[Solved] CMA

Hi there,

You have a few options available.

You can either call CMS and start the case and pay the fee to set things up I think from memory the fee is £25, that way you know it is all done and you can give all of your details etc and request that payments are made directly to your ex rather than CMS collecting and then paying her which would then incur a percentage fee also.

Or you could leave it for your ex to set up, if she opens the case then she would pay the fee, though that said there seems to be a level of coaching from CMS staff to allow females not to pay the fee if they say they don't get on or speak with the ex. If she sets things up you can still opt for direct pay as long as you don't have any history of failed payments.

The last option would be to set up a payment schedule privately between you and your ex and not use CMS.

GTTS

Brilliant thank you..

I've just had to ring the CSA as it appears I've been over paying £12.50 a week for a while now, don't suppose I can claim that back ?

They are bringing my payments in line, once I send proof of me having him more that 51 nights a year.

Hello Mark

As got-the-tshirt mentioned, you have a few options for arranging child maintenance once your arrangement with the Child Support Agency (CSA) ends.

You can avoid all fees by reaching a family-based arrangement with the other parent. This is a flexible arrangement, which you set up and manage between yourselves. You can both agree who will provide what for your child or children, without any involvement from the government or legal system. Although this is not a legally binding way of arranging maintenance, it can be simple and quick to put in place because you do not have to deal with any official rules or authorities. Child Maintenance Options have a range of tools and guides on their website at http://www.cmoptions.org, which could help you reach and maintain an effective family-based arrangement.

If you are not able to reach a family-based arrangement, as got-the-tshirt suggested, you could consider making an application to the Child Maintenance Service. They are the government’s new statutory maintenance service and can either calculate your child maintenance, then leave you to arrange payments between yourselves (known as Direct Pay), or they can collect payments and pass them on to the other parent for you (known as Collect and Pay).

I would like to offer some clarification around the information got-the-tshirt supplied regarding the fees involved with making an application to the Child Maintenance Service. There is a one off £20 non-refundable application fee, which is payable by the parent who makes the application. This is not waivered for either parent in circumstances where they are not on amicable terms.

There are additional fees associated with Collect and Pay arrangements (you would have to pay an additional 20% and the other parent would have 4% taken away from the weekly maintenance). In order to avoid these additional fees, either of you can request a Direct Pay arrangement.

If you decide to ask the Child Maintenance Service to arrange your child maintenance for you in the future, your responsibility to pay will start from around the point you contact them or they contact you.

The alternative to a family-based arrangement and the Child Maintenance Service is to put a Consent Order in place, which is arranged using the legal system.

For more information on the different ways to set up child maintenance and for a more personalised service, you can visit the Child Maintenance Options website.

The DWP have a sorting out separation website that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: https://www.sortingoutseparation.org.uk/.

Regards

William

Thanks William,

So if she applies, she will pay the fee to start which is good news.

I know she wont make it easy and just allow me to raise a direct debit, but I see you say I can avoid the collect and pay fees, If I request a direct pay arrangement.

Can I request this and complete to avoid the fees even if she is being difficult ?

Thanks

Mark

Hello again, Mark

You can be reassured to know that you can request a Direct Pay arrangement, even if the other parent applies for Collect and Pay.

Regards

William

Morning, I'm just after a little clarity on this.

If my CSA stops, and she takes months to contact the CMA, and then they get in touch with me after say 4 months. Am I liable to pay for the 4 months she has been sitting on her backside?

Or is that written off and It starts again from when they get in touch ?

Hello Mjtefc9

If an application were made to the Child Maintenance Service, your responsibility to pay will start from around the point you contact them or they contact you.

For more information on all the different ways to set up child maintenance and for a more personalised service, you can visit the Child Maintenance Options website at http://www.cmoptions.org.

The DWP have a sorting out separation website that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: https://www.sortingoutseparation.org.uk/.

Regards

William

Ok thank you, so from the moment the CSA finishes until the CMA contact me I pay nothing to the mother, and will not be hit for back pay for this period?

I will not be contacting the CMA you see, and the Mother is obstructive and will not allow direct payment so I will wait for her to contact them. I can provide my own way in the mean time for my child.

I would put the money into a savings account in the meantime, just to be safe.

Yeah thought that, but I would rather a definitive answer from the CMA.

I don't see why it would or should be back dated, if she cannot be bothered contacting them.

It won't be, but if she's contacted them and they haven't been able to contact you for any reason (seems to happen occasionally, certainly with CSA), the maintenance would start accruing - putting it into savings is just an insurance.