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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Fair for him to oppose paying for dc in this context? (Please be kind)

552 replies

biwncs · 28/12/2022 14:19

before I start I want to say I’ve NC as I am embarrassed by this and I know I do NOT smell of roses here. Please don’t post if it’s just to sling mud at me, i know I haven’t been perfect by a long way.

when I was 37 I panicked about wanting dc and my partner at the time was 40. He had pushed it back a year already but in fairness to him we hadn’t been together long, only two years. He would often make comments about wanting dc and where we would take them, what schools theyd go to etc. I came off the pill and didn’t say and although we also used condoms (we always have, we prefer it), I became pregnant. He was conflicted at the start but after a couple of weeks said it was up to me and he would support me either way. I asked if he wanted a termination a few times and he said no. So we carried on. Half way through the pregnancy I felt I had to tell him I had come off the pill. It was a horrible conversation understandably but we moved past it. A year or so later we broke up, since then my ex has refused to pay a penny and hasn’t spent any time with dc. He has no other kids and as far as I know not with anyone else. He tells me he shouldn’t have to pay as I made him have a dc. I now feel so conflicted about maintenance? I feel he was giving me all the signs he wanted us to have dc and I did openly discuss termination and he said no. But ultimately he’s right I came off the pill and didn’t say. I am so confused/sad as to what to do and what’s right. He doesn’t seem interested in dc either and i feel that’s on me, though I never ever had him down as someone who would abandon his child. I just don’t know what to do and feel he has a point regarding finance.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 28/12/2022 14:25

Well, what you did was wrong and you have acknowledged that.

However, legally, he still needs to pay maintenance. Go to CMS

AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/12/2022 14:26

It was his choice also not to wear a condom when having sex on you.

I would also pursue a maintenance claim with the CMS regardless of what he has said to you because he is also financially responsible for his child.

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 14:27

@AttilaTheMeerkat but he was wearing condoms. It's right there in the OP

Viviennemary · 28/12/2022 14:28

The rights and wrongs of the situation are a matter of opinion. However, he is legally obliged to pay maintenance.

WeWereInParis · 28/12/2022 14:28

So as far as he was concerned, the two of you were using two forms of contraception - the pill and condoms? I think you coming off the pill was awful.

However, child maintenance is for the child. So contraception, discussions around termination etc aren't relevant. It's the child who will suffer without CM, so he should pay it. Not because I think he's at fault (I don't think fault comes in to it) but because he's the child's father. Even if he'd wanted you to have a termination and been very clear he didn't want to have a child, he should still pay. That's life.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/12/2022 14:29

Yeah I see that now re the condoms, sorry about that. But I would still pursue a maintenance claim all the same because its his child.

ItsTrueLou · 28/12/2022 14:29

But would you have had the termination? You wanted the child? What you did was deceitful and not a good start to impending parenthood, he felt trapped by you and is now very angry at the situation he finds himself in and this is his voice

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/12/2022 14:29

He was using condoms.

Claim maintenance, it’s for your child, but you’re right you’ve behaved very badly and apart from money he’s not obliged to have any contact with you or the baby.

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 14:29

@biwncs did you also tamper with the condoms? Did he not wear them properly? Did one break and he thought you were covered anyways because of the pill?

Legally the kid is entitled to maintenance.

Morally what you did is despicable and asking for financial support not would be very cheeky of you.

biwncs · 28/12/2022 14:30

@WeWereInParis the fact is had I been on the pill it would not have happened really would it. And then I go full circle I think he’s right and has a point.

OP posts:
LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 14:30

*now

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/12/2022 14:31

As to your main question, of course he’s reasonable to be angry he’s on the hook for money for 17 or however many years. But legally he’s screwed so you win.

biwncs · 28/12/2022 14:31

@ItsTrueLou yes if he had said that’s what he wanted I would have. But it never came up as he said he wanted the baby.

OP posts:
Edinburghmusing · 28/12/2022 14:32

Well the point is about what your child needs. Do you have enough money or do you need money to give your child what they need?

it’s irrelevant what either of you have or haven’t done. You both had sex. You’re both responsible for the needs of the child.

ACynicalDad · 28/12/2022 14:32

What you did was awful, usually I’d say if you have sex you risk a child and he should bear the consequences. I suspect you would get maintenance but feel very sorry for him.

Dacadactyl · 28/12/2022 14:34

WTAF.

This man is fucking USELESS.

For context OP, I was 21, had been with my bf for 5 months and got pregnant. He sent me over 250 quid every single month in child support. He was 23.

Dacadactyl · 28/12/2022 14:34

He needs to pay up.

DuplicateUserName · 28/12/2022 14:34

Why would you deliberately trick someone into making you pregnant, and then ask if they want you to have an abortion?

Fuck me, that's manipulative in the extreme.

That said, the type of person you are isn't the fault of your baby so your ex should still reluctantly pay for it.

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 14:35

Do you need his financial support? Can you cover all the basics by yourself? Is his help needed for essentials or would it be used for treats and extras?

EL0ISE · 28/12/2022 14:36

Edinburghmusing · 28/12/2022 14:32

Well the point is about what your child needs. Do you have enough money or do you need money to give your child what they need?

it’s irrelevant what either of you have or haven’t done. You both had sex. You’re both responsible for the needs of the child.

This. You have both behaved badly but that’s not your child’s fault.

You both had sex knowing that no contraception is 100% safe. He knowingly took that risk and now the child is here. You are both obliged to pay for and have a relationship with your child.

KitchiHuritAngeni · 28/12/2022 14:36

The child shouldn't suffer financially because they have a devious mother and a shit father.

He should pay up, but you can't force a relationship.

PearlclutchersInc · 28/12/2022 14:36

Well, you didn't get pregnant by yourself and if he had been using the condom properly (ok, that's up for debate) it wouldn't have happened. There's a risk in everything.

Anyway, the fact is you both have a child, a real live human being, and morally he should support that child financially if no other way.

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 14:36

Dacadactyl · 28/12/2022 14:34

WTAF.

This man is fucking USELESS.

For context OP, I was 21, had been with my bf for 5 months and got pregnant. He sent me over 250 quid every single month in child support. He was 23.

Useless why?!

He go tricked into parenthood even though he was responsible with contraception and this his part.

This is 100% on OP for being deceitful

DuplicateUserName · 28/12/2022 14:36

ItsTrueLou · 28/12/2022 14:29

But would you have had the termination? You wanted the child? What you did was deceitful and not a good start to impending parenthood, he felt trapped by you and is now very angry at the situation he finds himself in and this is his voice

Of course she wouldn't.

If she mentioned it at all it would've been used as a manipulative weapon against him.

WeWereInParis · 28/12/2022 14:36

biwncs · 28/12/2022 14:30

@WeWereInParis the fact is had I been on the pill it would not have happened really would it. And then I go full circle I think he’s right and has a point.

I know. And I can see why he's not happy (I'd have been furious if I was a man using a condom and thinking my partner was also taking the pill when really she'd stopped secretly). But that's the way it goes. Life's not fair. There's no outcome here that everyone will be happy with, so the outcome that benefits the child is what's best.

(I'll caveat that with if you earn a huge amount and don't need child maintenance, then I probably wouldn't claim it)