How do i reclaim over paid moneys from the CSA?

[pinkfloydianuk]

Hi everyone,

Now, i'm pretty sure someone out there will have been through or know someone who is in the same situation as me and hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Basically, back in 2009 when i was working i received a letter from the CSA saying that i was something like £3000 in arrears. I didn't argue or dispute it as in my naivety, i believed that a government agency wouldn't 'rip me off', i paid it in installments of almost £300 a month out of an approx £1000 a month wage which wasn't easy.

I left this job in 2011 to go to college, when i left my CSA payments were up to date.

Now, alarm bells started to ring when i started an apprenticeship at a Barbershop in 2012 and my boss got a phone call from the CSA to ask how long i had been there and how much i was earning, he gave them details, i had been there approx 3 months, i was doing 30 hours a week and on a rate of £2.65 an hour.

So, when i got a letter from the CSA saying i was approx £1600 in arrears i was fuming to say the least, i made an appointment with a solicitor and had an initial consultation in which i was informed that it is common practice for the CSA to extort money out of people and those who pay are then chased for more, the ones who don't pay are apparently left alone.

How do i go about dealing with this? How do i find out how much i overpaid by in 2009 etc etc?

Anyone who can help with this please advise.......

Regards

PFUK

[Inca]

Re: How do i reclaim over paid moneys from the CSA?

£2.65 an hour????????

[ostell]

Re: How do i reclaim over paid moneys from the CSA?

Have you told them you were at college? I presume that you weren't receiving an income. If you didn't tell them then how were they to know?

[pinkfloydianuk]

Re: How do i reclaim over paid moneys from the CSA?

£2.65 an hour is the rate per hour for an Apprentice.....doesnt matter what age. Shocking i know.

And im assuming my ex keeps telling them when i'm working because it interferes with when i can have access, she puts 2 and 2 together, rings them, they check my tax records and see I've been working.

But the calculator they are using for their sums is obviously broken.

If either of you guys know anyone that may be able to help with this, please point them in my direction.

Thanks

PFUK

[MissFM]

Re: How do i reclaim over paid moneys from the CSA?

Hi Pinkfloydinauk,

I would imagine you have already looked at this but if not have a read, do the calculations according to your income then and now and set it out against what you have been paying and are being asked to pay.

https://www.gov.uk/how-child-maintenance-is-worked-out

It's my understanding that the CSA tends to not make repayments but to offset against future payments, although this may have changed. The reasoning behind this is that it would cause the Parent with Residence hardship to be made to repay sums paid in error (of course that doesn't make sense because the difference is made up in benefits).

If it were me I would contact the CSA and explain your predicament, also sending them the written evidence described above that you have been paying more than you can possibly afford and that you can't carry on at that rate.

I'm sure there are those on here with more knowledge and experience who will be able to give you more comprehensive advice - in the meantime I hope this helps