Gross or Net

Again this seems extremely unfair to use the gross amount, and it now shows a massive increase in maintenance.

I have my children 2-3 nights a week and I pay £285.00 per month in a private agreement, I also pay many extras too for my children.

This was worked out using 20% for 2 children then reduce by 2 x 7ths for the nights I have them. I am happy with this arrangement.

However occasionally my ex gets greedy and threatens CSA, which as this was run by the guidelines there was no problem here.

Under the new CM Options Calculator using Gross over Net is a lot more unfair, due to being on 40% tax bracket, and company car tax which is required for my job, and this now means it bumps it up to way over £350 a month, although I earn no more money than before.

The other thing which is highly unfair is some of us are left to pay our ex wives mortgages as well, and then pay this and none of this is taken into consideration either.

In my personal opinion CM Options is actually more unfair on men than the CSA was.

CM Options just provides impartial information and support to help parents make decisions (including family based arrangements) about child maintenance. The Government is responsible for child support legislation, rules and regulations and the Child Support Agency or the new Child Maintenance Service implement the statutory rules when parents can''t agree.

Parents have differing opinions about what is fair. One of the most vocal recipients of child maintenance I''ve come across was a father who couldn''t get over his ex-wife only needed to pay child maintenance at a rate of 20% of her income for two children. As he put it that was just the equivalent of one day''s pay a week to support their children.

It isn''t unreasonable to take taxable perks of employment into account when calculating CM. Company cars are taxed when they are available for private use which is a benefit for you. If you didn''t have a company car the CM calculation would be based on your income and then like other people you would need to find the money to purchase, maintain and run a car.

Anyway we should stick to answering the original post and if you want a debate you could start your own thread.

Nothing is fair in divorce end of. I am not debating, I am just saying yet again the goal posts have moved and make men worse off than before.

If one is on 40% tax, his gross will be far greater than someone on 20% tax yet he will pay far more in comparison.

My question was aimed at the CM Options person, not anyone else. Sorry.

I have to say I almost feel lucky to be on the CSA system where my contributions are based on the actual money I get in my pocket and not what I earn gross.

The CSA have advise that I will be migrated to the CMS in a year or two. Oh good, based on the online calculators, my maintenance will change from £200 per week to at least £250 per week.

I cannot understand how calculating gross can be fair in any way. If the marriage hadn''t dissolved, the former partner would have to provide for the children based on the income coming into the house. Why should it be different after divorce?