Parents have shared their stories of significant financial losses due to child maintenance errors. John Hammond, a 56-year-old math teacher from Peterborough, had nearly £20,000 wrongly deducted by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) even though his child support arrangement had ended over ten years ago.
Hammond recounted feeling extremely shaken upon realizing the substantial amount missing from his bank account, initially suspecting it was a scam. In 2002, he received a letter from the Child Support Agency stating he owed £947, which was later waived by his ex-wife’s request. However, in 2019, he was informed by the CMS that he owed almost £19,000.
After £19,269 was withdrawn from his bank in December 2020, Hammond contested the arrears and successfully appealed in court to reclaim the full sum. Despite being awarded £8,000 in legal costs, his total legal expenses of £14,055 resulted in a net loss of over £6,000.
Child maintenance serves as a financial support system for children’s daily expenses in cases of parental separation or non-cohabitation. Reports from the BBC highlighted over 30 cases of miscalculated child maintenance arrears, wrongful deductions, and legal battles with the CMS.
Another parent, Richard George, had £18,800 taken from his account by the CMS in late 2019, despite previously winning an appeal in 2016 to nullify over £16,000 in arrears. George later discovered that the CMS had been sending correspondence to an incorrect address for several years.
The CMS received 92,700 reconsideration requests in 2025, with 21,400 cases found to be erroneous or requiring additional information that altered the decision. Managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the CMS ensures payment accuracy based on the paying parent’s income.
A DWP spokesperson emphasized that payment arrangements by the CMS are typically precise, with close to 100% accuracy rates. Disputes can be appealed, with an independent tribunal reviewing and potentially amending decisions. Enforcement actions, such as seizing funds, are a last resort if voluntary payments are not made by the responsible parent.