A LONE parent who has endured nine months of frustration trying to get her child maintenance sorted out today slammed a government agency for its diabolical service.

A LONE parent who has endured nine months of frustration trying to get her child maintenance sorted out today slammed a government agency for its diabolical service.

Nicola Czorny is campaigning against the Child Support Agency and urging other parents to come forward and press for change - claiming the CSA is failing to support children.

She is launching a petition and contacting Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer for help.

Mrs Czorny said she has been left frustrated, annoyed and distressed by the length of time it has taken to sort out her case - which should have been one of the easier ones to deal with.

“My husband has filled in all the forms and agreed to have money deducted direct from his pay, and has even been making some of the calls to the CSA to help sort this matter out,” she said.

“Yet it has still taken nine months and is still not solved.

“It must be a nightmare for those lone parents whose wife or husband is not traceable.

“I have spoken to many lone parents who are suffering problems because of the CSA and it is time we all stood together and did something. They need to scrap their systems and start again because the current set up is not working.”

Mrs Czorny, 34, separated from her husband Peter, 30, a sales rep, last December. He agreed at once to make maintenance payments for their two-year-old daughter Ellie and pay the mortgage.

But it was then five months before anything was heard from the CSA and despite weekly phone calls and an occasional letter since, money has not been paid into her account, amounts to be deducted from her husband's pay have changed regularly and not been removed.

He has even resorted to handing her cash because the CSA has not acted.

“It has been very annoying and distressing and a stressful time. I am running up my phone bill ringing the CSA - sometimes holding on for an hour,” said Mrs Czorny, a part-time cleaner.

“I never know what money I will have or should be getting and at the end of the day we all have bills to pay.

“I am going to get this petition going and take it to the House of Commons.”

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said there had been improvements to the service but there was still a backlog of cases. A report was being prepared for Works and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett and should be ready in October.

What do you think of the CSA - have you been affected? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk