TOPIC: CMS - Change of circumstances / Reporting a change

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has reported a change to CMS and how long they took to respond -

We have reported a change back in October 2020 and again another change in Nov 2020 and it still hasn't been reflected on payments and doesn't seem to have progressed on the online account. I know things may take a little longer than usual due to covid and they probably have a backlog but each time we contact them online we get no response. If we contact them by phone they say that we will receive a letter 4 weeks from the date we reported the change. It's been nearly 4 months since the first reporting of change and we still haven't received any letters or communication. (Also online it says it can take 7 days for the change to reflect on payments but as I said it's been nearly 4 months).

Is there anyone on here that works for CMS or has advice of what to do? Shall we phone again? Continue to be patient?
Obviously we have 2 changes, one of them it is to do with shared care, will they backdate to date of reporting change or to the date shared care started? We have a court order as evidence which has been uploaded.

Thanks, as always!

I reported a change in October 2020. I was sent forms to complete which I did straight away, with evidence of pension payments, wages slips attached via recorded delivery and electronically. Then got no further correspondence.

I made a complaint in December 2020 that there had been no action.
I got a standard reply saying the CMS would respond within 7 days.

On the 17th of January I called the CMS.
The call handler checked my details, said they had not received the documentation - they checked, yes they had.
It will now take five weeks before they can look at my case - "thats just how long it takes".

I asked if that was five weeks plus the nine weeks I had already waited ? "Yes."

Fourteen weeks ( over 3 months ) for a review ?"Yes"
Still no response to my complaint.

As an aside, the non resident parent made an enquiry and was answered within 48 hours.

My experience after nearly 10 years with these people, is it really is pot luck who you get when you call

Many times, I have been polite, thanked them for taking the call, never missed a single payment, but am still spoken to as if I am simply a parent without care, that does not wish to pay for his child and frankly, the call does not get any better, as a person on a phone, who has never met me, just gets my back up (I am only human) and I end up sending the information on the portal

However, after an hour last week, got through to a person that was amazing, I wanted to marry her, have children with her and live in a house, with flowers in the garden and the sun always shining, Unfortunately, I doubt I will be lucky enough to get her again, or a member of this set up, with the same open minded and helpful approach

I explained that I work in hospitality, I will know in my February pay, what will be the amount that I receive for the foreseeable future, ( I am also increasing my pension contributions) and how many pay slips they will want

She explained that one would be sufficient, to put forward for a recalculation and this should take a matter of a few weeks and no more

No guarantee this will happen, but fingers crossed and I guess keep playing the numbers game and calling, you may even be lucky and get through to my intended!!!!!