re :self employed exes

Hi everyone,I just wondered if anyone could help me!!!!So far i seem to be at a total blank with the CSA.Let me explain I divorced my husband in 2000,at the time he was paying me £520pcm,this decreased when he met his 3rd wife,My ex husband went in to partnership in his brothers company and quite convieniently placed himself on the books as earning the minimum wage,even though he was driving brand new cars owned a 2k house and had the far superior lifestyle than me and my daughter.The CSA said his life style could be possibly down to his new wife,more like he was diverting his income to her to avoid paying his daughter.I know full well that my ex wouldnt get out of bed for £5.20 (at the time),this resulted in an overpayment by the Csa when they finally sorted the reassesment regarding his minimal wage,hence me actually paying him back for for the incompetance of the csa,therefore leaving me with £25 per week!!!When he was finally brought to book some 2years later he was actually the owner of 2 pubs and was also sub contracting for a windscreen company,obviously the time scale it took for the CSa to finally catch up with him,he had started to declare his real wages(due to the length of time for the csa to catch up with him 18 mnth ,he must have thought i was quite happy with £25pcm)Therefore accumulating in a re assessment of £450pcm,not taking into account arrears which amount to £4500.He has managed to avoid payments for the last 6 months and basically dodge the system.although the Csa agree he needs to pay they are not in a position to enforce it as hes self employed,surely the fact he has 2 pubs and works,that all assests and work avenues should be persued,but no doubt he will be diverting the pub income to his wife!!!All i want is some stability for my daughter and not have to worry each month as to how to pay the mortgage bils etc.Its making my 9 year old ill and is now seeking councilling due to her dad rejecting her,yes after 8 years she has contacted him,but he isnt prepared to give her the quality time she wants eg weekends as in his words he works in the pub business,yeah i totally agree but at the wrong side of the bar!!!What i want to know is it possible to seek legal advice regarding his false claims of earnings,and persue him through the courts???please help im totally at my wits ends.Nikki

Hi Nikki

My husband is also self employed (electrician) owns his own company is vat registered etc. The CSA have worked out that he has to pay me £14.00 per week for two children. It is crazy but then how can you prove they earn more. My husband earns majority of his wages in cash as obviously there is a price for electrical work incorporating the vat and a cash price not incorporating the vat. If you were having your house, business whatever re-wired which would you go for?

It sucks Nikki, and this is partly one of the reasons why I feel i am depriving my children (and myself) by not giving my husband another chance after an affair because I feel that myself and my children will always be the losers in the long run.

I hav no idea where you go from here Nikki if the business with his brother and he has re-married how can you possibly prove anything.

All the best

JJxxx