen a case.
Thanks Darren, I have just had a phone call from them apparently they want 10.00 a week and they are not going to take into consideration the amount she owes of £1126.00 as it is a separate case and also the fact we are still paying for the older child, as she has nil liability, how can this be fair???? She paid nothing for 8 years and still will not contribute anything and we have to pay, always have to pay. This system is so unfair, She swans around on her Motorbike and her 3 year old car, while we have scrimp and scratch around to pay for her to sit on her [censored], how can this be fair on the oldest boy, they say it's for the sake of the children well ya boo sucks is it, it's so that fat women like her can bleat on about how hard up they are but do nothing apart from claim benefits and CSA money. her boyfriend apparently does not believe in paying CSA funny how it does not apply the other way round.????
I have had yet another phone call from the CSA wanting me to provide them with my bank account details and even though I had informed them that I was appealing against the decision they claim that I have to pay any way. I need some advice and soon. I have looked up on the NASCRA site and they state that if there are arrears from the previous case when I was parent with care, can be offset against the new claim, why are they ignoring this? I have cared for my sons for 8 years with just £120.00 and still have the care of one of my sons. She has stopped all contacted with my youngest son, I do not even have an address for him and up till three weeks ago I did a a phone number I could contact him on but now nothing. I knew this would happen as I tried to inform the court of what she would do but according to them he is 14 and able to contact his dad if he wanted to, what they never took into consideration that Miss Flux would make sure, not only would he not be able to contact but would have blackened his name enough to not want to.
Will someone answer me They are demanding money I sent an appeal of yesterday I was supposed to have a month to appeal. I do not want to get into debt but if I pay I know I will not get any money back. I don't even know if I have a chance? Answer please?????
I'll ask someone to contact the CMO. Hopefully they'll respond by the end of the day...
... alternatively you can contact the organisation directly. There's a link to the Child Maintenence Options (CMO) website at the foot of this page and they have a freephone number 0800 988 0988.
Hi
I've sent a reminder, but I think it's worth giving them a ring as FM has suggested, that way you'll get a quicker response under the circumstances.
Hi, I'm Sarah, a consultant at Child Maintenance Options. Sorry for the delay in my response.
You are still expected to pay child maintenance, even if you are owed child maintenance by the other parent. However, you may be able to reduce your payments by the amount owed by the other parent. The CSA call this "offsetting payments". This is not possible in all cases - the decision to offset is down to the discretion of the CSA, based on all the available evidence. I suggest you contact the CSA (the number you need should be on any letter they have sent to you) and ask them about offsetting payments.
I hope this information helps.
Sarah.
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