[Solved] CSA Payments & Apprenticeship

Hello Twiston

When using the Child Maintenance Service, either parent can choose the Direct Pay option. This means that the paying parent would not have any fees to pay on top of the maintenance payments. A standing order can be set up and the Child Maintenance Service need not be involved again unless there are missed payments. Receiving parents cannot choose not to use Direct Pay.

Regards

William

Clearly you know better than me, but are you sure about this? As I was told she had elected to allow me to direct pay that was followed by a warning about not paying. Why is there even an option to collect then without any evidence that it has failed directly? Again it seems that even with evidence of payments. I was paying now I pay in exactly the same way, direct bank trasnfer which I was told before the claim date meant nothing, but now the CMS have told me to do it, it counts? Like above, Id prove it with bank statements.....its ludicrous.

Hello Twiston

The difference between setting up your own arrangement paid through a standing order and doing it through the Direct Pay option is that if there are any missed payments, the receiving parent can go to the Child Maintenance Service and ask them to intervene. This is why you would receive a warning about non-payment. That is when the Collect and Pay option would be brought into play.

The Collect and Pay option can be used from the start of the arrangement if both parents agree to it. However, either parent can choose to use Direct Pay.

Regards

William

so if she'd have said, I want it collecting as I dont trust him, I could have said no Id prefer direct pay??

I didnt make the application after all? Why would both parents agree to it?

I was already making payments based on the calculator that the CMS decided were not to be taken as evidence of me paying and as such an application is 'valid' and now I pay her in exactly the same way I always did, I dont see the point, if she claims Im not paying her, how would I prove that I am? And why is the fee lodged with the payer only if both parents need to agree?

Sorry, I dont mean to give you a hard time personally

Hello Twiston

Yes, you have the choice to request to use the Direct Pay option. Neither parent can insist on using Collect & Pay. Fees for using Collect and Pay are charged to both parents.

If a receiving parent asks to use Collect & Pay but the paying parent asks to use Direct Pay, the Child Maintenance Service will make a decision on whether Direct Pay can be used. This will be based on their view as to whether the paying parent is likely to pay in that arrangement or not.

If you would like clarification on this or more in-depth information about the Child Maintenance Service’s policies, you can contact them directly, http://www.gov.uk.

Regards

William