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Should I cancel child maintenance after two years of his absence?

207 replies

Mother2All · 30/09/2026 15:29

I used this space a long long time ago and recently remember it existed and want to post again to see if I could get any advice, I'm not confident speaking on the phone and alot of advice lines want to talk.

I want to get right into it, hopefully not posting something ridiculously long either ..I just need advice from people who may know or been in the situation.

Soooo
I have a child, child turn 1 and we had a fall out and he instantly became absent, know word for 2 years, I always kept trying to reach out to extend the olive branch but was rejected, so I did end up applying for Child Maintenance, got nothing ever from it.. months this went on, untill recently I got a call back from him. He was all kinda of sorry and wanted to see out child, but also brought up the CM in the first conversation, I knew it would effect him some how but because he never paid I thought he was living well ( he definitely was for 2 years ) while I honestly struggled, rely on family to help me navigate.
Sooo untill recently.. We've been in contact, and he's seen his son twice.
He's upon a life change, moving, some other big responsibility and he's asked me to cancel the maintenance with an obvious promise of being here now and doing what he can, has said he has no plan to pay anything towards the CM debt from now, I wasn't okay with it but I do see the benefit of making his life a bit easier now so our children can benefit from it in the future, I did plan to get a written agreement, to be signed stating that I want commitments, physically and financial commitments to our child to be there and to not run away again, to help support from here on, what he can agree to do to help and so on.... I do in my head see this as a fair option because althought the money owed to our child would have been really helpful then, we have survived that and still head down till this day surviveing without it. I did also want to add a if you don't want to make commitments/ sign a semi official ( written by me ) document, then id like you to give up your legal rights .. I don't know how legal/Sain that is, if that's something you can sign upon but either way, I'm very flustered ATM and I think I've talked my only friends earlier off about it, I tried to use chat gbt but they're everyone's best friend.. I'm always right and I don't like that I need to know what to do and I think this community could help.
If not and if I have miss used this space wrong...AGAIN 🫣 then I will remove the post
Not to sure what else to add.
Except I don't hate him, we could have a good co parenting relationship but this is a hurdle. I have 0 trust in his word obviously but it's all I have to go out ATM, I have to trust he won't go again and leave my child without a father in these pivotal moments.
Ciao
X

OP posts:
Summerunlover · Yesterday 06:16

As soon as you drop that debt. You will never see him again. He has only got in contact to benefit himself

Mere1 · Yesterday 07:33

GossipIsTheDevilsTelephone · 30/09/2026 15:46

A good co parent would want to provide for his child.

Ant agreement you draw up saying he has to be involved wouldnt be worth a damned thing either.

Hes popped back up because it benefits him, and he will bugger off again just as quickly.

Sadly, I agree. Your child benefits most from a stable environment with a parent who receives all the money needed to provide for them.

JustMyView13 · Yesterday 07:45

If you chose to believe this man’s words over his actions, prepare yourself for disappointment.

Interested in this thread?

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Teenmumgoingcrazy · Yesterday 08:52

Mother2All · 30/09/2026 15:53

Well I guessss I'm considering it for the better of the relationship moving forward, (he has asked me too) between him and my child, don't know if that's a normal way of thinking. I see alot of people complaining online that there child is older and they've still never got anything for there children so I know theres away around it all anyways ....I doesnt feel right doing it, it's not alot of money weekly ( nothing compared to what it takes ) but now it's a substantial amount. It is money owed to our child, a clear debt on they're name/ company but it's one that is forever growing which I guess would be a worry for anyone. has his own business so is able to hide direct income.

He's verbally offering to help, from now..he does not want to pay any of the owed debt.. through CM or to me direct

so lets just be clear here...
he bailed on you and his child
paid nothing in support
cared nothing about how his child was
reappears and immediately asks you to cancel the CM
refuses to pay anything he owes to his child already

and you're considering this??? Give your head a wobble.

Notgonnatalkabouttheweather · Yesterday 10:04

Mother2All · 30/09/2026 18:35

100% he isn't I know this, I don't know how they do it.. hide funds, hidden accounts, suspicious accountant maybe?

So what is CMS basing their figures on if he’s not declaring his inordinately high income?

carchi · Yesterday 13:18

TurtleMcTurtle · 30/09/2026 15:54

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SHIT!

If this man truly wants to be a decent part of his child’s life, he will happily pay CM AND show up for his child; what good parent would want to do any different?

If you drop the CM claim, I guarantee in a couple of weeks or months he’ll disappear again, so why would you do that to yourself or your child?

This was exactly what I was going to say. He is playing you and it makes me both angry and sad that you can't see him for the lying scumbag that he is.

Rockpunkdisco · Yesterday 19:22

Mother2All · 30/09/2026 15:53

Well I guessss I'm considering it for the better of the relationship moving forward, (he has asked me too) between him and my child, don't know if that's a normal way of thinking. I see alot of people complaining online that there child is older and they've still never got anything for there children so I know theres away around it all anyways ....I doesnt feel right doing it, it's not alot of money weekly ( nothing compared to what it takes ) but now it's a substantial amount. It is money owed to our child, a clear debt on they're name/ company but it's one that is forever growing which I guess would be a worry for anyone. has his own business so is able to hide direct income.

He's verbally offering to help, from now..he does not want to pay any of the owed debt.. through CM or to me direct

My knee jerk reaction is he's playing a part with (hopefully not) false promises. He has a child, owes debt for maintenance, and is trying to wriggle out of a formal obligation.

Sounds more like an ultimatum...stop my pressure and I will see our child more. Erm, nope, he either wants to or doesn't. So sad there are selfish and irresponsible dads out there, having a child is a blessing and as a parent you step up, provide and take responsibility. Rant over, sorry! Xx

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