ex not paying child support - time for csa?

Hi all

I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but I'm really frightened of rocking the boat with my stbx. We agreed on a figure for child support, but he hasn't set up any direct debit (which he should have done in December) and this month hasn't paid me yet. He says both his phones are not working and the last emails I sent to him bounced back to me.

If I tell him I'm going to the CSA, it then all starts to get nasty, but maybe I don't have any choice...

He is supposed to pay me £650 pm so we can't survive without it, I don't think. I feel the worst I ever have in my life - weak and pathetic that I can't even upset my stbx for the sake of the children.

hc

If he is making no contribution whatsoever ( no mortgage, bills??) then you don't really have an alternative other than apply to the CSA and there is no need to tell him, he will find out in due course.

thanks.

No, he's not making any contribution at all. I can't get hold of him. I'm beside myself with worry.

My Situation is a tad different but might, make sense!
My son lives with me and the ex wife in the mh, she refused to give me a penny towards my sons up keep, so I had no choice but to go down the CSA road, but be warned act now as the CSA wont / well didn’t in my case ask or insist on back payments being made, so I had over 6 months with no support from my ex wife who works full time,

Make the call ASAP and get the CSA involved, before you lose out

T

CSA will not collect any monies from a NRP when there has'nt been a case with them.

However the CSA can and do at times get it all very wrong my case with them is long term stuck which means whatever is paid to them sits there til tech fault is sorted which can take a yr.The assessment maybe lower than to what you both orgianlly agreed , plus side if the NRP is PAYE least they can do a DOE for non payment if the NRP is self employed , sadly forget it they don't enforce.

Thanks T and Angel

I am aware that these things take time and I can survive for a while by living off my savings if I'm extremely careful.

Things have been really 'amicable' up to now, and I think what really freaks me out is that it looks like he's gone funny. Surely even if he couldn't afford to pay us he would let me know... we have four small children...

I might give him until the weekend to sort something out. Perhaps writing a letter to let him know too.

good luck, I know how it feels not to know whats going on and its scary !