would you bother to claim child maintenance even if there are no payments due for the “principle”? I want to close my case as it’s nil assessment but keep hearing how I should keep it open for the “principle” what principle?! There are NO payments? It’s been years. I don’t want to give my ex the satisfaction of laughing at how he gets away with it. I get keeping it open for the principle if there was some payment however small, but there is none.