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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

CMS is a joke

33 replies

AnnettePrice · 09/03/2019 03:25

Had to go to direct pay in the end for CM.
It gets paid a handful of times and now it’s over 2 weeks late.

Not one communication from CMS.

CMS are computerised, banking is computerised. It’s not rocket science to computerise dealing with late/non-payment, and letting the CM recipient know what’s going on.

Why do that, when CMS can just waste my time by me now having to case this up with them.

Bet CM payments would be sorted out straight away, never written off and charged interest ...if the recipients were mostly men.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Justagirlwholovesaboy · 09/03/2019 03:34

Its not the services fault, it’s the father who hasn’t paid

Original poster

AnnettePrice · 09/03/2019 10:03

It’s the services fault that the recipients have to keep chasing the service.
Wether or not the payee is totally feckless.

OP posts:

goldengummybear · 09/03/2019 15:38

If a service promises something, it should deliver. I think that in cases like this, the CMS should move to paying the RP and recovering the debt from the NRP. I bet that NRP don't forget if the government comes after them for non-payment especially if they add fees for pursuit of this debt. People don't get away with paying Council Tax, VAT etc and it's long overdue that CM is considered as serious.

I've heard of CMS "losing" payments from NRP too. This is also wildly unacceptable.

goldengummybear · 09/03/2019 15:40

I forgot to add that I'm sorry that CMS is being shit to you and that tax payers and users of the service deserve better. The money feeds and clothes children ffs

SnuggyBuggy · 09/03/2019 15:42

The service could make more of an effort.

killpop · 09/03/2019 15:44

The CM service is not fit for purpose.

Starlight456 · 09/03/2019 17:55

The csa was replaced by the cms as it was not fit for purpose . I see very little improvement just a different name

ThatFalseEquivalenceTho · 09/03/2019 18:00

They also bloody charge the RP for Collect and Pay.

I’ve had fuck all in 3 years. Job hopping asshole ExH. Systems are too slow to update so I’ll get a letter (like I did this week) saying they know where he’s working, but it’ll take till early June to do a Deduction from Earnings for current payment (another department do the arrears, apparently). By then he’ll be elsewhere and I’ll get fuck all.

Rinse and repeat.

Original poster

AnnettePrice · 09/03/2019 18:05

Think I used the wrong term in 1sr post. CM is deducted from earnings, CMS takes a cut then NRP gets the rest.
I was willing to receive even less than was due as I thought that I would actually receive it and it would be less stressful. But it seems the onus is still 100% on the NRP doing all the leg work and chasing and CMS doesn’t seem overly bothered if payments just stop.

OP posts:

Original poster

AnnettePrice · 09/03/2019 18:11

goldengummy thank you. Yep I’m not chasing CM so I can live the high life. It’s only a small percentage of what it truly costs to look after a child.

OP posts:

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 09/03/2019 18:21

Nobody can live the high life on childmaintenance payments (unless the parent with care is earning far more than the other before maintenance is paid).

I always find it funny when people say “oh, she doesn’t let him see the kids as much as that would reduce the amount she gets in CMS” (hollow laugh...) like what, getting an extra £20 a fortnight for being the sole career of your children? What a deal!

OP, I’m really sorry you are struggling, it is my experience of CMS as well, having to deal with a different case worker every time you call them is also soul destroying.

The only time it has worked for me was when I first I have not a clue where he lives so the letter went to his work place instead. I can imagine he would have been mortified for his PA to know he was being chased for CM underpayments (he is a CEO who defines himself as a “family man” in the company website )

BingLiveisRubbish · 09/03/2019 18:28

CMS have admitted to me multiple times that if you don't frequently call them, your case doesn't often get actioned in any way! It just sits idle!!!!

BingLiveisRubbish · 09/03/2019 18:29

@goldengummybear Very well said! Totally agree

NameChangeNugget · 09/03/2019 18:31

It’s the absent fathers, who aren’t fit for purpose.

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 09/03/2019 18:31

IME, it is the opposite, everytime I call them, I have to explain everything as if I was applying for the first time, nothing has happened since the last call and next time you call in 2 weeks time, the story will repeat itself. It is like Groundhog Day...

BingLiveisRubbish · 09/03/2019 18:32

Also, @AnnettePrice just to clarify, you're the Resident Parent (RP) , not the Non-Resident Parent (NRP)

ThatFalseEquivalenceTho · 09/03/2019 18:37

@BingLiveIsRubbish I spent 18 months ringing them twice a week, and got nowhere. We had a Liability Order in 2017, bailiffs got nothing, they were meant to automatically do an LO every 6 months with an updated amount, they never did another despite my constant calls.

I gave up in the end. Wasn’t worth the stress for £21 a week.

ThatFalseEquivalenceTho · 09/03/2019 18:38

But I’ve kept the case open in case he ever does grow the fuck up (not likely being as he’s now 39) and stay at a job for more than a few months.

SnuggyBuggy · 09/03/2019 18:55

Absent father's being shits is no excuse for CMA being a piss poor service

Original poster

AnnettePrice · 09/03/2019 19:24

Bing your right, I’m the RP, I should re read twice before I post

OP posts:

Bobbycat121 · 09/03/2019 19:44

2 weeks late? my ex hasnt paid since october and even then it was £5 a week.

Usermynamenow · 09/03/2019 19:59

AnnettePrice. You’re right that the onus is always on the RP to chase CMS. Phone them every day if you can and use the online portal to send them message because the messages are supposed to be picked up by the caseworker.

I was told with a deduction of earnings order the employer had until the 19th of the following month to make the payment. In my case I was lucky that the employer always sent the money to CMS by the end of the month.
It’s awful, but you need to chase them and if you don’t get a callback from a caseworker ask for a manager and insist that manager emails the caseworker’s team leader etc.
My case is with one location and over the last two weeks I’ve spoken to CMS in 5 different locations and waited about 20 minutes on hold for each phone call. Finally looks like they are taking some action now.

Keep phoning. If it’s DEO CMS should be able to contact the employer right away.

itsbritneybiatches · 09/03/2019 20:07

My eh has arranged to pay his back log of cms at £10 a month.

It will take 25 years.

I wish they did mortgages

Original poster

AnnettePrice · 09/03/2019 20:13

Bobbycat I really do feel for you. How NRPs think DCs can be brought up just on air, I don’t know.

It took almost 18 months from claim to 1st payment, with loads of NRP trying to play the system in between. Only a handful of payments have happened, then this missed payment. I’m not holding out that much hope. I suspect it will be weeks if not months before another penny is paid.

When there is equality we won’t have to put up with this. Until then...

OP posts:

Contraceptionismyfriend · 09/03/2019 20:19

You are right OP. I'm so sorry that's you have to deal with this.
I really think we need to adopt a system like America where it is dealt with by the courts and so fully enforceable.

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