Bank accounts.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

DS is separated from the mother of his DS, and she's being akward. He's been paying child maintenance at well over CSA rates since they split, but he's been giving her cash, so there's no evidence. He'd now like to pay maintenance in a "proveable" fashion, and obviously it would be best if he could pay directly into her bank account. It is likely, however, that she will refuse to provide this information. Can he open an account in his DS's name (child is 2yo), pay maintenance into that, and give her a card to access the money? (Scotland, if that makes any difference.)

no I dont think it would be possible as you dont get a card on a child's account when they are that age. Also, if it was the father that opened the account then any correspondence would be directed to him on behalf of the child and she would not be able to access the funds. I think he will have to try to get her to co-operate by either providing her bank details or by her opening an account for their ds and then paying money into that account instead

She won't co-operate in any way at all. Is there any other way he can do this?

How about he sends cheques instead of cash? They are always traceable and he can keep the cheque stubs, so that solves the need for documentary proof. They don't involve her handing him her bank details which means it doesn't matter if she is uncooperative. It doesn't matter if she banks them into an account or exchanges them for cash, he'll be able to see from his account that the cheques have been redeemed.

There's nothing to stop him setting up a separate savings account on behalf of his son as long as he has a copy of the birth certificate - not for current expenses but as a nest-egg he can give him on his 18th, say.

His account doesn't have cheques, but I've passed on your suggestion and he'll see if his bank will change his account. Maybe postal orders? Would he have a receipt from them?

I would go for a cheque book definitely. You may well find after a few months of that (having to cash cheques & wait for the money)that she is willing for him to set up a direct debit.

He has spoken to his bank, a cheque book will arrive in the next few days. Thank you! Don't know why I didn't think of it...

You can stipulate a payee on postal orders and you do get a receipt when you buy them but I don't think the two would necessarily constitute 'proof' that he had paid someone. All he would have proof of is that he had bought a postal order.... not that he had sent it to her or that she had received it. Postal orders cost 50p+ each time & he would have to go to the Post Office in order to buy them which may not be convenient.

I would have thought it is easier for him to get his bank to convert his account to a simple one with a cheque book. There's usually no charge for writing a cheque and he'd be able to show that she had cashed them via his bank statements.

X-posted. Agree with RedHelenB that cheques may 'encourage' his ex to rethink direct debits. :)

Thank you again, Cogito. :)

No problem. Hope it all works out OK for him.

if he can find out the sort code and account number of her bank account (e.g. by looking at one of her cheques), and has online bankling, he can use "fastpay" which goes straight into her account the same day, and will be visible on both their statements.

I don't see how he'd get that info, PigletJohn, she's not exactly co-operative at the moment. :(

But his bank has agreed to supply a cheque book, which will be with him before he next needs to pay her, so that's all sorted. Just can't believe I didn't think of it myself!