Maintenance.

[LadySybilDeChocolate]

Ds is 12 and his maintenance has never changed. I pay for everything and his father pays £200 a month. I don't know how much he earns but, from what he's said, he can work for a week and have enough maintenance for 3 months. He has another family now and a 3 year old, he doesn't live in the UK as he moved when ds was 3. He doesn't pay towards ds's trips or extra curricular activities. I have asked him if he can increase the amount he pays but he ignores me. As ds grows his clothes/shoes become more and more expensive. His school shoes were £56 as they need to be sturdy due to a problem with his ankles. He's going on a school trip on Wednesday which leaves school at 07:30. The only way I can get him there on time is if we stay in a hotel overnight as the school is 20 miles away. I pay all of his school fees and buy his uniform. He did contribute £40 towards this 2 years ago which paid for not a lot. Should I just put up with this? He doesn't see ds. He'll visit once a year, sometimes less and will see ds for an hour when he feels like it. He will just call to say he's here and expects us to drop everything so that he can see ds (for an hour). He rarely calls ds, doesn't send letters or emails even though I've asked him to. He's keen for ds to fly over to see him, yet says he has no time for him. He's also useless with children as he has no patience. He ended up telling ds to 'fuck off' the last time he was here. WWYD? If I go back to the CSA will ds get less?

I doubt very much that CSA will award less if his income is such that a week's work could give him enough money for three month's maintenance.

That said, he lives abroad. I think it depends on where, as there needs to be a reciprocal agreement with that country.

Speak to the CSA tomorrow - what do you have to loose?

He's in Ireland. I really don't know how much he earns, he also has another family now. I asked him 4 years ago to change the account which he pays the maintenance into as I don't bank there any more. I gave him the details for a new account and he's not bothered to do that. It takes me an hour to get the money out as I don't have ID (passport or drivers licence).

I googled. He's on between 25-32k (euro).

At a rough guesstimate , taking into account he has another child, if he was on ?25k then £200pm sounds about right. If he's on ?35k I'd think it'd be more.

Google CSA calculator and you should find the right info. It's usually 15% if the nrp's net wage with reductions for other children.

Unfortunatly you can't get him to take more interest in his child :(

Hi OP, In Ireland a court can award you I believe ?100 a week based on those earnings. This is what I was told this week by a friend going in for more. Please read this link and follow the advise towards the bottom of the page. It should help you. HTH

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/separation_and_divorce/maintenance_orders_and_agreements.html

Also, he would need to give his PPS number to the court or to the guards. I think you can ignore the CSA as you will most likely be going via the Irish courts and CSA wouldn't necessarily apply but I could be wrong there.

Ah, thank you. I find it very sad that he's not interested. He wonders why ds wants nothing to do with him yet he makes no effort. He actually complained when ds was 6 that ds never called him. Surely it's a parents job to call their child? I've seen him with his own daughter so it's a blessing to be honest. She was 2 and he sat and told her that her hair was a mess. Poor mite burst into tears. All he did was shout at her.

Well he sounds nice! What part of Ireland is he in? I'll see what information I can pass you.

Hmm, doesn't he. I'll send you a PM :)