The Child Maintenence Service has been failing the very people it should be helping. The department is woefully understaffed, the phone lines are only open between 9.30 and 3.30pm. The average wait is 1 hour and often you are disconnected, they encourage you to use the message service which will send you a letter saying they will look at your case in 7 days  Then send you a standard letter not answering the question. I personally have spent 4.5years trying to gain maintenance from a ex husband who was coercive in the marriage and is still being coercive through CMS. He owes thousands and i really do not see a way that i will ever recieve the Arrears or regular payments i have spent hours and hours and only occasionally recieve money. There are many sites online advising errant fathers how to avoid paying maintenence and CMS does not have the staff to help. After 3 weeks of calling after the last missed payment and daily emails i have been told no one is dealing with your case. Please sign and share this petition and persuade the goverment to debate this and overhaul this department the situation is desperate for single parents. We are having to use foodbanks, to feed our children.