A SINGLE mum has joined forces with top politicians in criticising the under-fire Child Support Agency after mistakes left her without vital funds for her children.

Lisa Lacking, 28, of Nunsmere Close in Winsford, says computer failures and long-term weaknesses at the CSA have left her without maintenance payments for her two young sons.

She said: 'The CSA is meant to help single parents like me but it's pathetic.

'I realise it's having a lot of problems but I've got two young sons to support and it's getting ridiculous. I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.'

Problems at the CSA have been hitting the headlines in the national media, and Lisa's criticism comes in a week when Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted the agency is 'not properly suited' to its job and is being urgently looked at.

The CSA is designed to help single parents recover child maintenance payments from absent partners, but ministers - including Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy - have slammed its 'appalling track-re-cord.' Some are even calling for it to be abolished.

Lisa says she has had different problems trying to recover maintenance payments for her two sons - Thomas, nine, and seven-year-old Mark.

She said: 'Thomas' dad has been making payments to the

CSA regularly but I can't access the money. Because of problems with their new computer system I've had no money at all for three months, and it's going to be very tough with Christmas coming up if it isn't sorted.

'I rang several times - sometimes waiting on the line for an hour - and when I finally got through the operator said they had been having problems with the computers and the money couldn't be paid into my account, even though it's sitting there.

'I was told this would be sorted out within two weeks, that was three weeks ago and my claim is still being passed around from office to office like a parcel.

'Mark's dad has paid nothing but the CSA hasn't tried to help me get the money I'm owed like it's supposed to. I gave them his details seven years ago and I've had no payments - it's a dis-grace.'

The CSA has encountered a string of problems in a turbulent 12-year history. The new computer system, introduced last year, has been blamed for a growing number of severe payment delays.

Figures show a third of telephone calls about the new system have gone unanswered, and a recent report by a select committee stated £947m of maintenance money owed by absent UK parents has been written off as unrecoverable by the agency.

Have you had problems with the CSA?

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