What do you do when your ex doesn't pay

[BlastedPimples]

The maintenance he's supposed to and you're short on the rent.

Roundly curse him (to myself) and make a sheepish phone call to the managing agent. Being very literal about it.

Not rely on it to pay rent? I haven’t had a payment in 6/7 years, I have learned not to rely on it

If people are receiving maintenance it's because they need it. Don't try to make desperate people worried about the roof over their heads feel even shitter than they probably already do. With an attitude like that I'm not surprised you've been single so long.

Everyone knows you shouldn’t rely on maintenance payments!! Even cms themselves tell you not to rely on it! I needed it but never got any 🤷‍♀️ maybe you could give a suggestion of what she should do rather than attacking me? And what’s being single got to do with anything 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻

@Nachobowls I'm very pleased for you but I'm just recently embarked on this road.

So perhaps some more constructive advice for someone who is looking to get independent but perhaps needs a bit more time after a truly abusive marriage.

Report to CMS (if in the UK)

Well you asked what people do, what you do is learn to budget without it because it’s not a given and your ex could give up his job/ go self employed etc even reporting it to cms means nothing, they don’t do anything. My reply wasn’t shitty it’s a fact you can’t rely on it unfortunately and you will soon learn that.

This ^^

Sad but true

I appreciate that there are those on here who have never got anything in terms of maintenance which is utterly shit. But when you have had it and then it stops it's a big adjustment if it happens quite suddenly. My ex stopped paying mine 3 months ago with no warning and it's impacted massively.
I certainly wasn't and couldn't have put the maintenance into a savings plan as I didn't need it.

I think most people would spend it if they got it. Sorry you are in this position too OP

Unfortunately, other people are right, you do have to learn to manage without it, and consider it a bonus any time you do get it. This is the main reason why it's disregarded in terms of income for things like benefits as well – because it can't be relied upon as income.

It shouldn't be that way, the government should pay the maintenance, and then recoup it from the absent parent as in some countries – so you always get paid, and there are real consequences for the people that failed to pay.

Unfortunately, though, that is the system we have in this country, and so we have to deal with it.

Thank god the normal people have arrived! Don’t know why I got such a nasty personal attack, op says herself this is a “new” thing so doesn’t sound like she’s always got it and if he is already messing around be prepared for a fight for any maintenance, should you be able to rely on it? Yes, can you? No. Was just being realistic! They will tell you themselves if you call them and that’s why it no longer affects benefits because it’s so unreliable