Parents have shared how significant amounts of money were withdrawn from their bank accounts due to child maintenance errors. John Hammond, a 56-year-old math teacher from Peterborough, had nearly £20,000 deducted by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) even though his payment arrangement had concluded over ten years ago. Hammond expressed his shock upon noticing the substantial deduction, describing his initial reaction as feeling like it was a scam.
In 2002, Hammond received a letter from the Child Support Agency, the predecessor of the CMS, stating he owed £947, which his ex-wife had requested to be waived. However, in 2019, he was informed by the CMS that he owed almost £19,000. Subsequently, £19,269 was withdrawn from his bank account in December 2020. After challenging the arrears, he successfully appealed in court to have the full amount reimbursed.
Although the court awarded him £8,000 in legal costs, Hammond had spent £14,055 on legal fees throughout the case, leaving him more than £6,000 out of pocket. Child maintenance serves as a financial agreement to contribute to a child’s daily expenses when parents are separated or not cohabitating.
Numerous parents have reported issues with miscalculated child maintenance arrears, erroneous deductions, and legal disputes with the CMS. One such case involved Richard George, 63, who had £18,800 withdrawn from his bank account by the CMS in late 2019, despite previously winning an appeal in 2016 to nullify over £16,000 in arrears. George discovered that the CMS had been sending correspondence to an incorrect address for several years.
The CMS received 92,700 requests in 2025 from parents seeking a review of decisions. Among these cases, 21,400 were deemed incorrect or required additional information leading to a revised decision. Managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the CMS ensures payment arrangements are based on the paying parent’s income, with assessment accuracy rates consistently close to 100%.
According to a DWP spokesperson, disputed payment arrangements can be appealed, with independent tribunals deciding on potential modifications. Enforcement measures are only pursued if paying parents persist in defaulting on payments, with the CMS prioritizing voluntary payments and reinstating regular contributions to prevent further arrears.
