Childcare costs

[toni1946]

My ex husband pays the basic minimum child maintenance and he is a high earner. The children are in my care. When (for whatever reason) he doesn't arrive for scheduled time with the kids, I have to pay for child care, as I work full-time. AIBU to expect him to pay those costs?

I think if he's paying The correct amount then I think it's covered by yourself. Check online using the calculator as if he is a high earner surly he shouldn't be paying the "basic" amount or do you mean the basic amount based on his income?

I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask him - it's his fault you have the additional cost.

Legally you are responsible for the costs.

Morally he should pay.

Are you saying that on his scheduled days when he doesn’t collect the children you arrange childcare? Surely if the children are in his care he should? (I know you wouldn’t leave you kids to sort themselves if he didn’t!) but if he’s paying a certain amount of maintenance based on the number of nights he has them and then doesn’t surely the amount of nights he has them changes in which case the amount would change unless he’s already on less than 1 night! X

Sorry, I should have been clearer. He's paying child maintenance at the level his salary demands (via deduction from salary, because of his unreliability). The visits in question aren't the overnight stays. He picks them up after school every Wednesday for a couple of hours. I don't finish work until 6pm. If, for whatever reason, he decides not to turn up, I have to pay childminders.

If that is a scheduled day for him then he should pay for the childcare but whether you get him too is a different matter