Stories that are hard to believe about the Child Support Agency

We pick the worst stories about the Child Support Agency. Stories that you just wouldn't believe if you hadn't read it for yourself! All of these stories were published in both National and Local Newspapers.

If we have missed any stories you think should appear on here please don't hesitate to let us know about them. Please use the Contact Form to do this.

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CSA refunds Leeds dad 1p: From THE YORKSHIRE EVENING POST on 26 Sep 2009

AFTER a lengthy battle with the Child Support Agency, Tony Nelson couldn't believe his eyes when he received a letter telling him he was entitled to a refund. He was less thrilled, however, when on closer inspection the enclosed cheque was for ... ONE PENCE. Tony, 44, from Armley, Leeds, said: "I had a quick look and saw all these noughts and thought 'brilliant'.

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Coroner demands dad death probe: From THE TELEGRAPH AND ARGUS on 15 Nov 2008

Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker has demanded a full inquiry into the “arrogant and reprehensible” conduct of the Child Support Agency (CSA) in the aftermath of a dad’s suicide.

An inquest heard how the CSA wrote to Neil Hutchinson, 33, about his arrears long after he hanged himself at his home on March 7 this year.

The coroners court heard how the CSA had been notified of the man’s death on five occasions, but continued to send letters to him, the most recent of which was dated August 21.

Read the full story HERE   Broken Link? Report it here.

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CSA has left me with sweet FA: From THE SUN on 28 Oct 2008

BUNGLING Child Support Agency chiefs seized a stunned dad’s entire wages — then insisted he could live on ZERO pounds a week.

Part-time mechanic Dean Harley claims he must hand over every penny of his £67 weekly pay cheque thanks to a row over maintenance for his daughter Laura, 16.

He says the cash was grabbed to clear an outstanding debt — after bosses at the CSA wrongly told him he owed a whopping £90,000 in arrears. 

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Dad gets £4m CSA demand: From THE SUN on 16th July 2008

A DAD on less than £100 a week got a Child Support Agency demand for £4.3million.

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CSA overcharges mother by £60,000: From THE ARGUS on 9th December 2007

A single mother claims she reached breaking point after the Child Support Agency overcharged her by nearly £60,000.

Mother-of-three, Christine Borthwick, 44, from Watling Road, Southwick, had her world turned upside down when she received a bill for £73,000.

Read the full story HERE   Broken Link? Report it here.

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DIY dad's cash trap: From THE MIRROR on 4th December 2007

A firemen who donated sperm for a lesbian couple to have children is being forced to pay child support.

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Girl, 11, sues CSA for £100,000: From THE SUN on 6th June 2007

A GIRL of 11 is suing the Child Support Agency for £100,000 for failing to get maintenance from her dad.

Alexandra Mainwaring claims the negligence of the discredited Government body has stopped her leading a normal life.

In a High Court writ, she says the CSA’s failure to force estranged father Aled to pay up since 1996 caused her “financial hardship” and breached her human rights.

Read the full story HERE   Broken Link? Report it here.

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CSA mistakes cost £10 million: From THE JOURNAL ONLINE on 16th January 2006

New figures reveal extent of compensation paid out to parents: The Child Support Agency has paid out more than £10 million in compensation for mistakes over the past four years, according to an article in today's Herald.

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Child Support Agency admits to making mistakes in 25% of cases: From THE INDEPENDENT on 21st July 2005

The crisis-hit Child Support Agency has been making mistakes in one in four cases, its annual report has revealed. Staff numbers have fallen by 5` per cent and computer problems left 12,000 new cases being processed by hand.

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Get lost - like CSA cash: From THE SUN on 18th November 2004

BUNGLING Child Support Agency boss Doug Smith was axed by Tony Blair yesterday. The PM told him to GET LOST a week after The Sun exposed the shambles of unpaid claims to struggling single mums. A massive £750million in payments is outstanding, with less than half the money owed by runaway dads collected. Thousands of solo mothers are on the breadline. Yet sacked Mr Smith tried to DEFEND his disgraced department, claiming his top brass had “done a remarkable job”.

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Sued on Friends Reunited: From THE SUN on 1st July 2004

A POSTMAN has been hit with a paternity claim for a stranger’s child after joining Friends Reunited. Stephen Williamson, 37, hoped to catch up with old schoolmates by signing on. Instead, a woman contacted him claiming he had fathered her ten-year-old daughter during a holiday fling in Gran Canaria. And now the Child Support Agency have written telling him to take a DNA test or cough up. 

Read the full story HERE   Broken Link? Report it here.

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