Re:self employment, ltd. companies and the CSA

Hi I really do think a lot of the women here miss the point about the CSA here.

The system is flawed and should be abolished. Previous to this she never worked or didnt contribute a penny to housing costs etc. My Ex left took a large pay out a car that I signed over and used to pay 500 a month for my 3 year old child. This seemed a reasonable amount for a 3 year old child and as she was working still allowed her to get her hair and nails done on a biweekly basis.

The relationship was good however access was limited to one quick meal through the week one week and then one night every other Saturday. This still isnt acceptable to me however things were working so I was willing to take it from there (Even though her mum baby sat and was round there almost every night)

Some time this week a letter arrives as she had submitted my lTD company accounts to the CSA purely out of greed and that I have now have to pay 660 for the privilege. This could be reduced to the amount I was paying by having my daughter over night for two nights a week as I had been suggesting.

The thing that now makes me sick is that I have got where I have got simply through hard work and determination but now the CSA want to penalise me for doing so. If this amount is paid my Ex would be earning more than myself for doing nothing at all and I still dont get the access required to build a proper relationship with my daughter.

As a result of this I now have to pay to take the ex to court to get access agreed and fight the CSA about my earnings. There are lots of loop holes out the like opening a company and being the smallest shareholder thus not being in control of dividends payments. Leasing a car through the company, increasing pensions, paying new partner a wage for services rendered ;0) but why should I have to because of one persons greed.

To be honest I pity the majority of fathers who have a good job and receive a good wage being dealt with by the CSA. The system is flawed and honest paying Dads who have limited access are suffering.

I've just started down this route, the CSA have sent out variation forms again told me on the phone that they know he has money but they can't do anything about his last accounts show that the company which is limited has assets of 2.8million yet the CSA can't do a thing. He is a sole Director although it shows on £8,000 in the bank .. ;p(

My child is 3 now, I am currently looking for somewhere for us to live. Despite trying every which way I can with the ex, the general consenus is that he doesn't want to know even though he's got nil liability to him and I said that he could still go out with him etc. He's basically, left us in poverty which is probably why he'd rather just forget us all together.

I wrote to my MP but he didn't even bother to reply. The CSA staff in Bolton actually told me that there would be an amount payable of £8,000 and that I should get that immediately but then suddenly they turned around and said that he had been checked further and even though he has money they can't get a penny - case closed. I rang in again and they sent me a variation form but I just look at it... is it really worth the disappointment which follows ;p( nothing you can do.. whilst he smiles and thinks it's funny.

Sorry to hear about your problem. I don't quite understand all the background to it. But just a thought, have you tried seeking advice from a SOL or applying for legal aid? (to get the advice, if things are tight) or there are some really knowledgeable Wikis on here. What about trying for ancilliary releif, a judge would not see you and your daughter homeless. So maybe try accessing some 'fair' money via court and Financial hearings

Survive
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Hi. I'm LTD, but have no CSA problems (I'm paying more than I can really afford, but they are my kids). Cases where there is cash, but game playing get my goat.
The CSA is there to deal with the Revenue, which seems to have been wrapped up. I suggest that you attack the Capital (£2.8m) by divorcing & claiming half the company. Can you go for a court order to prevent those assets disappearing? If you can freeze the company assets, that will get his attention and may force a settlement.
Just a thought...

I am in the same situation as a lot of others it seems. I applied to CSA for maintenance for our son, but as ex has given up his well paid job to go self employed with his GF the CSA have informed me the business shows no profit and ex is earning less than £5 a week so I get £0.
How is he living? Feeding himself and her and her son? How is he paying bills,rent,petrol etc...
I know a lot of things can be put through the company and I suspect any profit put through GF so EX shows as having nothing, but there must be something that can be done? Surely a parent cannot just walk away and leave their child with no support at all? His business 9 months old, I don't know how well it is doing, can I request some evidence for divorce settlement, if EX thinks I may be entitled to half his business he may think again about maintenance?????

Hi Perin,

so sorry to hear the situation your are in. I have an ex like yours although I'm better off in that he least does pay something. How they can do this is beyond me too.

With regards to having a stake in half his business I don't know. But you can ask CSA to llok into your claim basing it on his lifestyle etc. Also if you are the middle of ancilliary releif at court he would be obliged to provide a full set of accounts so you can see from that what is going where.

I will try and help.
Any more questions please ask.
Goood luck

Survive
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Problem with a relatively new business (9 months old) is the money invested to set it up will be off-set against any profit at least in the first year so you may have to wait for next year's financial accounts.

Lifestyle inconsistent with declared income? Sounds easy enough but in practice it would be up to you to provide the burden of proof and this could be costly if you need to pay a private investigator to do this for you.