Big problems with Gross calculation

Hi,

I currently pay £300 pm for my one child which is a family based arrangement whilst my divorce is ongoing and was worked out using 15% of net income.

I have been advised by friends to go to CSA because they have said that if I dont my stb ex wife will if she senses she can get more money.

Because I pay £8000 in tax for a company car a fuel, my net pay is a lot lower than would normally be expected for someone on my salary.

Speaking to CSA options this morning, they have calcualted my new payment at £489!!! based on my gross income for one child! This works out at 25% of my total net income.

Someone please tell me this cannot be correct or I am going bankrupt because i still pay 100% of the mortage on the old home plus my new rent!!

dampsquid wrote:

I have been advised by friends to go to CSA because they have said that if I dont my stb ex wife will if she senses she can get more money.

That''s an if, not a given, surely? Has she given you any indication that she is seeking to change the current family based arrangement or apply to the CMS?

Is there a reason why you pay the mortgage and your own rent? if that is just by mutual agreement to you could always reduce that voluntary payment to offset any increase.

the mortgage is solely in my name, so solicitors have told me its my responsibility to maintain payments, even though I was forced out of the house my my ex''s behaviour!

She has threatened to go to the CSA so it seems its only a matter of time.

Hi I may be wrong but I thought if you contributed in other ways ie. mortgage then your calculation for child support was less?

Have you enquired about taking pensions contributions and shared care into account? They can also take certain expenses into account.

Hello Damp squid
my suggestion would be that you maintain the ''family agreement'' as it stands and in the meantime proceed with the divorce and anciliary relief case (i assume you are doing this?)

Then as others have said, if your stbx does apply to the CSA (that''s harsh! particularly considering your other contributions!) and they crank up the CM payments, i would in that situation, approach the mortgage lender for a mortgage holiday. In my experience they will usually allow up to 6 months of reduced payments (can be even half the due amount, once they have established that your outgoings far outweight your income.. which you can show by documenting your monthly expenditure... many banks can actually agree to do this over the phone)....

This will only be a breather to allow you to reach the financial agreement without getting completely ruined....

hang tight sir

SIC