Parents shared how significant amounts of money were withdrawn from their bank accounts due to child maintenance errors.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 agreement had ended over ten years ago. Hammond expressed shock and disbelief upon noticing the substantial deduction, fearing it was a scam. In 2002, he received a letter from the Child Support Agency, later replaced by the CMS, stating he owed £947, which was later waived at his ex-wife’s request. However, in 2019, he received a letter from the CMS claiming he owed almost £19,000.

After disputing the arrears, Hammond won an appeal in court to have the full amount refunded. Despite being awarded £8,000 in legal costs, he remains out of pocket by over £6,000 due to legal fees. Child maintenance is intended to assist in covering a child’s daily expenses when parents are separated or not cohabiting.

According to the BBC, more than 30 parents reported issues with miscalculated child maintenance arrears, unauthorized deductions, and legal battles with the CMS. Richard George, aged 63, had £18,800 withdrawn from his bank account by the CMS in late 2019, despite a 2016 appeal that nullified over £16,000 in arrears. It was discovered that the CMS had been sending correspondence to the wrong address for several years. George stated that the CMS eventually reimbursed the funds taken since 2019, including collection fees, but the harm had already been done.

In 2025, the CMS received 92,700 requests from parents to review decisions, with 21,400 cases found to be inaccurate or requiring additional information. The CMS operates under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A DWP spokesperson highlighted that CMS payment arrangements are typically based on the paying parent’s income with high accuracy rates. Disputes can be appealed, and arrears are managed through voluntary or enforcement measures if necessary.