To believe CMS scammed me

[MidnightJen]

I have been using Child Maintenance Service for several years. I havent communicated directly with my ex for some time however we ended up talking on the phone for about 2hrs as he tried to renegotiate a reduction in CM. Anyway as we got talking he disclosed that he has been sending £400pm to CMS every month of which I've received just under £300.
However there was 2 consecutive months last year where I received £63 each month (I wrongly assumed that he had sent cms much small amount so I didn't query it) but he has confirmed and backed it up by sending photos of his bank statements showing that he did send £400.

I have contacted cms and they also confirmed receiving £400pm and see no obvious reason why only £63 was sent to me. My case has been past on to the specialist team for investigation. This was about 4 weeks ago. I am just wondering if anyone has experienced any thing similar?

I can't help but think that they are using the fact that some parents don't communicate and so discrepancies/theif aren't known.

I find this shocking. I am in Australia but was initially assuming that CMS is the same as our Child Support Agency which is a government run agency. I am realising this is not the case because you are charged?? To have someone collect maintenance for you to support your child? People say our CSA is flawed but this genuinely surprises me. I hope they can find out where your money is going and repay it to you Op.

@ReginaGeorgeIsAFuglySlut

I find this shocking. I am in Australia but was initially assuming that CMS is the same as our Child Support Agency which is a government run agency. I am realising this is not the case because you are charged?? To have someone collect maintenance for you to support your child? People say our CSA is flawed but this genuinely surprises me. I hope they can find out where your money is going and repay it to you Op.

It's a government dept, part of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. They charge us to discourage us from using them. Their preferred method is 'sort it out between yourselves' & they refuse to acknowledge that this leaves many women with a choice between no maintenance or financial control/abuse.

The best way would be collection via tax code for the employed (like our student loan collection is done). And for the self employed to be set by the family court where 'probability' can be used. E.g. You earn £12k on paper but there's evidence that you're leading a £50k lifestyle so maintenance will be set in relation to that, not the figures from your accountant.