Child support defaulters could face credit blacklisting

Parents who fail to pay due child maintenance payments could find themselves unable to obtain credit, under new UK Government proposals.

From March 2015, information regarding parents' payment records could be shared with credit reference agencies. Non-payers could then find themselves refused a mortgage or other loan.

The measures would only apply where a liability order had been granted, which require a court process. About 12,000 such orders were granted across the UK last year. However ministers hope the move will have a deterrent effect.

Child Maintenance Minister Steve Webb said the Government was determined to tackle "irresponsible" behaviour. He commented: "For too long, a minority of absent parents have got away with failing to pay maintenance, leaving families without that financial support.

"I would hope that we see this power used very little, because the deterrent effect of a possible negative mark on a person's credit rating will convince those who have previously failed to pay towards their children's upbringing to do the right thing."

The Government also said that parents with a good payment record would be able to ask that this information was shared, in order to boost their credit rating.

Single parent charity Gingerbread described the announcement as "very welcome". Chief executive Fiona Weir said: "More than £1bn is currently owed in unpaid child maintenance, and barely one in five of those who owe money for their children are paying it back."