map1_nz

Reciprocal Child Support
Agreement with Australia

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Our Experience

My first time I tried to I tried to sort out the child support it took eleven months and many phone calls to New Zealand and Australia, before this was resolved. The account had accrued penalties and arrears which were eventually corrected. Owing to this Australian Child Support agreed to hold the amount of Child Support firm until November 2003.
April 2003 received a notice of an increase, but no date specified, plus a letter explaining they never had up to date information so had used a default figure to calculate the new payment.
Apply to the Inland Revenue for income for the previous two years for which I was informed that previous years would not be available to late May 2003
12 May 2003 get a notice from NZ Child Support to say the payment had been increased and back dated to April 2003. Two days later recieve another notice to say there was a lump sum court payment due to paid a month later.
Tried to find out what this lump sum payment was for and eventually was told that we were in arrears. As the February Statement was completely up to date with NO ARREARS, could not understand why.
Wrote to Australia enclosing the income details for the last two years and posted 2nd June 2003. to explain that there was not to be any increase until November 2003, and that we wanted the payments corrected, also what was the lump sum for. They state the letter was received there on the 20th June 2003
Reply from Australia dated 14th August 2003 (2 months later) That the amount had been increased in February. That the new payment would stay and that we would have to fill in the enclosed reassessment.The Lump Sum Court Payment was for the increase in February March, which we were not aware of as there was no notice sent to advise
The reassessment was filled in and sent to Australia on 20th September 2003. Received a notice dated 13th October 2003 from Hobart they have now decided to keep the payments the same, this was in response to my letter sent in 2nd June 2003. Several telephone calls later finally we are told that the certificate for New Zealand to change everything back was to be faxed on the 28th October 2003, but was posted. This then took New Zealand until the 24th November 2003 to correct, but it was not done correctly and not all of the penalties were reversed.
I was informed that if I faxed NZ Child Support our letter from Australia showing all payments were put back to the original amount from February 2003 to December 2003 they would correct the payments and reverse out the penalties. When I telephoned Hamilton NZ and was informed will not take any notice of this, only information from Australia direct to them Have telephoned Australia who said that the information was sent, but not the actual start and finish date.They promised to correct this.
Last time I telephoned Hamilton NZ was informed they are working approx. 6 weeks behind and the information I have sent will be looked at in due course. Now January 2004 and still not resolved.
Have already received a notice from New Zealand saying the payments will increase in January 2004, but nothing from Australia, and have not had the decision from the reassessment, was informed they have up to 10 days on first telephone call, waited 10 days and telephoned again and was told they have up to 21 days for a decision to be given it is now over a month and still waiting. Telephoned on 8th January 2004 have to wait until the 15th January and telephone again. This will be now be a five week wait and I have allowed for Christmas break They have had so many reassessments that they are that far behind.
Australia inform me that they have not received payments, and New Zealand tell me they have sent the money accross - who do I believe?????