Child maintenance arrears once child turns 18

[Freeyourmind]

Posted in chat but no replies so posted here also. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of what happens to child maintenance arrears once child has turned 18. Ex didn't pay anything for years, so approx £10,000 in arrears. Has remained in the same job for a while now and a deductions of earnings order is in place, daughter is about to turn 18 and will more than likely go to university (not 100% decided yet) so child benefit will end and I'm therefore assuming child maintenance. But has anyone had the deductions of earnings order stay in place to continue to collect the arrears?

It is still a debt - are the child maintenence service aware of the debt prior to being paid through deductions of earning? If so id write them and follow up with a phone call - putting it in writing makes it hard to lose in an audit. As the service whether the debt will be recovered by continuous payment from deductions of earnings as this money is still owing

My ex owed me thousands in child maintenance.Had a letter saying the amount was over £5000 and they would be collecting it.Never had a thing off him or another letter again.

Write to CMS and send it signed for delivery so you have proof of receipt.

set out bullet points and include your CMS account reference number at the top.

then also write to your MP and ask them to help since it is such a large amount and the deduction of earnings order has not been complied with.

My ex-H had arrears and CMS did enforce against him.

Did you write or chase this matter?

I did,initially I rang and was told it was correct.Nothing happened,I rang again to be told as the child was 18 the claim had been closed.No future action

Always correspond in writing, ask for their complaints procedure after 30 days and then put in a complaint and after that contact your MP if nothing comes of it.

If MPs don't know that numerous NRP Arne't paying the money owed to the resident parent, then nothing will change on this matter with the government agency

Now, the arrears in my situation are considerably lower, around the £800 mark, and the NRP is on collect and pay whilst claiming UC. During a recent phon conversation with CMS, I was advised that the payments would continue until the arrears were cleared even if my daughter has left full-time education, so another two years or so. I can't wait as I don't think that my ex is aware of this and will be in for a shock. I know it's only a small amount, but it's the principle that matters.