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As most will know, I obtained custody of my daughter over two years ago.
Until the spring (Northern Hemisphere version) of this year I was receiving child support from my ex in the form of the minimum possible, but at least it was something. Then, in May, it ended. It took me a few months to realise that £10 every fortnight wasn't arriving in my account but I then contacted the Child Support Agency to ask why?
It turned out that she'd moved and cancelled her state benefits. They had no current trace of her. Unfortunately I couldn't make a back-claim to when the payments ended but a new claim would start that day (in July) and any payments would be from that date.
I received new phone numbers for her and passed these on, along with a strong suspicion that she'd left her home town and moved further along the coast. Her own family claimed ignorance. Her only real contact was with my daughter, my son won't answer her calls.
I kept the CSA office informed of anything I heard but they were getting nowhere. It became clear that their investigative powers were limited. Last night, however, I suggested to my daughter that she ask about where to send a Christmas card. We'd also heard a rumour that the ex had remarried so was using a different name.
In the space of a few minutes I had her new name, new husband's name & occupation and their current address. My guess on the town was correct. I dropped an email to the CSA and sat back to await results.
Just after dinner this evening the CSA rang, thanked me for the info and said that a letter had already gone in the mail to the address I obtained. She now has 7 days to declare any income and accept liability. Failure might result in a visit and (eventually) a court order. She'll be told that she currently owes £110. If there's any evidence of employment then that amount can rise (up to 10% of salary)
Of course, she told our daughter not to pass the address onto me, but it's difficult to avoid when my little girl puts her phone on speaker! I was googling the address before she read out the postcode (zipcode).
Shiraz
Comments
Cunning strategy!
Added onto which, your daughter's habit of having her phone on speaker means that technically she hasn't told anyone :) It's also very fortunate your ex didn't spot a potential ulterior motive in the request (although no doubt will discover that in hindsight in the next few days...)
Oh, and full kudos to the CSA staff for immediately jumping on the new information.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Child support
Does she have visitation privileges with your daughter? Seems to me that she has burnt one too many bridges.
May Your Light Forever Shine
child support
here in Indiana USA, if the non custodial parent fails to pay, and there is a support order, they go after tax returns, bank accounts and any other way they can come up with to get the money for the custodial parent. If the non custodial parent remarries, the income of the new spouse is then figured in and the money can be taken from that person also. And if the custodial parent goes back to court and wins an increase in the support amount, the total income of the non custodial parents family is figured in that also. They have a schedule of support they figure from, based on the number of kids, etc. And if the non custodial parent has to work two or three jobs to pay that amount, they don't care....go do it. It's your responsibility they figure. Thats why so many skip like that.