CMS - Are they fit for purpose?

linclass

Good morning,
My partner's son reached the age of 20 in June and in college education, therefore partner should be paying only for youngest child. The maintenance for the 20 year old has been paid at the end of June, July, August and it looks like it will be paid at end of September also. My partner phoned the CMS in July, and was told (after speaking with 3 agents) that there will be a 12 week wait before they give him the revised payment amount which has now in effect, passed. Partner called them last week and a return call was promised. Of course, no one returned the call. He phoned yesterday and a return call was promised for yesterday. Yep, you've guessed... NO return call and the file is STILL on hold. He's just called them. His 'file' that he was told has been put on HOLD last Thursday and would be escalated hasn't been. ALL HE WANTS, is the revised payment figure! They won't tell him what it is over the phone. What would you do in this situation please? There seems no urgency whatsoever to deal with this case; of course there are very many others on their files not just him.

CRANKY40

He needs to call and say that he wants to make a complaint. Also contact your local MP and get him/her to ask the question on your behalf. MP's queries tend to get dealt with more quickly in all civil service departments.

linclass

Hello Cranky40, Many thanks for your reply. They (CMS) just do not seem interested - at all. They are so laid back, it's unbelievable. No urgency, plenty of 'I apologise' - talk is cheap, haha.

DUTR

linclass wrote: »

Hello Cranky40, Many thanks for your reply. They (CMS) just do not seem interested - at all. They are so laid back, it's unbelievable. No urgency, plenty of 'I apologise' - talk is cheap, haha.

WRITE to them after phoning, it's a better record.

unholyangel

I may be wrong but isn't it usual for CM to remain payable until the september after they turn 20 (which is when the child benefit should be due to end)?

Tabbytabitha

linclass wrote: »

Hello Cranky40, Many thanks for your reply. They (CMS) just do not seem interested - at all. They are so laid back, it's unbelievable. No urgency, plenty of 'I apologise' - talk is cheap, haha.

TBF, it doesn't sound like a particularly urgent situation.

theoretica

Is he paying through CMS or directly? He could do the recalculation himself.

sheramber

unholyangel wrote: »

I may be wrong but isn't it usual for CM to remain payable until the september after they turn 20 (which is when the child benefit should be due to end)?

Child benefit stops on 2o th birthday.

Toomuchdebt

sheramber wrote: »

Child benefit stops on 2o th birthday.

Child benefit for me stopped August after my eldest children turned 18. I certainly haven't been getting it for any longer than that. (eldest are 23 and 20 and I have 4 more children. One will be 18 in November and Child Benefit will stop for her next August)

linclass

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

TBF, it doesn't sound like a particularly urgent situation.

Maybe it WOULDN'T be for you Tabbytabitha, you have no clue how much is being payed out, or partners income. Thank you,

linclass

Many thanks everyone for your input and suggestions. When partner called them Wednesday, he ended the call with threatening to contact his Solicitor if no response from them by Friday this week. Well that worked ... he's received a call 15 minutes ago, with all the info he requested. :-) He's only been waiting since the end of June,