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AIBU?

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Original poster

CMS zero ??

30 replies

ExPDilemma · 02/09/2024 07:50

What to do?

did a CMS claim for exDP, he was being difficult and I wanted to minimise the contact I have to have with him. We’ve reasonably amicably coparented for years but he’s increasingly letting our DD down and I’m struggling to bite my tongue.

CMS have awarded zero

he along with his business partner is a tradesman, he’s working all the time (constantly late to collect DD because of work) earning around £1k a week if not more

he has her 2 nights in every 3 weeks - maybe 10 extra over year in school holidays. He doesn’t have anywhere for her to sleep so she always stays with his parents.

he has a child with new partner who works part time. She also has a child from previous and recieves maintenance from her ex.

how can the award be zero?

is there any possibility other than he’s lying about his income? I thought even then there was a flat rate?

he’s immediately stopped paying the measly £40 a week he had been.

i don’t know what to do, DD is 13 and I’ve never said anything bad about her dad but I’m so furious with him for just dropping any responsibility whatsoever.

OP posts:
RandomUser82 · 02/09/2024 11:24

If you read the 'award' letter it will usually tell you what income he has declared. Then do a mandatory reconsideration. Much better if you have proof though (though I'm not sure what proof you can have-ive never been able to prove my ex gets more than £100 a week-except maybe that he actually lives lol)
But don't expect anything to happen quickly, CMS is the worst company I've ever had to deal with.

Borninabarn32 · 02/09/2024 11:03

Lying about his income. Report him to HMRC but they rarely do anything. It's actually pretty daunting how few people even get done for tax evasion. Chances are you can just stop paying tax, ignore the letters and they never do anything about it. My ex owes 6 figures, he gets letters, that's all.

Changeiscomingthisyear · 02/09/2024 10:56

Report him to HMRC.

Original poster
ExPDilemma · 02/09/2024 10:55

Thanks for responding. I was just very taken aback with it being zero. I can only assume he’s not declaring any of his self employment income?

the irony being he told me he was working so much to maximise his income to be able to afford a bigger house with space for her to stay over. I hadn’t pushed for him to pay more all these years because of that but it’s become clear that’s not the case. If he’s not declaring his income he’s not going to be getting a mortgage is he?

yuck, I really never wanted to believe he was this useless

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 02/09/2024 09:51

I’m sorry OP this sounds like a rubbish situation. Potentially he’s hiding income, the fact he has another child with his new partner & (I assume) is living with his partners other child as well would also reduce it, as he’s essentially responsible for 3 children.

It is rubbish though, the system makes it easy for dad’s to get away with doing and paying very little

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