My experience of the CSA, is that it is an organisation designed primarily to extort money from the father. In my experience it clearly per-sues fathers that pay child support (and always have) and the CSA cannot be bothered to per-sue the non-paying father. It’s just too difficult to apportion the resources to obtain the money from the fathers that don’t/won’t pay.

I went through a very messy divorce and have had the CSA on my back for some 6 years or more. I have had charges put on my property, for money I did not owe, and subsequently had to pay the court to get the charges removed!

I have just been in court with the Appeals Service (Avoid this organisation, they are worse than the CSA and they are definitely not independent) My ex-wife has put in an application stating that she believes the calculation used by the CSA is wrong? And, is seeking an amendment to child support as my “lifestyle is inconsistent with my income” In other words because she wants more money (the 600K house and everything in it clearly wasn’t enough) she thinks that I have a lifestyle that is not in keeping with my declared income!

To make matters worse. I am self employed and my accounts are completed by an accountant, not me. I am amazed that the CSA etc. allow this kind of vindictive behavior towards the father to continue.

To summarise. The CSA are, to-all-intense-and -purposes, akin to loan sharks. Using Money with menaces to get what they want.

It is not to the child’s benefit, as has been said. Where does the money go? As it is seldom spent on the child!