Child Maintenance Tribunals

[SWD75]

Hi,

I have a Child support tribunal hearing coming up, I have finally received the un-redacted bank statements and discovered that he also has a business that he has not disclosed to the CMS or tribunal, I should be in CID, additionally he spends some £300 a month on eating out, £400 a month on travel and all this when he earns only £1225 a month. Has anyone been through this process and had a result in their favour? His arrears are now in the region of £10,000, over the past two years I have received less than a £1000 pounds from him, am I wasting my time going to this tribunal? Kinda feel I am.

SWD75 I don’t think you’re wasting your time at all. There are a couple of threads on here about people successfully going to tribunal and getting a fair result.

Can I ask you how long did it take from starting the appeals process to actually going to tribunal?

I’m in a similar situation and am contemplating starting the appeals process, but I’ve read that it can take months, or even years. Not sure what I’m going to do at the moment.

Hi,

So far it has taken some 10 months get to this stage. It was actually him who appealed to the tribunal on the basis that the CMS refused to reduce his payments as he was contributing to the mortgage. The CMS then had to review the decision and overturned it, makes me laugh as as soon as they did that he stopped paying the mortgage. I then appealed their decision. Evidence was submitted by the CMS but then he failed to follow directions and so it has dragged on and on, there are some 400 pages of evidence, and it will be a one hour hearing. I was told last week that currently it is taking 6-9 months to get a Court date. The CMS and the current laws are a joke, they have lots of legal powers but never seem to want to use them!

SWD75, Agree with you there about them not using the powers they have, and it dragging on and on. In my case they are chasing arrears, he has made a partial payment, a caseworker closed the arrears in error, so now I have to start chasing the arrears again. Letters have to be sent out again, he will be given a further two weeks to respond, CMS will negotiate etc.

I found voiceofthechild.org really good for information. They have copies of the CMS policies and procedures.

Sorry, that link isn’t working - I think it is voiceofthechild.org.uk

How did you get on at the Tribunal? Was it a favourable result? I am in a similar situation to you and have a directions hearing this week that I am hoping will lead to a proper hearing. My ex is currently giving £11 a week but his lifestyle adds up to around £4000. He's self employed and tells the inland revenue he earns £190 a week.