SIR: I refer to the report 'CSA Hit Dad etc' (BEN, June 3).

I understood the CSA was set up to catch errant fathers who abandon their responsibilities to their families, your paper even reported as much recently. The evidence from this latest article just confirms what a load of unadulterated rubbish this is.

I suspect that Edward Pearson has been 'caught' like me, not that we are hard to catch as we are highly visible, and have been honest about our situation. In my experience the CSA use us as easy targets to ensure their quotas are reached. The assumption is made that the father is always in the wrong and any attempts to put your own case is met with contempt by youngsters who have no experience or concept of the trauma caused by family break-ups. Before anyone starts screaming about welfare of children etc, there are two sides to every story.

As for the CSA spokesman's quote about 'clients' (suckers) simply not supplying information and not being surprised about deduction orders, this infuriates me as they levy the 'fine' which doesn't reflect any previously requested sum without notice. With regards to encouraging people to talk to local staff, in their dreams. The number you have to call is difficult to get through to, and when it is answered you are likely to talk to a faceless person 'just doing their job', who doesn't appear to care about what you say unless you are offering payment.

On every bit of correspondence from the CSA there is a sentence inviting the respondent to request a face to face interview but if you request one you are told the waiting list is three to four months and not worth it. I've been asking now for 18 months so could have had at least four by now. Repeated questions in writing are usually ignored except on one occasion when I had an acknowledgement two months later but no answers.

I did the 'right' thing in the beginning only to be cuckolded by a system that has proved wasteful and that encourages dishonesty. Do you think the new band of elected servants will listen or do anything about it? About the same chance as I have of getting a pig to fly.

Howard J Wilson

Wemsley Grove, Bolton

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