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My ex wife is currently being defensive about letting me have her account details to pay Child Support. She is insisting that I pay it to her mothers account.
This really doesn't sit comfortably with me and something doesn't add up about the situation. I just don't want to get bitten on the [censored] further down the line knowing how relentless the CSA are!
Any advice would be very much appreciated as to where I stand.
This might be slightly hypocritical of me but just an idea, If I set up a new account in my name and gave the card to my ex wife I could then ensure she's spending on the kids?
It will be down to your ex to provide the bank details to the CSA that you pay in to. They will have this on record, it is a bit odd they do not want the pay directly? But as long as the direct debit is set up and is clearly named "child maintenance" they cannot say you are not paying.
I have concerns that my money is not always being used on my kids, but there is not a lot I can do about that, i pay what I am supposed to, if she complains that she doesnt have enough, then that is her problem.
This might be slightly hypocritical of me but just an idea, If I set up a new account in my name and gave the card to my ex wife I could then ensure she's spending on the kids?
Do not do this under and circumstances - there is no proof at all that you have paid your ex, so you'll end up paying twice.
If your ex has provided the details via CMS, even if it's her mother, if that's who she'd agreed the payments should go to, then you have fulfilled your obligations (make sure you quote "child maintenance" as the payment reference). I would speak to CMS and see what they say.
ex could be doing something dodgy with her account. don't help her. if your paying through CMS, they will chase her for bank details.
My ex objected to CMS originally about paying maintenance to me (my children lived with me) - she said she wanted to pay it directly to my daughter's account. CMS were happy with that once I agreed to it, so it doesn't necessarily have to be to the Parent with Care who gets the money.
I'm guessing your ex may be on benefits of some kind, and she thinks that the child maintenance will affect that (it doesn't).