So... my eldest son's father and I split up 12 years ago and I always ensure my son regularly visits him every other weekend. At one point he refused to pay maintenance and even if I was a millionaire I fully believe he should try to provide emotionally and physically for his son. Due to him refusing to pay I went through the csa and an arrangement was set up in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014 he would pick and choose again when he paid. He then met a lovely lady who to this day I still class as my son's stepmom because she genuinely cared about my son. They then got married and even when he was being incorrigible, his wife made sure he paid me every week without fail. Get to 2019, they split and go through a messy divorce. He carries on paying me though so can't complain. In December 2021 he texts me to say he will be starting a new job on a lot more money and has also took on a tenant so he will help me more when he can. He then from December until now, periodically either pays maintenance late or not at all. I speak to the csa and they say because he has mostly paid on time since the claim started, they won't do anything. I am married myself and I work part time as I have two other children and my husband works 6 days a week. My middle child biologically isn't mine, she us my husbands, but I love her as though she is but since we went to court in 2018 to save her from an abusive environment, money has been super tight and we are still constantly playing catch up so I rely weekly on that money from my ex. It ensures that not only does my son have everything he needs but that a roof is over his head and bills are paid. Due to my ex not paying me now for the last two weeks as he said he has mitigating circumstances (he got married again to someone else and has booked two holidays) he can't pay me and refuses to talk about it. Knowing I also have my son's uniform to get and as he's in secondary school and has to have the logo on stuff and needs decent shoes, we are talking around £280 for the whole uniform and he hadn't contributed at all. We usually go halves every year on the uniform but because of his circumstances this year he refused to discuss. So...its now been two weeks since he has paid me so I contacted csa again and forwarded them my bank statements since Oct 2021 asking them to highlight all his entries, and note that he has paid me late or not at all and that now as a result of his constant lack of help, I have asked csa to do their collect and pay scheme backed by my husband and my sons stepmom. I'm apprehensive about this because I know how ignorant my ex can be. I also am worried incase they tell me no again and keep letting him get away with it. Its 230am now and I've had to leave paying for two bills this week to ensure I have enough money to pay my rent and council tax should he not cough up. I'm already in strict budgets for food shopping and utilities and because of being on a tight budget I generally only take my kids out on one big day out a year and now I worry I can't. Has anyone had to go through csa and do collect and pay and can you tell me how you got on? Also if you read all of this thank you so much.