Child maintenance - what happens if they don’t respond?

[Gelppp]

Ex has nothing to do with DC. I’m thinking of claiming maintenance but don’t strictly need it right now. He’s a high earner and I feel a bit uncomfortable about it all as he wanted me to get an abortion.

Anyway, as I am not sure where he lives and only where he works, what would happen here? How long would it take the service to deal with this? What if he just won’t respond at all? I don’t see how it would ever work!

You will need his address to start the claim. They will write to him for information about earnings and how he wants to pay. If he doesn't pay then it goes to a deduction of earning. He then pays an additional 20% of the amount for the trouble and what you get will be reduced by 4%.

You don't need his address. Give them his employer. Beware though. I am reporting something to them right this minute and have been on hold for 1 hour and 14 mins waiting for the debt team!

@unicornsarereal72 i don’t know his address, he won’t respond when I asked last week.

What happens then?

Also, can’t he ignore the letter anyway?

@trevthecat he has made his LinkedIn private and I am not sure where he is working now. What do I do about that? I know the last place he worked? What if he ignores the letter?

Maybe the address rule has changed. Fingers crossed for you. If he ignores the letter they just go to deductions of earning.

I would give them a ring and see if you know enough to get them onto him. No harm in trying