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I suppose I fell into the age old trap of promising to provide my two children with the 'treats' for want of a better word and did not set up a formal agreement with my ex wife.
Over the years I have provided them with holidays either with me or with their mother, computers, an allowance, clothing (including school clothing). I have helped out with the school trips, given money to my ex wife at Christmas to help her and I suppose have spoilt my children at Christmas and birthdays.
I have worked hard, paid my taxes and always been on the end of the phone to sort problems. I have seen them pretty regularly up until the last few years as they are now in their late teens and have other priorities.
Their mother on the other hand has sat on her backside for 15 years and made no attempt to work! She has claimed all the benefits going and sat back and allowed me to make the necessary payments for my children's needs. I can just hear her now saying "ask your Dad he is loaded..."
I returned from holiday at Christmas to find a demand from the CSA for £23,000 of arrears. Before I could respond my employer was served with notice to deduct close on £1,000 per month from my salary! I appealed of course, but my hearing could be 4 months away and until that time I am risking my relationship with my new partner, my home and my job. Requests for an amount that is more comfortable for me to pay until the hearing seem to be falling on deaf ears at the child support agency.
The arrears assessment has not taken into consideration any housing costs from 1995 to date despite me having a mortgage since 2000. Well is this what they call fair and am I being persecuted? Or perhaps I should just shut up and pay up, but on the other hand do I could do what many have done before me, put my foot down and make a statement? Because right at the moment I am at the end of my tether! Thanks for listening.
By: Wits End
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i am the father to two kids one now 14 another 12.i had and still have my kids every wkend buy them what they need and also give there mother money for them.a couple of years ago i received a letter claiming i owed the csa 30 grand.at the time the recession had kicked in and i was unemployed.i phoned to tell them i was not working and basically skint.all as i had to my name was 52 pence which i told the woman on the phone.the reply to that was it had to be paid immediately with a credit card or my driving license would be suspended this is the truth honest.i asked her how would i pay the credit card company back iff im skint she had no answer.so what planet this woman was from beats me.good luck your gonna need it with these half wits on your case.
Silence for three years and then suddenly I become parent with care, I tell them and they close the case, all well and good. A few weeks later and I get a letter asking for five grands worth of arrears from the last three years so I send them my books to show that I have made zero profit and actually owe nothing, the reply comes back... the case is closed, the arrears stand!
So now I have made an arrangement of £31 a week for the next three years, they did want £50 but as my work has dried up and we are struggling on tax credits etc there was no way.
Basically the CSA are taking money off me that they assume that I made, they are threatening me with bailiffs, prison and God knows what else and all because they have no policy to re-open or review closed cases.
They are putting me and my children at extreme hardship and basically stealing off of us. I'm seeing my solicitor next week, I don't know what else to do.
I pay and have paid what I am expected to pay.
Why is it that some have never paid, will never pay, and are 'let off' as untraceable?
Those who do pay are being discriminated against. How can it be fair and just in the eyes of the law that some pay and others do not pay? It is blatant discrimination, and I am hoping someone, somewhere will win a legal challenge against the government and the system, and they will have to repay all those who have paid!
collar
Daft cow.