If you are a parent who refuses to pay maintenance to your family, then you could struggle to obtain mortgages and loans, the government warned yesterday as it publishes a bill replace the troubled Child Support Agency (CSA).
Officials will be able to pass information to credit reference agencies, affecting your ability to borrow money and take money directly from your bank account.
The legislation will kill off the CSA, which has struggled to enforce cases since its creation in 1993 and is currently owed £3.5 billion.
Parents will be encouraged to reach private arrangements, and a slimline body will handle the toughest cases. Missed payments will incur penalties.
The government believes the reforms are central to its target of ending child poverty by 2020, with almost half of all children in single-parent households live in poverty.
"We know that putting parents in control of their own arrangements is key to them taking responsibility for their children," said John Hutton, the Work and Pensions secretary.
"However, a small number seem to think paying for their kids is something they can simply choose not to do. It isn't."
The bill will also allow the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to charge you for the cost of tracking you down if you evade payments.
The CSA yesterday wrote to parents asking for permission to "name and shame" their non-paying ex-partners on the web.
So if you are not taking your financial responsibilities towards your family seriously,then beware; you might end up on a credit blacklist!