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I have been consistently overcharged by the Child Maintenance Service. The amount deducted from my income exceeds the calculated maintenance liability as per the CMS guidelines. Despite providing all necessary documentation and communicating with your team on multiple occasions, the overpayments have not been rectified.
Timeline of Events:
- 5th December 2024: I received a notification of the calculated maintenance amount of £700 per month (from £550) which I believed to be incorrect.
- 6th December 2024: I contacted CMS to dispute the calculation and provided supporting evidence, including the Birth Certificate of my youngest child which has never been factored in the calculation.
- 6th December 2024: I was informed that the matter would be reviewed, but no response has been received.
- 14th March 2025: I am yet to receive a reply to my change of circumstances I submitted via the App. But I now noticed CMS have mentioned my child has been in the calculation and the amount has instead gone up to £800 per month, and I raised the issue again with CMS.
Impact:
The overcharging has caused significant financial hardship, making it difficult for me to meet my own living expenses and support my children adequately. It has also caused unnecessary stress and frustration, as I have made repeated attempts to resolve this matter without success. I have 3 other children in my care and I am struggling to keep the roof under our heads not to talk of feeding my children. After car loan payment, car and family insurance payments, mortgage payment, council tax payment, utility bills, transportation costs including for my 15 year old, I struggle to make ends meet and this cannot be fair for my other children. There is no incentive to carry on working, as I will be better off being on benefit at this rate.
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