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<p>Fees and charges are intended to encourage separated parents to collaborate where
possible to achieve the best outcome for their children. The application fee is a
one-off payment of £20 and is waived for clients aged 18 or under, or those who have
reported domestic abuse. The Direct Pay service does not incur any on-going collection
charges. Collection charges only apply when a case is being managed in the Collect
and Pay service. The four per cent charge for receiving parents is deducted only when
maintenance is paid.</p><p> </p><p>On 03 August 2017, we published the outcome of
a review of the impact of fees and charges. The evidence available did not indicate
that charges were preventing parents from making an application, and the majority
of parents found the fee affordable. Roughly half of parents stated that charges influenced
their decision to try a direct pay arrangement first.</p><p> </p><p>We have no plans
to abolish the application fee or charges, both of which remain central to our aim
of encouraging collaboration and incentivising use of the Direct Pay service.</p><p
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