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[moirarosebabay]

Abusive ex sends text to say he's reducing maintenance payments for our son. Maintenance was £224 per month agreed through solicitor in 2014 and has never increased since. I've recently heard from my son that exes girlfriend and their baby have moved out due to too much fighting. I'm assuming this is now him splitting maintenance to cover another child so think it's ridiculous he's talking about belt tightening Covid restrictions. Thinking I probably won't bother replying TBH. There is a lot I could say but engaging with him is probably not a good idea.

He would pay x percentage split over his 2 DC though that's why he's reducing it...

Is it 15 or 20 percent for 2 DC?

As far as I understand it he pays 12% for one child and 16% for two of his monthly wage. That is then divided in two for you and the mum of his other child.

He's under paying then

Don't forget his overtime income on top of his basic salary. This could well be substantial and regular.

As everyone else has said calculate it via cmo calculator put in overnights other children etc etc see what it gives you

CMS all the way.

Fuck him.

Thank you everyone. A much as I like the suggested reply about DS said GF moved out I don't dare destabilise my mental health by engaging in a pointless texting situation with him, took me ages to feel better after his abuse. I think I will just go CMS to have everything done properly and have certainty in place. Nice to hear from others who get it. I understand the law but it still feels unfair he can do this.

Really?? @MunchBunchYoghurt all coppers are nasty

This is one time a DM leak would be great - name, photo and how he won’t pay for his children. I am really disappointed knowing that a top ranking sergeant is trying to wriggle out at bare minimum. Great role model. Ignore and keep him guessing. Lucky he’s not a detective or he’d know his text was online and we think he’s a twat

If he has another child to now pay for, Your money does go down

To be honest, the amount he was paying is about right. Through the CMS I think my ex was paying around £ 425 - £450 for two children and he was a high earner, with hardly any contact.

While I don't think they're all cut from the same cloth, to think this is unexpected from a police officer is very, very naive.

How are covid restrictions impacting on his income and expenditure?

Yes it does go down but OP's ex is paying far less than he should be paying as a pp said.
The government child maintenance website says he should be paying far more than he does now.
Using £46K as his salary & having to pay maintenance for 2 children, both the children's mothers should be receiving at least £255.
That's £255 for each child

to think this is unexpected from a police officer is very, very naive.

I agree with you. They are no different to other men in different occupations. They lie, they cheat, they abuse ...when I say they, I don't mean every police officer.

He was abusive...so this is no surprise.

@SandyY2K

How are covid restrictions impacting on his income and expenditure?

That's the question I have (but don't want to engage as that way lies madness as he will tie me up in knots with his crazy responses)

So he's on £46,227 CMS calculator agrees with him, which is disgusting how can one parent's share of raising a child be £59 a week. Go through CMS though because that only accounts for his basic salary, not overtime or shift bonuses so you might be entitled to more. Ugh men who pay the absolute minimum for their children.

@SpookyGin

While I don't think they're all cut from the same cloth, to think this is unexpected from a police officer is very, very naive.

Yup. He's racist as well. He had the police called on him but ended up with a promotion and counselling off the record. That said one of my oldest friends is in the police and is lovely. A previous poster on Mumsnet said to me that abusive men are often attracted to jobs that give them power over people.

Urgh. How pathetic.

This is why CM should come out as PAYE. He shouldn’t have the option to reduce it unless his wage is less.

Actually scratch that he's saying less than CMS

You are right to not to engage, I think he put in to goad you into a response.

However, his maintenance will reduce now he has another child to support. It’s a shame he has gone about it in this way, and a shame he is expected to pay so little towards his children’s upbringing.

What has the current situation got to do with him reducing his payments? As a top sergeant his job won’t be at risk nor will get a wage reduction so why is he using the lockdown as an excuse?

I should think your son needs more maintenance now than when he was younger and even if it is a bad time your ex must have had a pay rise since this was negotiated. Go back to your original solicitor he seems to have got you the better deal.

Definitely ignore and go through CMS - hope you end up with much more

He's a fucking arsehole

Overtime in his role is usual. Do not reply to him or he'll stop overtime to make his income look less. Just contact CMS and say nothing to him.