CSA deduction from earnings leaves me broke

I'm sure you're one of the many who are tearing what's left of their hair out at the unfair system. The problem in some cases, is that the father might be only 14 or unemployed, so you and my brother will be paying their share. Always wondered exactly how much of my brother's £100 or thereabouts, actually goes to his ex and how much goes towards running the CSA / paying for non-payers.

I am a responsible father and I would never see my children go without or be in dire straights. The current system sides with the parent with care in 95% of those cases this is the the mother. She in turn is allowed to claim for benefits. This promotes a 'money for nothing' syndrome and the non resident parent picks up the bill.

I have been on both sides of this 'flawed' system. It should be scrapped now and both parents should attend the benefits office to thrash out a sensible proporionate financial deal that is binding in law and that includes contact issues.

Family matters have nothing to do with politicians or grade 2 office staff!

It's what happens when you father children - you have to pay. Not that simple though, the ones who pay without complaint are probably subsidising those that don't. My brother got divorced and he's been paying best part of £100 a week for the last 6 years, yet his ex wife has another child, from a former husband and he pays nothing at all - not fair, is it.

The whole system is a farce. It doesn't matter which side of the CSA you are on.

They only chase those that want to pay, do pay and then for month measly month miss a payment....... like a dog on heat then the CSA.
However, when there is a guy, say like my ex, who had fathered 2 children with 2 different women (not with me may I add), who works in the Forces (easily traceable, especially when you give the CSA his service number and where based) who doesnt pay one single penny- they do NOTHING about.

I agree Gainsborough lad. What is absolutely baffling me, is that there are more not paying than are or have been paying. How can this be a fair and balanced system. One rule for one different rules for others. If anyone has the money or the nous, they should be heading to the Supreme court to be asking is this fair. Answer = No!

News sites have recently publishing figures of unpaid maintenance by area, it adds up to 3.5 billion pounds. Looks like the CSA don't care if you don't pay and can get away with it, because they continually target the ones who do pay. Its a shambles, and at the very least discriminatory. Why is that that the ones who pay are taken for granted and the ones who never pay are let off? Must be a recipe for a court case to get all my money repaid! It's ok for me to pay, but it's also okay if you don't pay. A good lawyer would hang the CSA out to dry and we would all get our money back in a stated case!

Well , it is an average so clearly some will pay more and some less. As for why there are so many gripes about it - perhaps some men just resent paying for their children when they have a "new" family. This is a general comment and is not directed at anyone in particular. A lot of the figures quoted probably involve considerable arrears.

As for recommending Talk Talk, steady on - we are in disagreement but I am not loony! Worst company I ever dealt with.

Parker, if £21-00 a week was the average amount taken from pay packets, how come there's at least 1000 gripe postings against the CSA on the weekly gripe?

You will be recomending Talk Talk broadband and VW cars next.

danny boy /gainsborough lad & bled dry

In June 2009 the average amount the CSA asked the non resident parent to pay was only £21.00 a week.

Bled dry, my feelings on some of the fathers not stumping up any cash to the CSA is that if every father paid up what was demanded by the CSA lowlifes, they would sit back and think hmmm, lets have a meeting, what about fifty percent of every estranged fathers wages straight into our big pot of dosh? and they would do this!

The non resident fathers who opted for the dole and working cash in hand have done the rest of us a favour, that's how I see it anyway.

Danny Lad, many mothers are also non resident parents - it isn't just men.