MSE News: Child support arrears could be added to credit files

Former_MSE_Paloma · 5 November 2014 at 1:37PM

Parents who fail to pay child maintenance could find their information's passed to credit reference agencies ...

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Child support arrears could be added to credit files

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shoe*diva79 · 5 November 2014 at 5:07PM

You should post this on the Child Maintenance board.

aldredd · 5 November 2014 at 5:53PM

I think it's a good idea - as long as it's done right, of course (and this is CSA we're talking about here!)

That being said, I suspect there's a strong correlation between non-payers of child support, and existing non-payment history, so are unlikely to be trying to apply for mortgages etc anyway, so unlikely to make a massive difference to them anyway.

lazer · 5 November 2014 at 5:55PM

Given how useless the CSA is I think this a terrible idea.

mother1996 · 25 November 2014 at 3:42PM

I brought up my daughter (now 18) on my own from when she was 1. I always supported a relationship between her and her father despite the fact he paid no child support. I eventually got the CSA involved. The father would quit jobs and move house, basically everything he could to avoid his financial responsibility. I started work when my daughter was 4, it was basic low paid jobs in nursing homes as a care assistant, but none the less I wanted to work and at least try to make a difference for my daughter and provide for us as her father didn't. In 2006 I got a job as a civil servant and worked my way up the pay bands to where I am now. I always kept in touch with the CSA as I had heard her father was working. It was difficult at times as sometimes like a lot of bills mounting up couldn't afford my phone bill- so I would write to the CSA. They always maintained they could not get in contact with father of the decade!!!! Eventually in 2012, the caught up with him, as they found out he was working part time. I was to receive the grand total of £11.45 a week, which I gave straight to my daughter as she was now 16 and I hoped it would encourage her to handle money. This year 2014, she decided to move in with her Dad, as he stays near the College she would attend. So she is now 18. Last month I received notification from the now Child Maintenance Services stating Father of the decade has put a claim in against me which I am eligible to pay..... £2800.00 a year as long as she is doing her non advanced course at college... £230 per month for me to pay the pathetic scumbag that hasn't paid nearly a fraction of that. How is this justified?? I thought I was doing my best for my daughter, I always worked hard- at times it was a struggle- no financial help with school uniforms, school dinners or bus fayers as I worked. Incidently, the father now works full time and has recently got promotion!!!!!! Yet he is laughing all the way to the bank with my hard earned cash- which I wouldn't have a problem paying him something- £11.45 a week as I was expected to get!!! Or if he had actually paid is way instead of running from his responsibilities!!! The CSA/CMS have utterly let me down!!!!! Where do I go from here??? How is this justifiable!!!

Caroline_a · 25 November 2014 at 4:06PM

mother1996 - my heart goes out to you. I too had an ex who slipped and slid any way he could to avoid paying maintenance for his daughter. The helpful letters from CSA saying that they had calculated that he owed £0.00 per week just annoyed me after a while, and I worked fulltime and brought her up on my own. He had her to stay for half of all the holidays (not that he ever took her anywhere...), and I even delivered her there when his broken down car stopped working conveniently.

However, after a bit of an incident between her and him early this year she now 'gets it'. She's an adult now, with her own place, so it's taken a long time to come. His loss at the end of the day... your time will come too I'm sure. Karma is a wonderful thing...

DUTR · 25 November 2014 at 5:14PM

mother1996 wrote: »

snip
The CSA/CMS have utterly let me down!!!!! Where do I go from here??? How is this justifiable!!!

It's a shame, however, you are joining 2 seperate cases.
Why would he be laughing all the way ? Surely the money is used for your daughter's upbringing whilst she goes through her education.

moomoomama27 · 25 November 2014 at 5:33PM

Let's hope so! My ex has done nothing but evade the csa constantly. When they finally pinned him down, took until DD was 13, he then gave up his job and went self employed. They finally made an assessment and since then he has not paid regularly building up 4k of arrears in less than 2 years, and despite enforcement being involved still continues to get away without paying his regular monthly payments! I would love this to be implemented. NRPs that decide not to pay need a suitable 'punishment' that carries consequences! Let's hope, unlike the removal of passport and drivers license they implement this!!!

lazer · 25 November 2014 at 5:50PM

mother1996 wrote: »

