Hi all. My DSS lived with us for 4 years when his BM threw him out age 10 (long story) She had no contact with him and point blank refused to pay maintenance and paid us nothing for the first 3 years. Eventually she decided she wanted him back, and because he was so desperate for her attention he of course rushed back, aged 14. During the time he lived with us DH contacted CMS. All they did was send him a text every week saying they were unable to pay any money he was due because she was refusing to give her bank details. After 3 years we finally got £7 a week taken out of her benefits, whilst her and her boyfriend spent hundreds a week on cocaine (this was on the Child Protection Report - we found this out after DSS moved back there). I would add he lived with us during 2020 lockdown, my DH lost his job and so for a while supporting DSS financially fell onto me, which is OK, but very annoying when his BM owes us arrears and we needed every penny we could get. Of course, as soon as DSS is back with BM she wants Maintenance bit only via CMS, ok so he pays it. £100 a week. However when DSS turned 16, he attended College for a week and left and didn't go back. That was a year ago, he is now 17 almost 18 and has done nothing since leaving school. Not working or attending College. However DH is still paying Maintenance because BM hasn't declared that he has left, so has been claiming Child Benefit for well over a year. DH has tried to tell CSA but they say that BM has to inform them so he has to keep paying until she tells them otherwise, which seems a little unfair TBH. We have also reported her for Benefit Fraud, however this was months ago and absolutely nothing has been done. I would add that she does not work, so she it's not like she working all the hours god sends to support her kids and we are making it harder. We are just a bit peed off that CMS just roll over for a Parent that refuses to pay and yet come down like a ton of bricks on easy prey like my DH, who has always paid. He is not saying he shouldn't contribute, but he feels that it is taking the piss that she is conning money out of him, rather than them coming to a fair agreement for a Child that is not working or at College. DH says he needs to do one or the other but it falls on deaf ears. She has never paid the arrears she owes us. I guess what I am asking is what do we do. This is not an avoidance to pay, just a bit more of a fair playing field. Thank you.