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My son pays his ex via CMS and has now opted to pay direct rather than through CMS to save having to pay this extra money that they are going to charge. They told him that he must deal with his ex to get her bank details. They aren't on speaking terms at the moment, so he has sent her a couple of texts informing her that he will now be paying via direct pay and requires her banking details, so that he can set up a direct debit but she is being difficult and is not answering his texts.
Where does he go from here? Will he have to pay this additional money and keep going through CMS?
Hi Cuddles
Thank you for your post. I am William the Child Maintenance Options consultant. I would like to provide you with some information to try and help with your son’s Direct Pay arrangement.
In cases where the receiving parent does not want any contact with the other parent the Child Maintenance Service can help. Mum can give the Child Maintenance Service her bank account number, sort code and name. They will then pass that information securely on to your son on her behalf. For more information about this your son may wish to contact the Child Maintenance Service directly. He will find their details on any letters they have sent him.
You mentioned that your son and the other parent are not on speaking terms. They may find our Managing conflict with your child’s other parent guide useful. It can help with understanding how conflict affects children and what parents can do to resolve the issues. You can view this and our other guides on our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/toolbox/index.asp.
Your son and the other parent may want to consider using mediation to help them resolve any disagreements they may have. You can find more information about how mediation could help on our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/separating/about-mediation.asp.
The Child Maintenance Service is just one way to arrange child maintenance. For more information on the choices your son has, please visit our website at http://www.cmoptions.org. Alternatively, you can call us free on 0800 988 0988 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 9am and 4pm on a Saturday. The Department for Work and Pensions have a web application ‘sorting out separation’ which you and your son may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
Regards
William
Thank you William for that and I will pass the information on. The case is going through court but I think this is just another means in her mind to delay him having contact. I don't think she knows that maintenance and contact are two entirely different things.
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