I brought up my daughter (now 18) on my own from when she was 1. I always supported a relationship between her and her father despite the fact he paid no child support. I eventually got the CSA involved. The father would quit jobs and move house, basically everything he could to avoid his financial responsibility. I started work when my daughter was 4, it was basic low paid jobs in nursing homes as a care assistant, but none the less I wanted to work and at least try to make a difference for my daughter and provide for us as her father didn't. In 2006 I got a job as a civil servant and worked my way up the pay bands to where I am now. I always kept in touch with the CSA as I had heard her father was working. It was difficult at times as sometimes like a lot of bills mounting up couldn't afford my phone bill- so I would write to the CSA. They always maintained they could not get in contact with father of the decade!!!! Eventually in 2012, the caught up with him, as they found out he was working part time. I was to receive the grand total of £11.45 a week, which I gave straight to my daughter as she was now 16 and I hoped it would encourage her to handle money. This year 2014, she decided to move in with her Dad, as he stays near the College she would attend. So she is now 18. Last month I received notification from the now Child Maintenance Services stating Father of the decade has put a claim in against me which I am eligible to pay..... £2800.00 a year as long as she is doing her non advanced course at college... £230 per month for me to pay the pathetic scumbag that hasn't paid nearly a fraction of that. How is this justified?? I thought I was doing my best for my daughter, I always worked hard- at times it was a struggle- no financial help with school uniforms, school dinners or bus fayers as I worked. Incidently, the father now works full time and has recently got promotion!!!!!! Yet he is laughing all the way to the bank with my hard earned cash- which I wouldn't have a problem paying him something- £11.45 a week as I was expected to get!!! Or if he had actually paid is way instead of running from his responsibilities!!! The CSA/CMS have utterly let me down!!!!! Where do I go from here??? How is this justifiable!!!

So because your ex evaded the CSA and didn't give you the money to bring up your daughter, you think you can now do the same?

What your ex earns is irrelevant to how much you contribute to the upbringing of your child.

Your Ex will still owe you the arrears - so you may actually still get them now he is earning.

moomoomama27 · 25 November 2014 at 6:13PM

mother1996 wrote: »

I brought up my daughter (now 18) on my own from when she was 1. I always supported a relationship between her and her father despite the fact he paid no child support. I eventually got the CSA involved. The father would quit jobs and move house, basically everything he could to avoid his financial responsibility. I started work when my daughter was 4, it was basic low paid jobs in nursing homes as a care assistant, but none the less I wanted to work and at least try to make a difference for my daughter and provide for us as her father didn't. In 2006 I got a job as a civil servant and worked my way up the pay bands to where I am now. I always kept in touch with the CSA as I had heard her father was working. It was difficult at times as sometimes like a lot of bills mounting up couldn't afford my phone bill- so I would write to the CSA. They always maintained they could not get in contact with father of the decade!!!! Eventually in 2012, the caught up with him, as they found out he was working part time. I was to receive the grand total of £11.45 a week, which I gave straight to my daughter as she was now 16 and I hoped it would encourage her to handle money. This year 2014, she decided to move in with her Dad, as he stays near the College she would attend. So she is now 18. Last month I received notification from the now Child Maintenance Services stating Father of the decade has put a claim in against me which I am eligible to pay..... £2800.00 a year as long as she is doing her non advanced course at college... £230 per month for me to pay the pathetic scumbag that hasn't paid nearly a fraction of that. How is this justified?? I thought I was doing my best for my daughter, I always worked hard- at times it was a struggle- no financial help with school uniforms, school dinners or bus fayers as I worked. Incidently, the father now works full time and has recently got promotion!!!!!! Yet he is laughing all the way to the bank with my hard earned cash- which I wouldn't have a problem paying him something- £11.45 a week as I was expected to get!!! Or if he had actually paid is way instead of running from his responsibilities!!! The CSA/CMS have utterly let me down!!!!! Where do I go from here??? How is this justifiable!!!

Its perfectly justifiable!!! You are now the NRP! so you don't want to pay, the same as he didn't pay! How does that make you any better of a person!

sulkisu · 25 November 2014 at 6:35PM

FWIW, and despite the responses that you have had so far, I understand why you feel angry and let down. Your ex played the system. You could do what he did, leave your job, move around or work part-time to avoid paying what they have asked for but you sound like you have too much pride for that. I suspect there is also an element of being annoyed that he is doing the parenting, now that it's considerably easier - i.e. now that your daughter is grown up and independent.
However, if she is like the average 18 year old £230 a month will barely cover all of her needs (travel, food, clothes, lunches at college, course materials, make-up, going out, phone etc.), let alone additional food, utilities that he will be responsible for. He won't be personally benefiting from the money - try to think of it like that.

MSE News: Child support arrears could be added to credit files

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