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Hi there,
This is my first post so please bear with me,
I received a letter from the CSA on 4/10/16 stating a CSA case in my name had been closed. Only problem is I've never had a CSA case. It states a girl called Emma as the child's mother. I've never met or slept with a girl called Emma so I decided to call the CSA and find out what's going on.
When I called the number on the letter I was asked to key in my ni number and dob but this wasn't found on their system. I was then put through to a call handler. After I explained that I have been with my wife for 12 years and asked what all this was about the girl said a child was born in 2006 and the case was opened in 2007 and I was named as the father. I was in total shock as I met my wife in 2003 and have never been unfaithful so knew there was a mistake somewhere along the line. The girl asked me some random security questions which I was unable to answer as I didn't know anything about the case and she said I must know about the case as I'm currently paying maintenance payments to the girl in question. I told her that there is a mistake as I've never paid any money to anyone and the csa have sent the letter to the wrong person but she wouldn't listen. I knew I was fighting a losing battle so I hung up the phone and called straight back to speak with someone more helpful.
I got a great lady this time who could tell from my voice breaking that I was being 100% serious and this was causing distress now as my wife now thinks I must have had an affair somewhere along the line. After explaining that in 10 years this was the first letter I had received she tried to get me through the security questions and asked questions that I knew the answers to like the mothers name (it was on the letter) my occupation, and my ni number. (I still don't understand how they have all these details). Anyway I passed the security questions and I now had access to another persons CSA file. The lady asked me loads of questions regarding previous address and occupations and this is where it gets weird. The father seems to have the same name as me, the same ni number, same address, same date of birth, and same occupation, but he has lived at other adresses and was in the armed forces which I have never been. The CSA can't give me any information about the mother and now my wife is on the verge of divorcing me.
I really need some help in trying to get my head round what has happened here.
Has someone stolen my identity?
Has someone used my name as a father of their child?
Has the CSA made a massive admin cockup?
I've checked with the inland revenue and my ni number is the only one in circulation. I've heard of cases where two people have the same ni number, so it's not that.
I've contacted my local mp and have a meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss it with him.
If anyone has heard of anything similar I'd love to hear, and if anyone has any tips or advice on how to handle this it would be very much appreciated.
I'm on the verge of losing my wife and 2 kids due to an error on the CSAs part and they won't do anything to help me.
Please help.
Many thanks.
This does sound weird, and I would say identity theft except that the other person seems to have been paying maintenance. I think your MP is probably the best place to turn at the moment, but I also wonder whether it's worth contacting the police on the basis of identity theft.
Hi
Thanks for the reply,
I received a letter today saying
" I am writing to confirm that the original trace action that was completed in 2007, the action that originally linked you to this case, was completed in error.
It appears, after reviewing the case, that we contacted the correct person however we mistakenly entered your national insurance number and recorded it against you.
Over the 9 years that the case had been open, this mistake had not been highlighted until we issued the closure letter on 4th October.
On behalf of the agency, I apologise for any confusion or distress that this error has caused you.
We will take the necessary action to remove any connection between you and the agency. Your information has not been passed to our clients and I can confirm that any information we hold about you will not be used by any other organisation, including the child maintenance service."
i had an appointment with my local mp who has raised the issue with the rt hon Damien Green who is sec of state for work and pensions.
Should I just accept the apology and get on with it or should I take this further. My wife nearly left our home with my 2 kids and we argued for 6 days solid. The stress it has caused has been unbelievable for my whole family and the money I've spent on phone calls is outrageous.
Thanks again,
Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I'll see what my MP comes back with as I'm £35 out of pocket on phone calls alone.
Thank you.
Draft a letter explaining the seriousness of what this has caused you. This is disgusting.
I hope your wife understands and that there isn't a niggle of doubt going forwards (even despite the evidence).
I'd be pushing for a gesture of compensation in light of the stress this has caused.
Also 100% report this to the Information Commissioners Office as a complaint
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