CMS is soo slow!

It took me making a complaint for anything to happen on my claim for child maintenance.

The first payment was meant to be in February - I''ve had nothing.

Apparently my STBX has applied for a variation on the payment. The variation includes application for a reduction for travel costs involved in visiting the kids.

This has not happened since my application for maintenance. I am so angry with him. I would rather he did have a relationship with the kids but I think now they don''t care so much.

For future reference here is the relevant official page relating to CMS variations that are permitted:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/relationships/...nds-for-a-variation/

This page from the Gov.uk website is the official page from the CMS regarding variations - Variations explained: a guide for paying parents ; it has a lot more information about special expenses and additional income.

Have you considered asking your MP to prod the CMS, Jedzy? It may help to speed things up.

Ah yes sorry - that is the better link to the info.

I think making a complaint to the CMS has forced them to follow the protocol that should have been applied three months ago - my STBX has apparently supplied them with a lot of irrelevant info, and the CMS workers have a limited amount of time to deal with each case.

Now the complaint is open the paperwork is being addressed.

Watch this space...

So I received a copy of the paperwork submitted by my STBX.

2 letters written by his solicitor, with inconsistent facts, and a submitted form where my STBX is claiming for travel costs for visiting the kids.

He did in fact come and see them last year - before I submitted a claim for child maintenance, but he has not seen them since.

I don''t understand why some people think their kids are not their responsibility.

I think however the end is nigh and I may start getting some money from him.

The CMS have now made a decision in my favour. Apparently they rang my STBX to let him know - he told them to speak to his solicitor and not to speak to him.

So now it is progressing to collect and pay. I am expecting him to give up his job as soon as they start deducting money from his wages.