General Chat

Hi, I've always thought the CSA was a good idea in principal but it was obvious at the very beginning that it wasn't going to work as it is so complicated. A few years ago I saw a programme about a state in the USA, Maryland I think. Absent parents (of either sex) have to give a set percentage of their income to the parent with care of the child. The percentage goes up with each child. Even those on benefits had to pay, which discouraged irresponsible people from giving up work to avoid paying. The money is deducted at source and paid to the parent with care. The good thing about it was that everybody knew where they stood. The parents didn't fall out over money because they knew what the law was and it was out of their hands. A friend, whose children are now grown up, is owed over £20.000 which she knows she'll never see. Her husband disappeared shortly after the birth of her second child. Do you think that would be a better system? I'm lucky enough to have never been in the same position as some of you but it seems to me that it may be a better, fairer method. Gwynne

It's a cock-eyed system that's for sure! My fella didnt have a choice cos the ex put them onto him - daft thing is, he has got the eldest boy with him and she only pays him £90 a month. So why is he paying £150 only for her to give £90 back?? Daft!!

It is a sad state of affairs these days with this agency as I have said before,it destroys lives and causes ill-health and half time,the people who should be getting money arent and those who shouldnt be getting the amount they are,are sitting back laughing.I cant honestly see a resolution to it except for giving it to another agency to sort out.All I can say from personal experience is to try another way out if you can,it can so easily push you over the edge and they are never worth that sacrifice,Good Luck to all,Love,Fee B x

You'll have to excuse me everybody because Im thick - but - if the £400 million pound computer system doesnt work, why dont they get their money back? About 15 years ago, I tried to get the CSA to chase my ex. It went on for four years, I didnt get a penny. I then signed on for unemployment benefit, hurray! the CSA stepped straight in, got my money for me, which was more than I was getting on Unemployment Benefit, so the "Secretary of State" kept the extra! I phoned the CSA, asked if I could have this money rather than the Secretary of State, they said yes, I signed off and everyone was happy except my ex.I think it is time this matter was handled by the Tax Office, who are at least in a position to take from the offending parent and give to the parent carer. But I still want to know why that computer company dont have to give the money back.

Anne, The money thats missing probably went to pay for the £400,000,000 computer system, I think that the amount they mentioned, and also why 2,600 people are losing their jobs there. What a B---S UP Len

Rose - Inefficient?? Tell me about it!! My fella pays about £150 to the ex for the younger of his two boys who lives with her (the elder is with him). Last month for some reason they took an additional £160!! No notice whatsoever - and never mind if he had enough money in the bank or not. Then they refused to pay it back to him - instead it had to go in a 'trickle' fund - then the next months payment halved, with the shortfall to be drawn from the fund. No regard for whether or not they left him with enough money to live on for that month. And then we found out from his ex on Sunday, that she doesnt even get paid what they have taken from him!! One month she got paid £1.20!!!!!!!! So - A) how is she supposed to provide for a child on £1.20, and B) what the hell happened to the other £148.80??? Anne

i agree they should be pulling the fathers up that have a responsibility to those children.my sisters childrens father refused to pay and it took about 7 years to finally get a small amount out of him.they never backdated it and he only payed it as he was forced to by the csa after they took it out of his wages.the system should be changedxxxxxx(:

Whole thing should be scrapped. good in principle but in reality nightmare for lots of people. The decent fathers willing to pay had their asessments messed up, changed around, demanded more then they could pay, cases of suicide. The one's it was meant to help, the one's not paying, still got away scot free - just demanded more money from the fathers that were paying so they could meet their targets. it's the fathers that deliberately become self-employed or unemployed so as not to meet their responsibilities that need sorting. Kxx

did he get a nice little fat farewell gift like a few hundred grandxxxxx(:

Did you see the news,they are talking about shutting it down.Apparently it is so inefficient Rose

That useless waste of space Doug Smith,Chief Exec of the CSA has finally resigned.Just goes to show the incompetance of the entire agency when it was led by an idiot like him.