My options are?
 

My options are one of two i think ?

I need to give you some background information first, and then I’ll tell you about the letter!

I’ve done well since February I’ve gone from a road bike to a fully prepped overlander in the form of a Yamaha TT600RE, also I’ve just about got all the stuff I need to hit the road. I’m wasn’t planning on leaving on my BIG adventure until 2011, enough time for clearing debts and saving the funds for six months on the road.

I’m in regular work at the moment and I’m crashing back at home with the parents because I had a move went wrong and I needed a bed. Living back at home is cool because I can pay big lumps of the credit cards that I used when prepping the bike.

Looking back now I wouldn’t spend half the cash I did, I put a lot of mods on that bike and if you ask me now how I’d do it next time, this would be my ideal setup:

By the lowest mile Yamaha TT600RE you can find.
Big Tank
Hand Guards
Bash Plate
Use throw over soft bags and spend the money on the trip.

The Letter

It’s from the CSA (child support agency) and it says…

Amount to be paid
Your employer should take amounts as follows.
£212.22 payable WEEKLY from 16/09/08

Now, I only get £205 in my wages each week so it’s deemed only fair that I can keep £90.50 - all amounts after this are taken and the 90.50 unpaid is rolled over, which keeps getting bigger and bigger…

I quit my job today, if they think I’m working for £18 a day, they can F:censored:K off that’s £18 per day less some bills leaving 0.05 pence. I’d be working 8/10 days for a chocolate bar!!

My options are?

Sign my bike over to a life long friend, who would also stash all my quality bike items which is just about all I have. Then, bankrupt myself and they’ll probably still want the cash. No access to cash or cards after this option is taken, no trip.

Or

Draw money from the cards needed to fund a six month trip, buy greenbacks and euros and hit the road. Having said that if I could come up with 2k and turn that into dollars I’d have about $4K (almost) add that to the $2K I already have that’s about $6K without touching the cards. While I’m on the road use internet banking to shove money around, cards to pay cards, and with nothing going in, at some point, all the cards will be stopped and, upon return, I’ll have a big mess and a bankruptcy to deal with, BUT I’ve had my trip.


If I stay I’ll probably still bankrupt myself, still have to pay and never get a chance for years to go on a trip, 90.50 a week doesn’t do much. So, that’s just about it until my child is 16, and then they’ll probably still want the cash.

If I do disappear for 6 months, question is, which way? East is getting cold this time of year. Trans Africa maybe? Down and Back! I’d like to ride the bike home in a defiant gesture!

A lot does happen in 7 days :) and in the next se7en, I need a plan.

Shaun

PS ::: Before anybody starts on the subject, I love my girl very much, I see her one week a year and try to help anyway I can. her mother left me after sleeping with the chap next door.. thanks, got a bike soon after :)

Tough one this.... how about upping and moving to somewhere else where you can still earn some money and get yourself sorted . The long arm of the CSA will have trouble finding you by which time you are ready to roll. I'm thinking another EU country rather than just somewhere else in the UK. It's highly unlikely the CSA will have the time or resources to try and obtain an attachment on earnings judgement in another EU country and like I say by the time they get their act together you are gone. You can alwasy register your bike in another country and it remains yours.
I guess it depends on how much contact you would want with the kid. I don't need to know the personal side of your dilema - only you know the answer to that but as you are thinking about taking off on the road anyway I'm guessing you aren't really a doting parent. I'm sure there are plenty of folk out there that would frown on such an idea but when I was getting divorced a couple of years back my ex was suggesting long term alimony payments and I pointed out that her lawyers would have trouble finding me ..... I would have been long gone had that been the outcome. It rather focused her mind :innocent:
Good luck whatever you decide - it can't be easy but you only live once so 'carpe diem' - sieze the day my friend because tomorrow may be too late.

i need a loan
 

Thanks for the replys people.

It’s more the system wanting my cash. I’m on talking terms with the X, thing is I’m on the south coast UK and she’s up north living the high life with a guy who has plenty of cash. I see my kid once a year in the school holiday and phone/text or email rest of the time. The CSA will chase you even if the X said don’t, they want £212.22 but I only get £205

Not thinking about running for years, just a few months. I’d be back in time for next year’s school holidays with a big story for my kids, and a mess that needs sorting.

