One thing that might help is if you keep a diary of handovers of the child that has to be signed by the person handing the child over as well as you at the time of handover. That way there is no way of disputing when the child is with you or not.

I think it's outrageous when any parent puts money over the real needs of a child.

I'm wondering how this will all effect me now as I'm supposed to be getting money for one through CSA but they haven't approved the claim yet - that's a long story, I'm paying for one through CSA, have an agreement plan with one that doesn't involve CSA, and getting nothing for the other and CSA isn't involved in that one either. What a complicated life I live! LOL

"The EX now unhappy with her drop in spending money "

I'm sorry but this is really annoying, why do some people have the attitude that the mum spends the money?...........It is child support, money to support the children, money thats helps care for the children, buy their clothes, food, accomodation etc etc etc

I for one as the main carer for my children havent brought clothes or gone to the hairdresser in over 12 months but the father of our children still carries on about the amount of child support, he pays more in car payments than he does to support his kids. I dont blame your stepsons mother taking the only action she feels she can to battle for her sons right to be supported adequately.

Its is obvious that the mens rights lobby group is a very powerful group. I beleive that single mums need to take a stand and start to fight this injustice.

Perhaps if your partner continued to pay the previous assessed amount you could have continued with the previous arrangements. So I find it difficult to blame the tension your stepson now feels on his mum. I do agree though that his best interests are not being meet,........financially.

I'm not saying that what you are experiencing is correct or not, this new system seems to work for very little people. Most people I speak to are Mums. To be a single Mum  I have had to raise my child on my own without any assistance ,I had to stop work completly. I had spent 5 1/2 years at uni to build a career that I can no longer continue. To survive  I had to sell  a property which I had worked hard to acquire for our future but figured I had to do so, so  I could provide a home for our child because she deserved a parent who would prioritise the child first . My income droped $70 000 a year and I will not be able to earn this money until I can again work full time.  The new CSA amounts certainly have never taken into consideration my actual drop in income and the commitment I have made to our child. 

 I am not saying that your experience is easy and unfortunately people who are struggling do tend to be reactive.Could the parents actually sit down and communicate to find out why the Mother feels that this new amount is inappropriate for her. Perhaps a solution could be made without the fuss.

From the other side of the fence here I know what the ex is going through. My CSA has halved because of the new assessment formula. I was very upset because as a single mum I struggle with rent/bills etc and then trying to keep my son clothed and in his regular activities and it also isn't helped by the fact that he has a medical condition that costs me on average $30 a week extra... sometimes more. I was shocked at how they figured it out. Lucky for me the father has agreed to continue to pay the same amount as before as he can see, where CSA can't, that it isn't fair and would end in hardship for his son and myself. Maybe your partner and his ex can sit down and talk about the changes and how they will effect the child and come to a personal agreement of a set amount that keeps both parties happy. In these cases unfortunately the kids are the ones that suffer because the parents are stressed and upset.