Refusing to work

This may sound like a silly question and im sure i know the answer but just to clarify really.

My ex has failed to pay any maintenance for four years, well apart from the huge sum of £5 per week when on benefits, then nothing because he was a student.

However he just informed my eldest daughter that he will not work any more hours if it means he earns over £500 because he would then have to pay me a quarter of it (3 children).
Apart from the obvious of the distress this has caused his daughter, why is there no redress to making this man pay.

Is there anything that can be done?

If indeed he had been on benefits and a student for the last few years then expecting any monies from him would be impossible during that time. However, if he has stated that he refuses to earn over a certain amount which would qualify him to pay child support, perhaps you should consider asking for a private arrangement whereby he doesn't have to pay the standard 25%?

It sounds as though he has contact with your daughter and presumably with you to. I would ask him for a private arrangement payment and leave the CSA out of it so that you get at least something and he is then free to earn more money too.

Hi,

He is just attempting to regain contact with the children after 2.5 years(his choice to have no contact). Unfortunately he will not speak to me about anything, even contact, so a private arrangement is impossible and i do believe he doesnt want to pay a penny.

It just seems so wrong that he is purposefully not working sufficient hours so as not to pay towards his children.

Its a shame he has this attitude.

Refusing to earn over £500 ..........

And then telling his daughter the reason why.

Hmmmmmmmm I can see the loss of respect from her plummeting as I type.

Well done to you for supporting your 3 children for four years on £5 pw, I've just calculated that adds up to a grand total of £1040.00.

Thats £86.66 per child per year.

There was little point for him to do all that studying if he refuses to use his qualifications to get a great/well-paid job! (which I assumed was the whole point of being a Mature Student)

Humph!

WR

I have to say that if he is just establishing contact and expressing his view at such an early stage about his financial obligations regarding child maintenance, it smacks of point scoring to me and that he is defending himself for some reason. Totally inappropriate and unnecessary. It's as though he is trying to excuse himself. Can I ask how old the child is?

The daughter he is contacting is 16, i have just sent a solicitors letter stating what the children want in relation to contact- yet again i am paying for this, but am concerned about the effect on my eldest daughter. Apart from stating about the working element, he also lied about numerous things, stating he had had to pay for my barrister in court (nearly 3 years ago), that he had to take on all the debts etc, none of this is true, along with saying i did numerous other things (which i can prove i didnt).
As my daughter is 16, i am at the moment more supporting her in her decision if she wishes to resume contact. However his actions are doing more harm at the moment.

16 eh?

He's timing this well isn't he? Choosing a time when she's already questioning herself and all sorts around her whilst he's acting as the "injured" party....

Not sure I would be focusing on the child support at all at the moment now, apart from getting in touch with the Csa again to see if they have any updates on him in case he is trying to dupe her and you that he is not earning enough.

Sounds to me as though he is apportioning blame and circumstances onto you so he can twist her mind into believing that some of the circumstances are not his fault at all and that he has done a lot more than she knew about.

I wouldn't try to parry off all of his excuses that he is trying to convince her of because it will just amount to a series of questions which you may find awkward answering every other day.

I think what you are doing is fine with regards to encouraging contact because to do otherwise may push her into believing what he is saying is maybe true.