To ask him to contribute more?

[ChocolateCakeChips]

My ex doesnt have contact with our children. He has been consistently paying £28 a month for them through collect and pay on child maintenance. Would I be unreasonable to contact him to ask if he is willing to contribute any more to support them? Obviously £28 a month goes nowhere and he isn’t having contact so should be paying more. (I know he isn’t relying solely on benefits)

£28 is pathetic. Whether he's in their life or not, he still has a responsibility as their father. If he's unlikely to consider an increase then go to CMS who will determine the correct amount. I think they have a calculator on their page. Have you used that to work out what is a fairer amount?

Edit: sorry I missed that the £28 is through CMS. Why is the amount so low? Have his circumstances changed since it was agreed?

I would consult CMS first to get an understanding of the correct amount.

If you’re having to use collect and pay to get £28 a month from him why do you think he’d be willing to contribute more?

It’s on the post it’s through child maintenance service

I Guess you don’t ask you dont get, nothing to lose in asking

Well you can certainly ask but I wouldn't expect him to cough up voluntarily. He doesn't even bother to see his children!

Of course you have nothing to loose however I don’t think someone who earns and contributes so little is likely to willingly hand over more

Can you prove he works and is not just on benefits?

No I know because he told me but I have no proof of it.

I guess you have your peace to lose though. All that needs to happen is that he gets a girlfriend on the scene who wonders why he doesn’t see his kids and suddenly the get shuttled into his life as a prop.

That would be nice if he wanted contact, I’ve never stopped him.

I sent Cms proof that my daughter's dad works and claims benefits. They aren't interested. He's still working, claiming benefits and paying £28 a month

You can ask, but to be honest, a man who thinks it's OK to only contribute £28 in the first place, is a waste of space.

Us it worth the bother?

Any man who cares so little about his kids that’s he doesn’t even see them at all and can live with that will definitely never pay for them voluntarily

Thats not necessarily true, I’ve seen a few posts on here about men who don’t see their kids but pay over the odds on child maintenance because it makes them feel less guilty. Maybe he might be feeling guilty and would be willing to provide more
.