UPDATE

I’m going to try and get a loan on Wednesday; one has just run out so I might be able to get re-signed as an existing customer. Get one bigger than I need so I’ve got some cash in the bank for 6 or 8 payments buy greenbacks and euros and hit the road in about 8 weeks time…

I like the sound of doing some work in the EU - but, a Trans Africa sound warm and wicked fun :)

To the do-gooders criticizing him for not supporting his kid, the CSA waste more money than they pay out. Keeps someone in a job, thats all. Better off if you come to a private agreement with your ex but the CSA always interfere, cause bad feelings that often weren't there in the first place, etc, etc.

I used to work for the Child Protection Unit of a local Social Services Department. We actually did the job the NSPCC claim they do in their TV begging ads. In my experience, the CSA couldn't organise a fart out of window, let alone track you round the world. Also, the CSA don't seem to communicate, share or access information at all with any other agencies, at least not effectively anyway.

Not that I'm suggesting you attempt to defraud or mislead the CSA into thinking you've disappeared off the face of the earth but something to bear in mind :wink2: :whistling:

Enjoy your travels

Have you thought about...
 

Hi mate,
Feel for you cause i got screwed over by a bird who had my kid, used the girl as a weapon against me. I was paying her in cash but she still got the csa involved.
However, they are a useless bunch of w£$kers, and i basically made myself untracable.. ie. not on electoral role, and heard no more about it. Shame because i had a work permit for Oz and stayed here to do the right thing by my new born daughter, but hey ho.
Anyway, I dont know what you do for a living, but if you can go self employed, they cant take the money straight out of your wages. Because by the sounds of it you are paye, they got you over the preverbial barrel.
Just a thought anyhow, good luck!!

thanks chaps :)
 

Hi Guys.

Thanks for the input, I quit my job and I’m off. I’ve put a lump on a credit card and I’m going to morocco for 3 months, leave on November 5th till February 7th, or until the money runs out! I’ve got a couple weeks work in Portugal on the way down on some eco-farm, in return, free bed and 3 meals a day. Will press on down to morocco from Portugal on November 24th

Shaun

If you only see your Kid once a Year MOVE TO SPAIN......... its cheaper, the CSA cant touch you, and you can work cash in hand on the costas for 50-70 euros a day.....
food n booze n fags cheap
gas is 1.09 euros a litre

:thumbup1:

Advice
 

Hi, I am on your side on this but-----Be very careful to cover your tracks: Your ex knows you like bikes. CSA interview her to find you. They scour bike interest areas and Hey Presto-HUBB. OK so your ID is enigmatic but I'd be careful to not give out any idea of what you're likely to do and where to go! I know it is quite legal in UK to take any name one wishes as long as it's not to avoid the law. I don't know if that includes the DVLA. A few years ago a friend of mine changed his name to his mother's maden name and changed ALL his documents: Passport, NI records, driver's licence etc.
Another thought is it would be good to leave a false trail. He sold the bike, turned to drink, took up with an Icelandic chick, left the country. They now have a direction of enquiry to follow. Keeps them happy.
I'll put my thinking cap on for you, Linzi.

Stress
 

Hi, one further thought. Make a MONSTER effort to avoid being stressed. I know that's a lot to ask but stress kills. Get a book on the symptoms, work out some de stress tactics ( not a pint of beer!), make a plan and do not think hate thoughts about your ex. Apparently it's best to think red roses thoughts about someone you really want to stick pins into. TRY and make the process for you the best. I can only illustrate it so. Two people break a leg each. Six months later one has recovered and forgotten about the little problem. The other has sat around tearing himself up, hating the health system and the things he can't do. He's now an unpleasant person to know and suffers headaches, ground down teeth and a stiff neck. Try and make the best of it. Lastly, sit down and ask yourself, ( Is this situation life threatening? If the answer is No, then it's not too bad. )
First thing is CCC, be cool, calm and collected as you think it all through.
Many of us are with you, Linzi.

I wish you all the best of luck. Maybe one day you'll have to face the music but it probably won't be any worse than the situation you are in now. I think I'd do the same as you if I were in your position.
Enjoy your travels for as long as you can.

Yep, you get off on your jollies and escape your responsibility. Don't you worry. the rest of us mugs will pick up the tab.

Responsibility
 

Sure there are loads of people ripping off the state and others avoiding their responsibilities but: Isn't there some responsibility for a female partner to remain loyal? Linzi.

Poor bloke sees his kid once a year. Nothing 'jolly' about that.

My now X had a kid [which I helped finance for 7 years] the father paid nothing even when he was working, a similiar situation with 2 of my friends developed and Im sure in both cases filing for bankruptcy was what stopped the problems with the CSA.

