To ask, how much are Mumsnetters owed in maintenence arrears?

[whothehellknows]

I know from previous threads that there are lots of us on MN with ExP's that do anything they can to avoid maintenence.

Last night in a fit of ire (because ExP who "can't afford to pay maintenence" told me about how he's looking to buy a fucking boat) I used the CMS calculator to double check how much he should have been paying all this time. In total, our kids have missed out on over £6000 in payments in two years. The number really shook me. I'm sitting here thinking how many times I've cried in desperation trying to make ends meet, worked overtime, sold my stuff and gone without to take care of my kids. What a difference that money could have made.

I know it's a broken record, but I can't help but think that lone parents would need a lot less help from the state if NRP's had to step up and pay for their kids.

So out of curiosity, more than anything else, I'm wondering how much mumsnetters have had to make do without-- I'm betting it's a mind blowing amount.

If your ex should be paying and isn't, how much has he managed to dodge?

I think one solution would be to fix a charge on their homes if they're home owners. (And many of these 'broke' men do seem to hold on to their houses or get new ones after a split). So if they die/want to move, then you are automatically paid a sum that would be commensurate to at least part of the cost of bringing the child/ren up. So essentially, they can "move on" but their kids OWN their house. It would be a wake up call to subsequent partners to deadbeat dads, as well - as they or their kids could never collect - the man's entire property would be their children's from day one. If you lose a court case a charge can be put against your house, on the deeds or something

This currently happens where property is owned. The CSA owns just less than half of my ex's house. It was the only way he could be persauded to pay maintenance - even then, they had to take it to the point of it being taken from under him before he paid anything. Once he pays what he owes, the process will (I hope) start again.

I also think there should be no statute of limitations

there is no statuate of limitations on child maintenance if it is claimed through the CSA.

I don't know if it's true for anyone else, but for me there's also a big worry about how he's going to behave when CMS get in touch. It messes with your head.

Has anyone ever gone through small claims to collect arrears?

According to this old thread, you can't use Small Claims Court for Child Support

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/77756-small-claims-court-and-non-payment-of-maintenance-through-csa

No feedback from MNHQ. If you're interested in the idea of a campaign, report the thread and maybe somebody will pop up.

I do wonder if it is possible to link in with credit agency so these parent try to apply for new credit cards/mortgages loans etc that it would show up as a unpaid debt which they have to clear (and not be written off) before being able to secure another loan for example.

And maybe when it starts to affect them and their lives may be it will help.

officially about £9,700.
Hardly any point paying child support options their twenty quid to get the ball rolling is there?
I will never see that money and he knows it.
When he sees the kids he tells them how very stupid 'the English' are.
He might have point of course.
I must have been FUKCING stupid to let him inseminate me.

I know my ex works, but not sure what his wage is. I put it down as NMW. He also has a bunch of other kids with his new missus. I only estimated for the last three years. He still owes me five grand, according to the calculator. Thirty quid a week.

Bastard.

Clutterbugsmum...this was in the news last year about credit ratings being affected. As normal, it's talked about but no action taken. It is time for a campaign and I am more than happy to get involved.

I will report to MNHQ too and see if anybody appears...!

not had a penny in 6 years

bimbam that is bloody ridiculous.

They have put a charge on my ex's house, but as it stands until he sells it I'll still get nothing. (Although there has been talk of enforced sale)How these ppl get a mortgage when there self employed and pleading poverty to Csa is beyond me anyway

Was it MrsC, must have passed me by.

Sooooo... Even if they put a charge on someone's house, like a couple of the previous posters have mentioned, nothing actually happens unless the NRP sells the house? They can just stay put and hope you die before they do?

(Coincidentally, that was my Ex's answer to maintenance-- "I'll just keep paying the mortgage and when I die the kids will inherit the house". Swell, that'll buy school shoes...)

As far as I know yes, Csa have taken my ex to court again to get a 2nd liability order?? From what I can gather this means they could force sale, but I'm doubtful this will happen

Deducting the odd £25 that XH threw our way- c. £60,000. He was ordered to pay £75 per week when we divorced (ds1 was 3.5). Ds1 is now 19.

I made my peace with it, tbh. It used to get me so angry and that amount of anger is no good for anyone. XH died last year, so no chance of getting anything back now anyway.

I haven't read the whole thread so please excuse me if this has already been discussed.
When my youngest left full time education the csa closed the case, but this left a bill of arrears. Although encouraged to close the case and forget about the arrears, I asked for it to go to the enforcement team.
It took months but the enforcement team insisted on the money. He of course appealed in the county court and then again in a tribunal? but, lost both appeals.
Consequently he has been paying £100 a month for the past 6 years and this will continue until he has paid off his debt.
Obviously I don't know if it is the same now, but it is worth looking into to see if this may be an action that you could take?
As an aside each I spoke to someone from csa I made a note of the time the date, their name, the department and what was discussed. I also asked when I could call them back for an update on the case etc. etc.

I was told that I had to pay exp back csa. Because he had built up arrears they issued a default payment of £30 a week x four years. He was self employed and refused to engage submitting tax returns for four years. Eventually they obtained several liability orders on him and involved bailiffs. He payed off £100 for twelve months. Then decided to submit four years of tax returns. Lo and behold he only lives on £10 a week. Therefore I owe him the difference in the £1200 he paid the csa told me I have to pay it back to him!!!!

Good grief leafitout. That must be a bitter pill to swallow.

deardeire I am quietly waiting for that day. I have the liability orders for over 10k and I will always pay whatever fee necessary to CMS to keep the arrears and judgement 'live' because I believe one day, I'll get something.

He is part owner in a family business and has a wealthy family. At some point he's going to come into money and by God, I want what's due for the children. Two DCs are disabled and their quality of life and future employment prospects are dire. I owe it to them never to give up.

Hi all,
We had this thread reported and replied to the poster that we would pass it on, so we're just popping on here to pass on the message to you all as it's still being reported? Cheers. Mega busy night tonight, apols for harassed tone.

Thanks HelenMN!

Katniramal you have to keep at it. You're clearly a fantastic Mum . I am about to commence this battle and if my ex thinks I will ever give up, he's got another think coming.

Only a few hundred in arrears that I'll be lucky to ever see. In reality he should have paid much more than he did for quite a while but had hidden income. Now he's self employed along with working his casual job for a bit of fun. CMS won't take his casual job into consideration as he works when he feels like it, although this can be quite a bit if he feels like it. The business he owns, it was originally thought he had signed it over to his girlfriend but he's diverted his income instead and is showing an income of 1p a year!!! 1p a year yet while his gf has been on maternity leave and only receiving Maternity Allowance, he managed to pay maintenance, £750 a month rent, running of 2 cars, fairly heavy amount of bills, nights out, weekends away, one and a half grand on a 4 night break, buy piles of crap. His gf posts entire details of life and finances in various places online so I can pick that up, CMS want actual proof though.

He's now assessed as not having to pay anything since April/May this year I think it was. Not looking likely I'll be able to get it sorted right now.

To me it's not so much about the money though. It's about the responsibility and him,once again, washing his hands of the only responsibility he had for our son as he doesn't want to see him either and hasn't for over 3 years :(

Sounds just like my ex. I just try to concentrate on the fact that my son won't be a child forever & as a adult he will know what type of man his father is, no money or contact just have to do the best you can

Also can some1 tell me what that post up thread was about, being reported?? I'm new here, sorry lol