So I’ve spent the whole morning, when I should have been writing my zombie stories, chasing the Child support agency to find out what in the hell they’re playing at.
Long story incredibly short - we’ve been having to phone the CSA several times a month to get the payments the ex is sending them, found and sent on to me. This came to a head last month when they said they take 21 working days (that’s a month, more or less) to clear payments if they have an incorrect reference number. So July’s payment was going to be 21 working days too, cause we couldn’t get the reference number changed on the account before then. And guess what?
According to them, it hasn’t been paid AT ALL. Thier next step, apparently is ‘investigate’. My next step was ‘Financial ombusman’. Being far, my next step is ‘complain’ - but I’m far more well versed in this process than I’d like and was promised that the issues I’m seeing wouldn’t happen when last I complained, so I’m pushing it higher.
Highest in this country, as far as I’m aware, is the Financial overseer/ombudsman - I don’t *think* I can sue the CSA, so I have to follow procedure.
The gentleman I was speaking with offered to pass it to the debt collection department and I pointed out, very sweetly that as I’ve been told he’s already paid this month and last month, did they really want two charges of gross misconduct, from both sides, should the Financial Ombudsman find in my favor. I was told that they’d wait couple of days before contacting the debt department, just in case it was a mistake on thier end.
I’ve already said in every conversation I’ve had with them recently that no matter what they do, and how they attempt to make up for the mishandling of this part of my case, it’s all snowballed to having to be passed up the chain. That yes, I’d follow complaint procedures but that I’d had enough, and that I would be contacting the Financial Ombudsman unless they made a remarkable gesture of apology and put everything right. Knowing my dealings with them, as it’s never happened, I’m fairly ‘confident’ (and disgusted that I know it’ll go that way) that I’m going to be going to the financial overseer for the government and kicking up merry hell.
I guess what is the worst about this is all I want is the kid’s money. I want to be able to put money away in thier savings for stuff, and I want to be able to have money, on hand, to randomly choose to take the kids to the cinema, or buy shoes cause his lordship keeps wearing his out, or buy them the book they’ve just got to have, or take them to events near us. As it stands, for the last four months, I haven’t been able to rely on ANYTHING other than them messing me around, and it’s really pissed me off.
That said, it does mean I’ve got the prefect ‘angry’ on to finish my zombie piece.
Oh and we’re taking the cat to the vets this afternoon. Fingers crossed for her vaccination today!
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