Child maintenance

[boohock]

Hi everyone

Was wondering if anyone had any experience/knowledge with applying for child maintenance and roughly how long it takes to be sorted?

I applied officially thru CMS at the beginning of August and have had a few correspondences confirming my details and giving me an approx time frame - all of which have varied between 2 weeks - 6 weeks.

I gave as much info as possible for Ex's details as I know them all, name, phone number, address, email address even national insurance number.

Any guesses as to what could be going on??

Tia

Also apologies cause I know this topic has been done many times just can't find any threads with info I need!

I first applied in the October 2018. They gave him the option of paying me directly. First payment due December. Didn't happen. So have him notice of deduction of warning would be done. His employer was on the ball and my first payment came in the February 2019. Then March which was the last one he left the job and has job jumper every six months or so. Or worked self employed. I occasionally get the odd months payment but it has been very intermittent

Mine took 4 months

Deduction of earning. Sorry

Wow seems to take ages then. The letters I got that said we will now try to contact him said approx 2 weeks - and they can't be having problems "finding" him with the amount of info I gave. Wonder why it takes so long....

I don't know how he'll react tbh, I've also gone for the option to just directly pay me but I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens,!

I've just applied earlier this week and I think when they send the original letter the payer has 2 weeks to respond.

She then said that once he has supplied details of his earnings they will do a cross check with HMRC records.....

Good news is that it's backdated to the date of your application so you'll get it eventually. Not that it helps with cash flow just now!!

@fidgetmad that's not too bad then!!

Just a bit annoying really that they don't keep you updated you're just left hanging wondering what's happening.

I did try to phone them yesterday to ask if everything was ok but gave up once I heard it basically say please DO NOT call us to discuss progress

Just a quick update/new question for everyone! Sorry!!

Heard back and got the child maintenance sorted - turns out he has to pay me £150 per month more than he was due to lying about his income - result!!!

Problem now is he has contacted me saying he is disputing the arrears he has been told he owes me which is in the region of £600

Sorry forgot to actually ask the question!!!

Does anyone know A) if he can even do this and b) why they usually dispute it and c) how often it is successful?? I haven't heard anything from CMS regarding this and the letter says he has 30 days to appeal any decisions which is rapidly approaching!!

Thank you

My ex owed £4800 in arrears because every year they do a new calculation and send it out, and it says he has to contact them if his salary has changed because sometimes HMRC can takes a few years to pass on correct info/update some info.

Anyway, he didnt correct it and when HMRC updated it all correctly, CMS caught it at the next renewal. He owed £4800 arrears from 3 years of underpaying. He tried to dispute, saying it was their fault for not doing it right but he disnt have a leg to stand in. The letters clearly state that he is responsible for ensuring all his details are correct and he has received the letters so it was on him.

They made him pay it. Hopefully, they'll do the same for you.

Have you made an account OP? The £600 may be right if it's been backdated they usually increase your payments to reduce the arrears.

You will have an annual review each year. Glad your payment has come through.

Thanks for replies both. I made an account so can see all payments online etc I only applied for it this summer tho the first payment is due next week!!

They've used calculations of his earnings cause they put all details in my letter so they know all that and said back pay can be dated back to when I first applied which is fine

Didn't know people could actually dispute back pay??!!

Surely it's there for a reason I've had nothing to do with this decision/amount

Also - it states the amount of back pay which has actually increased from £500 to nearly £700 in the last couple of weeks even tho no payments are due until next week....

Anyone know if it's my responsibility to get that money off him or if it's CMS?

So if he doesn't pay any of the back pay off do I contact them as a "missed/incorrect payment"......???

Sorry for all the questions lol

I think anyone can dispute something as errors can be made. He's probably not happy that CMS have caught up with him.

Are you on direct pay? Or do they take it automatically out of his wages?

@Pea22ches direct pay just don't know if I'm supposed to chase him for the back pay which he's unlikely to give and atm clearly has no intention of paying or if I tell them he's not paying it

I think if the paying party doesn't keep up the regular payments they would move him onto collect and pay which incurrs charges for him and for you it would be only 4% something like that. CMS should chase him but if you need to query anything contact CMS not him.

Maybe I'll call and ask them about the back payments then wether I need to tell them he's not paying it or not.....

If he doesn't pay direct play report ut. You can do it in the cm website.