What's the obsession with maintenance?

[geckofrog]

This is the step parent board so I know it exists in most step parents life but almost every thread on here what ever it is is always answered with does he pay maintenance? Cms calculation is minimum.

Why do so many posters assume the partner of the stepparent ISN'T paying enough?

Why do so many posters assume the partner of the stepparent ISN'T paying enough?

Because a lot of men don't?

But why assume the parent in every single thread isn't. Some parents don't try and short change their kids.

Because of the amount of non resident parents not paying maintenance is staggeringly high. There are posters on here who are owed 5 figure sums (tens of thousands) in maintenance which is scandalous.

What's the %

Most non-resident parents don't pay anywhere near enough, it's a National scandal.

I'd like to ask do you think it shouldn't be discussed? If so why?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/owed-16000-child-maintenance-the-system-made-me-ill/

https://todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/37-of-parents-not-complying-with-child-maintenance-payments/#:~:text=The%20government%20said%20that%20the,highest%20seen%20since%20mid%2D2018.

So over a third of non resident parents aren't paying.

HTH

57% either pay no maintenance or less then 20% of the amount they should.

Which is terrible, OP. I'm sure you agree.

It needs to be discussed and dealt with at the highest level.
It doesn't need to derail as many threads as it does.
"DH says I need to do all holiday childcare for DSS, AIBU to say no?"
"He's probably not paying enough CM. How much does he pay? Never mind, it's not enough, he needs to pay more"
Over and over again.
It's very tedious.

OP seems to have disappeared.

Right so 37% so why not assume the parent IS paying the minimum or over

OP was busy

Yes that is shit but why when someone posts on the stepparenting board to so many people rush to ask about maintenance assuming it isn't enough

What's your point here?

The fact is, it's a pertinent question.

Because nobody comes on mn to tell us about their completely reasonable ex who shares childcare 50/50 and pays over the odds in CM do they?

But this is the step parent bit

My ex paya CMS never a penny more for anything and he will do anything to reduce the payments. An extra night here or there adds them up eg won’t have him 9- 6 pm to spend time with him unless he can have him overnight. He diverts money into a pension above the expected rate and there’s nothing I can do.

When he was a baby - he never brought a nappy and the poor kids when without of mummy didn’t provide it. I didn’t provide a coat - he didn’t have one. Stayed in the same clothes all weekend.

OP I’m with you but you won’t get a reasoned argument on here. Even the step parenting board is littered with bitter exes just looking for a row.

This is the NAMALT argument.

Are you being contrary / obtuse on purpose op?

I don’t agree, but think you are!

Me @CauliflowerMelon ? I’m a picture of reasonableness and cheery Optimism 😂

Because in only 43% of cases is the right amount paid.

In other words, the majority of men don't pay it (or pay very little).