CSA

[meds]

How can i get my csa payments reduced, how do they work it out?

[Bob Bacon]

[if]http://www.separateddads.co.uk/ChildSupportPayments.html[/if]

[kev99]

Meds

The CSA and the Army have an understanding with each other, in other words you are F*****, that was a big factor why i left when i did, because it was becoming impossible to live, the more money you get the more you pay.

After 15 years in the Bn i was over 20 grand in debt and the main factor was the CSA and I'm sure there are lots of other people in the same boat, but the CSA don't take this into account.

I think there is now an officer within the Army that deals with the Lads and the CSA my be worth tracking this person down and getting some advise.

Mate i hope it works out for you.

Kev......................

[sox3044]

O im on the band wagon here now meds my favorite organisation.

Meds i was paying 790 quid a month when i left last year, all the normal, mortgage and bills, i was lucky if i had 50 quid a week to myself. Debt yes mainly cos u cant live on a monthly basis and u have to keep topping up loans to survive.

It doesnt matter what people say if you are in any of the services you have had it, easy target's . I made a decision in 1996 stay in and get hammerd by the csa or get out and probably end up on the scrap heap, im glad i stayed but you get no help or sympathy from any where. Some days it was a struggle for me to motivate my self to get out of bed as the b......ds grind you down. I wont go into every thing that ive been through with em meds id be here for a month, ive even lost 1 of my best civvi m8s who committed suicide cos of the pressures the B.......ds put on him. Over 11 years m8 i paid them in excess of 72k

You get there in the end m8, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, but you go through some tough years, i was quite lucky as i used to win a fair bit on the horses which used to tide me over, and ofcourse it never went into the bank so they couldnt touch that. Good luck m8

[sox3044]

Sorry Meds on reflection that post sounds all to negative, though things arnt great there may be a couple of things you can do to get the payments down, but it wont come down a great deal. Travel rates they work out are minimal, the big thing is that because you pay food and accomodation and may not have your own house your payments will defo be higher. If you are in a position to get a property and are divorced so she cant get her hands on it then look into it, even if you rent it out, i know the markets questionable right now but you are going to need some where to live when you leave the army. I could nt even get coucil places when i enquired about 2 years b4 i left, if you want to PM me m8 feel free, but it seems to me every case is different, The biggest dodge of all though out of the military is your own limited company and buisness. I know a guy who earns 3 x what a csm earns and only pays 200 a month. He is not the minority either, civies are much better at working out the scams.

[DP43]

Another alternative is to speak to to the ex to she what she actually gets and try to work a compramise that is a court order with NO CSA involvement, although this is not an easy option. Especially if if she is living with another partner and just wants to nail you to the deck. There are dedicated HM Forces reps with the CSA who will consult with you.
I overpaid a substantial amount of money to the CSA and 2 years later they are still dragging their heels over sending me a repayment........if I was late to pay them.....thats another story.
The secret is communication and compramise, after all some of them are human. Good luck mate.
Search the net for free legal advice 'Families need Fathers, etc'. Also try the Paymaster in the unit, I believe the Army must garantee you 1/3 of your monthly wage. ARRSE may be worth a punt as well.

[stu reed]

How can i get my csa payments reduced, how do they work it out?

This was my experience with the CSA and I am sure everyone has a different scenario, but I phoned the CSA and made an agreement with my Ex that if I paid a direct maintenance of £+++ to my Ex wife instead of the £570 CSA payment they would stop the CSA claims, it worked. Also, it depends wether or not your ex works over 16 hours a week or claims benifits, as that is the main factor for the CSA getting involved in teh first place. I would suggest try to do the same, get an agreement that you pay a maintenence directly to your ex.

[5haron]

Both my brothers have done exactly as Stu, made an agreement with their exes and it seems to work. A regular payment, then if their kids need anything extra or unexpected they pitch in. Mind you, my younger brothers ex asked him to give her extra money last Christmas becasue she was skint after buying a Nintendo Wi and complicated accessoriesi ..... for her 5 yr old (duh) - can you see why they aren't together anymore?

[tom54]

my ex even took me for half my pension (i was med disc'd), there's nothing wrong with her foot, but when i argued this the female judge made me feel like i was depriving my kids of food. the whole things a p*ss take..

[davecrim]

The CSA has 2 'Forces Focal Points'. Their details are:

SEBA (Hastings) - 01424 711716 or Gill.Wood@dwp.gsi.gov.uk (Gill Wood)
SWBA (Plymouth) - 01752 728321

I have used the SEBA one for a serving soldier, I dont know if they can advise veterans.