To think that this makes no sense. CMS related

[Meeeep]

I received a letter today saying I will now be charged 4% of the child maintenance payments, fine not a problem I understand the new system.

Except I don't receive child maintenance and haven't since the claim was made approx 8 months ago. My ex works but is very good at dodging any payments. The letter prompted me to call the general enquiry line to double check how this works when payments are not being received and the man I spoke to said I will still be billed?

Surely this can't be right and if it is AIBU to think its ridiculous a NRP has to pay 4% of the expected CM when it never gets paid? I understand that it is a calc and collect service but if they aren't bloody collecting it what exactly am I paying for?

Sorry a RP not a NRP

Sounds crazy! Surely it can't be right.If you are paying for a service and they don't do as they say they will then...? I don't get it!

That can't be right surely? Does he mean it'll be on account? Ex owes 100% maintenance, less 4% charge.... Left building until he does pay? He can't mean a direct invoice.

I guess that means that if they ever do get any money off him, they'll deduct 4% before they give it to you.

But 4% of nothing is nothing, so I wouldn't worry about it!

He will receive charges at a higher rate than me which I assume will be taken into account through the arrears but it still means that I due the 4%. The mans exact word were "well you will get billed for these" I presume he meant a paper bill but I guess it could be that the 4% will be deducted when the payments finally if ever come through.

They are updating their systems so they couldn't look at my specific claim and that was the general enquiry line.

Even if it does get held off until the payments start to get made it would mean I get charged for payments that were due long before the charge services even came into play.

I'm pretty sure they deduct the 4% from the payments they give you. They'd be crazy to pay people the money first, and then send them a bill for the 4%.

I think you might find it gets deducted off old backpayments too - though at least you'd be getting something if they ever arrive.

I know they won't bill me once I'm getting payments it will come off directly but what he had said is that whilst I'm not receiving payments I will still be billed IYSWIM

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I don't think are actually after the 4% of you ,they'll take it of any maintenace you receive (should you ever receive some ).

Hopefully because what the man said was that but I'm thinking it must be wrong as if I was to have a case open for 10 years and never received a penny if he is correct is that I would be being billed for that entire time which just doesn't make sense to me

I think they just warn you in case you do get a payment (regardless of how long it's been since the last one ) and you notice some money missing. It's like the small print ,covering themselves.