I would also like to point out that in both cases the woman did not want the money as they had moved on in their lives and us mugs[well apart from me, can u refinance a kid?] didnt pay anything more than they would have got in benefits anyway.

The CSA have their head well up their bums relationships do break down and not every guys some lunatic running around spreading his seed, IF the mother doesnt need the money or want the money they should at least respect those wishes.

Shut Up You ####
 

You should read the original f#####g post pal.

What part don’t you understand ?

A: £212.22 payable WEEKLY from 16/09/08

B: Now, I only get £205 in my wages each week so it’s deemed only fair that I can keep £90.50 - all amounts after this are taken and the 90.50 unpaid is rolled over, which keeps getting bigger and bigger…

Now, let me get this right! You’re telling me that you’d work for....

0.05 pence PER DAY? I think not!

Now, unless you’ve got something worthwhile to say, don’t push my F###ing buttons

And
 

I’m not dodging my responsibility; I’m having a 12 week holiday, Problem with that ?

erm get in touch with them
 

That figures you have quoted for weekly are the same as if someone has said you net weekly income is approx £12500 per week[maybe they put your yearly in instead], based on your weekly wage its under £30 per week maximum. Then theres backlog payments from when you split which shouldnt bring it upto that amount.

possible
 

Originally Posted by baluchiman
Don't you worry. the rest of us mugs will pick up the tab.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorrect – the tax payer would only 'pick-up the tab' if she’s on benefits, she’s not. Living with somebody that’s doing very well, better than I
get your facts right!

I can really sympathise with you as I have been in a similar situation. Being screwed over by a girl and being stuck in a world of debt with only more debt being the way out..

Well, every situation is different and I have only one piece of advice..

DONT GET YOURSELF INTO MORE SHIT AND DEBT FOR THE SAKE OF A TRIP.

Sadly for most of us, we all have to come home and being in a worse financial situation afterwards than before you go is a major depressing situation to sit in..

Find a way to save the cash up before you go. Even if they are pound notes in a shoebox !!

thanks ted
 

Thanks Ted.

Unfortunately, 3k worth of damage has already been inflicted on my credit card, with another 1k while I’m on the road. I leave on the 5th of November heading for Morocco, not sure how far down I’ll get.

Right at this moment I don’t care, I just need some time with my bike to sort my head out, and figure-out some direction for when I get back. When I get back, I’m at the same place I was 3 years ago, I’ve worked hard to have nothing except my bike and kit, and getting my debts under control.

For the record, I’m not objecting making payments for my kid, I love her to bits; she just doesn’t need £848.88 for a four week month at the age of 12. I know people with coke-habits that don’t need that much money a month!

Shaun

LOL, you're giving the CSA far too much credit for basic intelligence.

I know a lass whose 18yo son lives with his dad (it's complicated). Her 16yo lives with her yet she can't get any money out of her ex as he's been (slightly) clever about it. Why they do this, so money is paid backwards and forwards is beyond me, hence my comment of keeping these useless w***ers in a job.

Anyway, the CSA were stinging her for maintenance as the 18yo was supposed to be in full time education. WRONG! He was in Africa (Zimbabwe was mentioned) with the TA on training exercises and hadn't attended college for a year. They got it wrong, big time yet still told her she had to pay up even when told where he was. They clearly don't have access to information held by HMRC, NI, etc, etc. She had to go a do all the "dectective work" for the CSA and it's only recently that it's been brought to court, basically 'cos they couldn't be arsed to do anything more than send letters out to him. She gets no extra benefits to make up the deficit, so the comment made about the tax payer (and I am one btw) picking up the tab is inaccurate, not to mention intentionally offensive.

Don't tell your ex what you're doing just disappear. For 12 weeks, the CSA won't even realise you've been gone. Don't tell them or your ex and you can get on with planning the next trip when you get back.

Happy Days!

Obviously touched a raw nerve, eh? BTW, i'm not your PAL. Calm down la.

Don't...
 

...go bankrupt, whatever you do, my parents did when I was a kid and it was the worst thing ever, and that was back in the good old days when we didn't need half the credit we do now.
Ask yourself this: What would life be like without a credit card? No cheap internet deals, no paying for things online, on the phone, whatever, everything having to be done with cash. We live in an "almost" cashless society, without the possibility of credit you're a second class citizen. I know going bankrupt is less of a stigma than it used to be, and easier to do so, but it will remain with you for a very long time, we might forget but banks have very long memories when it comes to this kind of thing (if not for where they put your savings).

