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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ex paying more maintenance so no longer feeding/entertaining our child?!

86 replies

TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 21:54

You may remember my previous posts about issues with my ex and I've had a lot of stick so it may ring bells!!

Me and ex fell out recently, a minor argument that went too far. He didnt want to sort things out and wanted no communication so I contacted CMS to ensure financial support was not withdrawn following this sudden breakdown of friendship. As he is due his second child it's been a concern he may stop our private agreement and I couldn't speak to him about my concerns s as he cut communication. I believed £80 a month we had previously agreed was accurate from his wages.

Following our argument, he suddenly wanted to sort out differences but actually had discovered that CMS was now involved and he was to go from £80 p/m to £260 p/m. I never expected that. I didn't stop the claim as I felt he was manipulating me and low and behold he hates me again for going ahead as he will not be able to continue taking our son to kickboxing, keeps his Xbox games pass or go for pizzas/cinema etc with our son anymore!

Unbeknownst to me, they pulled out that larger figure because he has a company car. He wanted me to stop the CMS case as it was taking too much due to the company car but refused to share contact details again with me, my opinion was 'he no longer wants to be friends therefore his financial problems are none of my business' and he needs to take the issue up with CMS.

He didn't pay anything or have regular contact for 8 years so he got off lightly for a longtime, I didn't chase him because we got on and I didn't want to cause him stress. It's a major guilt for me because he is expecting a baby with his wife this month but I never expected I'd been 'under paid' so much for four years so I didn't intend for more money. I've had people on here call me jealous and vindictive but it's never been about those things and only 4 weeks ago I'd have laughed if anyone had told me how bad our relationship would be now! I applied for mediation to sort this, and agree a maintenance arrangement but he has refused to take part.

I stopped feeling so bad when I realised my household income is half of his and we support two adults, a teen and a toddler on it. Him and his wife had double our income for just themselves for many years and yet paid me only £80 maintenance whilst enjoying foreign holidays, taking out a mortgage and an expensive wedding - all fine but how much of the money spent was rightfully for me/DS?!

So, last week when he called DS to arrange picking him up he said 'you will have to have tea as I can't afford to buy any now your Mum's gone to CMS and we will just be going to sit at Nanas house'.

DS is 15 so it's not as easy as going to the park or soft play but he just enjoys his Dad's company he's even happy to just be with him, sit at his house or go food shopping for example.

AIBU in thinking he is just being spiteful? Previously they would have gone for food and done something like the arcades or driven back to his house but he claims he is getting a new car and "it won't be as easy to fiddle the mileage".

I offered to pay for him and DS to continue kickboxing and he said 'it doesn't work like that'.

He sees him once a week for 3 hours and the old fortnightly one night sleepover (Friday 5pm until Saturday 2pm) arrangement is replaced with a Saturday 10 - 5 twice a month until 'the baby is in a routine', so a total of 26 hours per month. I'd allow more but ex has never wanted it.

OP posts:
TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 22:34

@Clutterbugsmum

Good point thank you Smile

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 10/09/2018 22:37

It's good that your son is 15 and will see this for what it is. Your ex shouldn't be taking it out on his son. And he has got away with not paying maintenance for years. I'd just leave them to get on with it.

Justabouthadituptohere · 10/09/2018 22:38

I’m glad your son will see what a dick his dad is - your ex is manipulative and shallow. Pretty low not giving to your own son. Good job you left him and I hope you get what’s owed to you retrospectively too.

lowtide · 10/09/2018 22:39

Oh op. He barely checks out on the “standard things for a human” list.

But your son loves him, and looks up to him. Perhaps if I were you I would sit down with your ex and tell him how devastating his behaviour is to your son. I mean I don’t think it will work, but it’s perhaps worth a go.
Nothing you’ve said about him makes him sound like a good person. And I fear that the new baby is going to come along and isolate your son further. It’s heartbreaking for your son. Poor kid.

PorkFlute · 10/09/2018 22:40

I’d just tell your ds the facts - he’s old enough. The fact that you were doing stuff with him while his dad was paying £20 a week but now he’s crying poverty despite earning a lot more.
If contact isn’t court ordered could you switch days so you can take him to kickboxing?

pallisers · 10/09/2018 22:41

He is not a decent person in my opinion. Failing to provide for your child and whining to that child about having to pay for him is about the opposite of decency to me.

Unbeknownst to me, they pulled out that larger figure because he has a company car.

Is that what he told you? Bet the dog also ate his homework.

Your ds is 15. Talk to him and say you are sorry that his dad involves him in what is private between the two of you but you are doing what is right. He doesn't need to worry. Then la la la to whatever dickhead says to you.

Your ds is curious about his dad as he navigates teenage years. I doubt it will last long. Kids are far better at sussing out character that we think.

Lucked · 10/09/2018 22:41

He wants no communication so I would embrace that. Whatever contact details you have for him should be what he has for you. Black him on your phone. The best option would be an email address only.

At 15 he can arrange things directly with your DS. Stay out of all the crap about him being potless and having to sit in the dark, I don't understand why you are taking this so seriously!

TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 22:41

@Sausagerollers @MadameButterface

I always wonder that too sausage! Whereas I had a DC with my husband 8 years after he showed me how amazing he was as a Dad to our son who he did not make. I also think Madame will be bang on. I now know that exes wife has a simmering resentment towards us because of the times ex came to pick DS up and we weren't in. We weren't in because there was no set times - it could be anytime between 3.30 and 6.30pm and range from 1 hour to 4 hours contact. He would usually ring when he was on his way and agree a meeting point or drop him off ourselves to ex's house. The occasions he has just turned up at ours and we weren't there he has no doubt bad mouthed us, we treated it casually because he did and we always accommodated dropping him off if we weren't home! I think on those occasions he's moaned to his wife about it - or she has possibly even with him - but as she works a lot she wouldn't necessarily know about the times where everything has been casual and sorted conveniently for all!

OP posts:
Fuzzywig · 10/09/2018 22:42

To quote Alpacanorange he is a cuntychops of the highest order.

Why do exes think it’s ok to hurt their kids to get back at their exes? I just think of mine as his own evil twin he wasn’t brilliant when we were together but he’s a total bastard now and I think it’s down to money. They seem to begrudge every penny and wouldn’t care if you were sleeping on a park bench. They should care what it does to their kids though. It’s heartbreaking. I hope your ex starts treating your son better.

I would give my son spending money but I am sure it won’t resolve anything. Why have they got to go to Nan’s does your son spend any time at Dad’s?

Dollymixture22 · 10/09/2018 22:42

He is cheap. He should have been paying his fair share to support his son. £80 is nothing - hunk about what a teenage boy eats! Never mind clothes and activities and other household expenses. Being a parent is about wanting the best for your child. He hasn’t stepped up for years and is now in a huff because he has to. Take the money. Use it to support your son. I am sure he will pay this and more to support the new baby. Why should your son be worth any less

KC225 · 10/09/2018 22:44

I fail to see how he is a person. You are too bloody nice OP. He is an arse. He didn't pay a penny for 8 years and has made and nominal sum for the last 4. He CHOOSES not to spend additional time with his son. He bad mouths you to your son. He is now refusing to make the little amount of time he pleasant. I fail to see the decency in that lot.

I agree with the other posters, do not feel guilty about the money. Send your son with a pack lunch. Or some vouchers and cash - son can treat his Dad. I bet your son will love that.

LellyMcKelly · 10/09/2018 22:47

He was paying £80 a month? Seriously? Is that all he thinks a child costs? That’s insane. He’s clearly on a good salary, has a nice company car, but is bitching about having to pay the going rate - the normal going rate? Jesus, what a manbaby.

Findingdotty · 10/09/2018 22:48

I do feel for you. But I feel for your DS even more. How horrible to be an age to understand what is going on and to feel so unwanted and unloved by his dad. What a shitty horrible father he is to treat his son like that and sleep at night.

sue51 · 10/09/2018 22:50

What kind of man deprives his son for years and when found out behaves like a stroppy child? Don't waste a minute feeling guilty, you have subsidised him for years time for him to pay up.

LellyMcKelly · 10/09/2018 22:50

Yeah, the company car story is also bullshit. Your son is 15 now. Leave the arrangements to them.

Findingdotty · 10/09/2018 22:50

I wouldn't worry about the food just use the extra money you have every month now to take your DS out for a lovely treat when he gets home from his dad's at 5pm. Just replace the crappy afternoon with his dad for a great evening with his mum instead.

TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 22:53

@lowtide

We have had many run ons over this, our main source of any arguments have been when he has put his wife's/his needs over DS needs. We've argued most about contact and from the side of DS wants to see him more! His wife who wasn't there when DS was younger things ex 'fought' to see DS. That is infuriating because he did nothing and was always made welcome at my house! My DH has long worried that the new baby would cause DS to be pushed out further and I thought everything would be OK so the timing of this when she was 36 weeks pregnant has been so sad as it gives him the opportunity to withdraw more. Because I attempted to speak to ex's wife to sort things out (and she claimed she felt threatened) they will now not allow DS to sleep as she is "frightened I will come around when DS is there". Except I'm not a violent or intimidating person (I hate confrontation but will stand up for myself then cry afterwards 😁) and wouldn't go out of my way to cause an argument with them or give them excuse to not have my son there, I have no reason to go round to their house as it's clear they won't engage.

OP posts:
Oswin · 10/09/2018 22:55

The no staying over thing because of the new baby is horrible. I would prepare yourself for your son not being allowed in his dads house again. Going to the nans instead after the maitenance has gone off. Sounds to me like shes fuming he has to actually pay for his child.
He is awful. A scumbag.
Never ever let him make you feel guilty!

TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 22:56

@pallisers

I don't want him to hate his Dad bit I do hope one day he realises how amazing his 'step' Dad has been. This man takes the daily abuse from him and has sat up with him at night when he was ill or rushed him.to the hospital as scared as me. I tell DH that he's get the teenage abuse and moaning because he's his real Dad now, biological Dad is just 'Fun Uncle Dad'.

OP posts:
TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 23:02

@Fuzzywig

I was reading into the company car and CMS issue and found a forum of father's trying to fight it. One said he left a job with a company car to a lower paid job and his child maintenance payment halved but he had roughly the same take home income for himself. So he halved his child maintenance and made no difference to his lifestyle just so the mother of his child didn't get the higher figure! And he is proud of that!

These idiots have never bought a school uniform, shoes, P.E. Kit, school shoes, football boots and trainers for a secondary school kid have they!!!??

DS will benefit from the extra money, I am giving him a £20 monthly pocket money increase and I will switch to better internet as he hates how ours lags during his online games Grin. He's a fussy eater and even though he should get free school meals he takes a packed lunch. You can quickly see that £80 a month wasn't even close to a contribution for a modern day teen..!

OP posts:
TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 23:04

I would give my son spending money but I am sure it won’t resolve anything. Why have they got to go to Nan’s does your son spend any time at Dad’s?

Ex seems to be refusing that at moment.
Ex house is a 15 minute drive away but his Nana lives closer. Even DS said "I think he is just trying to make a point"!

OP posts:
TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 23:07

@Dollymixture22

Also my opinion!

I am not sure how ex and his wife split income but I have a strong suspicion he pays her so much and keeps the rest. He contained he wouldn't be able to give her as much for the mortgage - a mortgage in her name that DS won't benefit from. I have no doubt their new baby will be well provided for by her so I have to think of my 'baby' now.

OP posts:
pallisers · 10/09/2018 23:09

Your ds is right. He is only trying to make a point. The kind of point only an asshole would make mind you.

Ignore him. Don't worry about what he does with your ds. If it is grim, sitting with Nana eating bread and water, your ds will eventually vote with his feet. To be honest, not only does your ex not sound like a decent man, he doesn't sound very bright either - who thinks telling his ds he can't feed him will make him want to see him?

Your mistake was going on those insane "fathers protesting giving money to bad women" forums. :)

I bet your ds knows right now who is the real parental figure in his life. he knows who his actual family it.

TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 10/09/2018 23:11

@KC225

Send your son with a pack lunch. Or some vouchers and cash - son can treat his Dad. I bet your son will love that.

Great idea, he can't really refuse DS asking to go somewhere at no expense to him!!

And when I didn't get ex a present from my son this year (he didn't get pocket money at this point), ex kicked up a fuss because he looked forward to "DS present the most" so I know he expects to be spoilt Grin

Also guess how many times I ever had mothers day/birthday gifts arranged from ex since we split. Yep, 0.

OP posts:
Maelstrop · 10/09/2018 23:13

Can’t you go for post dated payments, OP? Your ex sounds like a twat. Fancy threatening to cut contact due to poor behaviour! Idiot.

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