Child Support Agency

In my line of work, I get to hear the most amazing stories and I have to try to help people clear up mess made by idiots wearing suits which, is why I hate them!

I'm sharing this one because other people will be affected by it

A divorced man with 2 children (17 & 20) receives a letter telling him that he had rang the CSA, told them he had a son and that he wanted them to take money directly from his benefit to pay for child support. HE DID NOT RING THEM AT ALL! On asking why they sent this letter he was told it was standard initial communication. If this wasn't scandalous enough after paying his way until the letter said he had to he rang the CSA up to confirm that the payments were stopping on the date they said they would, July 7th 2006 - 4 months off his son's 19th birthday.

He was told that his son had left home in March 2006 and the payments should have stopped but the computer was not letting them stop the payments so it had made him over pay £80. He was then told they would write to the Benefits Agency telling them to stop taking payments out of his Income Support (he is disabled). Imagine his horror when the following day he received another letter from them, this time with a new payment schedule saying he had to pay maintenance until July 07 - 8 MONTHS AFTER HIS SON'S 19TH BIRTHDAY!

He rang again and was told it was the computers fault and if he wanted his money back he would have to write an official complaint to customer services!

3 weeks later, he receives YET ANOTHER LETTER telling him they had a new payment schedule and again he would be paying maintenance until 7 months AFTER his son's 19th birthday. Is it a coincidence that this mans problems started when David Henshaw became associated with the CSA?

The point of this story is if you are dealing with this agency make sure you know your rights and it may be worth contacting the CSA now and again just to check that your children's circumstances haven't changed because they won't tell you!