So go if you want to (I know nothing about the CSA thank God, so can't comment) but don't come back to bankrupcy. Better to get a job outside of the UK and pay off what you owe than come back and go bankrupt, I'm sure there's plenty of jobs you could find. If you do though, do it legit, there's enough ex-pats working on the black in the EU to give all of us a very bad reputation, do those of us who plan to stay a favour and do it properly.

Shame because...
 

.....I did have a thought of going to Morroco for Xmas, get away from the shite weather and bullshite that goes with Xmas. ( I hate Xmas )
Good luck with it, be careful if you're going alone.
And dont let people here wind you up... they have no clue of your situation so they shouldn't judge!!

Csa
 

Dear Craig76, maybe you're right. I am lucky not to have any need to deal with them but I sometimes wish I could live with an untraceable address. I am paying road tax for a car which the DVLA say, "..is on our files as registered in your name." Well they could amend their incorrect file, but no. I don't know what to say about it. I was stressed and didn't notice that I recieved no letter from the DVLA agreeing the car as broken and scrapped.
Of course I need to realize I am a bit of scum as the magistrates obviously believe as they said prison if I don't pay! What would you do? Prison on principle or pay or.....eh hm. Linzi.

Thats a right pisser! I'm about to sell some Mini parts on eBay, including a bodyshell and I won't be including the V5 or chassis tags for this very reason. You need to reapply for a V5. If they say you still have it, they can't really refuse to issue a duplicate V5 if you tell them you've lost it. Then notify them again (recorded delivery) that it's been scrapped.

I'm also lucky that I've only had dealings with the CSA as part of a job and my opinion of them then wasn't good. I've been out of that for a couple of years now but obviously, I get to hear tales from friends about their situations. All they seem to do is cause disruption between people who were originally on speaking terms and at the end of the day, there's a kid in the middle of it all.

When I was working with the CPU, if you gave me, maybe an afternoon, if there was shit to find on someone, I'd find it. We had access to Police records, housing, NSPCC, GP and hospital records, schools, HMRC with a little persuasion, etc, etc. Anything we couldn't get, the Police could so believe me, there is no such thing as an untraceable person or address in the UK.

I'm 99% sure the CSA can't legally access other statutory records without a court order. If anyone can come up with a reason why a young adult is on the payroll with the TA and therefore paying NI contributions, yet the CSA seem to think they're unemployed and in full time education, I'd be glad to hear it.

Deal with your mess, instead of running away and make the debt worse, you'll have to return some day and then the mess is even worse.

You're an EU citizen. You can go to any EU country to work. Here in Denmark, the authorities must leave you enough money, to have a decent life. Unemployment is still only 1.6 %
You can also go to any EU country and apply for a job and get unemployment benefits, for 3 month, at british rates, if you don't get any job.

Be creative not destructive. Even if you need some time away, do you NEED a Morocco trip to clear your head, to be able to deal with your problems ?

I am not telling you, what to do, I'm only suggesting :-)

Yep
 

Best advice anyone could be given (wish I'd take it myself!) is to copy everything you ever recieve or send. Sometimes I need to remember the final scene of Life of Brian. Always look on the...... Thanks to the Monty Python crew. Linzi.

You and me both mate! Easy to say in hindsight and I apologise if my post sounded patronising. Good luck with it

Patronising
 

Craig, not at all. It's just the following happened to me: 10 years ago I paid for an air ticket for a Colombian national to save her the rip off price charged for her to pay in Colombia. So UK national pays for Bogota to London and return for Colombian national. Several years later we went by overnight bus to Amsterdam. You can see it coming, yes? On the return we all went to register at the Ansterdam office 3 hours before departure and left our passport details. At the entrance to the tunnel in France but UK soil! a UK immigration officer checked one passport from two buses worth of passengers-mine of course. So even back then all air travel to/from Colombia or worldwide was being logged by computer and the same two names came up Colombia, Amsterdam, drugs. Simple really. For GCHQ now: Al Qaida, bomb, muslim, royal family, suicide. That should get this e-mail flagged up. Linzi. Yes, George Orwell was eerily correct.

(thanks for help on morocco insurance)
 

sorry to jump into this thread but thanks lindsay for your advice (i can't figure out how to reply in the correct place). i'll try carole nash tomorrow.
thanks again
luke

What happened
 

Mr UKICEMAN,

An old thread but an interesting one at that. I'd like to know how everything panned out (not the private parts obviously!) but did you go on your trip? Was it worth it? The CSA catch you?

I don't mean to pry but did you get the adventure you were seeking before returning to the UK or did you return........?

Anyone else know how it panned out?