Child Maintenance, changing the way you pay

[newbiebegentle]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with changing from a Deductions of Earnings Order to standing order on CSA.

My other half has paid his maintenance payments for his DC from previous marriage through his work, he then changed jobs back in September, made them aware months before he would be changing and his increase in pay they told him to let them know at the time. I did this (I speak on his behalf to CSA because he doesn't understand it all).

They then told me he was eligible for a standing order so wouldn't have to set up DEO with new employer. They said this would start in October (shock it didn't).
I phoned again they said it's going to take longer and no timescales have been advised.

His Ex Partner has now been without payments for 2 months. She phoned them today and they told her they are going for DEO from his pay again as no payment received in 2 months, but this is due to him awaiting the standing order set up.

Does anyone have any experience with this or know around about timescale it takes to change the way you pay CSA?

The person responsible for setting up a standby order is the payer. In this case your oh.

Why doesn't he just pay her direct? ( His bank account to her's) DEOs are usually put in place when AP is reluctant to pay.

I just changed to a standing order to my ex wife's account once the CSA stopped collecting. Very easy.

He's more than happy to set up direct pay to her, however before he met me, he was less reliable and she doesn't trust him to pay on time and regularly hence the DEO.
When I say standing order, it is meant to be set up to go straight from him to CSA as a direct debit, then they pay exPartner. It is something Child Maintenance have to set up not the payer.

DEOs are usually put in place when AP is reluctant to pay. - THIS. When I phoned CMS they asked me if I really needed their services or could something be arranged privately as they obviously deduct a fee - if your partner is willing to pay then why not set up a private arrangement/standing order rather than letting CMS pay a chunk? Makes no sense to me. Or does she feel he won't stick to a private arrangement? if so why does she think that?

Cross post

Why does he pay through the CSA? Surely any decent man would be making voluntary payments?

To put it into perspective, ExPartner has to agree and let child Maintenance know she is happy for direct pay before he can do that.
He is setting up the direct debit to CSA so he can prove he is reliable for 6 months, if there are no missed payments in 6 months he can then do direct pay without ExPartners approval.

Has your OH set up a SO to CSA ? From what you are saying he hasn't therefore they are going to deduct from his earnings again.

Cross post. Sounds like your OH's ex has not been receiving maintenance regularly so is- understandably- reluctant to trust him. Why is he " setting up a DD" ? Why the delay when she hasn't received money for THEIR child(ren) for 2 months?

I think the point is being missed.

The main concern is that she has not been paid for 2 months, this money is in a savings account ready to pay. However because CSA have delayed setting the Direct Debit up to themselves and then they can pay it to her (minus fees) she is without it and so are the children. This is the only way he can prove he is reliable enough for direct pay from his account to her account as understandably she unsure to trust him. (None of this I'm disputing)

He would transfer the money straight to her if they wouldn't then make him pay it again.

They have his bank account details to set everything up but just haven't and we have chased it many times and they say it is in progress

I'm trying to see if anyone has had this issue before and know how long roughly it takes to put all of our minds at rest

The CSA doesn't exist any more, as far as I'm aware? I think that it's been replaced by the new organisation, which charges both parties to collect money.

This doesn't ring true. We moved to the new system in September; they'd located my exP (for whom I had no address), made their assessment and set up DOE within 3 weeks. I then received my first payment ahead of schedule. I have found them to be far more efficient than the old CSA. It's your responsibility to set up any other type of payment though so the delay is not caused by them.

Op is it CSA or CMS

Why doesn't he make a card payment in the meantime awaiting set up of the direct debit?

DEO is an enforced method of collection therefore suggests DH is non compliant...has he had any warning letters telling him about missed payments? Are you sure it wasn't standing order and he was meant to take schedule to the bank to set up?

Or alternately he could make a bank transfer directly to his ex marking the payment child maintenance ( that is the most important part) however you need to let them know so they can adjust his arrears balance

Why can't he pay her direct until it's sorted then if the CMO take the money 'owed' (so twice) his ex can give it him back?

'He doesnt understand it' seriously?!

Sorry my mistake it is the new CMS, I forget they are 2 different things.

The fact you have to set it up yourself is untrue. You can see this on the gov website it states

"Child maintenance can be paid:
• directly between parents
• directly from the ‘paying’ parent’s earnings - the service arranges this with their employer
• by direct debit - the service managing your case can set this up."
The last option is what he is changing to. Also with him changing job and having 25% increase in salary means a reassessment of his payments was also due and he hasn't had any letters to confirm what this will be.

I have asked several times for confirmation in writing that they are in the progress of setting everything up and there is nothing he can do at the moment but wait and not spend the money that is owed. Everytime they say this will be sent however never do.

They are not on amicable enough terms that she would be trust worthy enough to pay any overpayments back. Just as she doesn't believe he is trustworthy enough to directly pay her.

This system is something CMS have recommended along with also recommending not pay directly as he may incur further fees from them.

And in reference to "he doesn't understand it" he does to an extent but he finds it far easier for me to talk it through with CMS, which is true for a lot of men when it comes to anything financial

He can call and pay the missed payments by debit card whilst waiting for the direct debit to be set up. He needs the direct debit in place ASAP as by payments being paid via CMS he is paying an extra 20%. Once he's paid the direct debit for six months he can then start paying direct with no collection fee. If it's taking too long raise a complaint.

You can check the status of your arrangement online now too.

Op call tomorrow and make a card payment to get money to these children asap. Escalate to a team leader and explain the issues surrounding the DD set up

They are not on amicable enough terms that she would be trust worthy enough to pay any overpayments back.

Well he could always just let her keep it. I mean he's paying the bare minimum, would it be really awful for his children to have a bit extra from him just for once?

which is true for a lot of men when it comes to anything financial

Indeed, men are crap with understanding complicated things like finances. That's why women run the world... oh wait...

Thank you. That's great I wasn't aware he could make a card payment over the phone for missed payments. That will be a quick fix while it is getting resolved.

Also they've not paid her his final payment from previous employer in Sept which he has his payslip to prove has been taken out. Just feels like it's been a complete nightmare.

He agreed to pay her the amount he pays now (including fees) to go direct pay so the kids would benefit more. Just hoping she may agree so they can cut out the middle man.