A YOUNG widow got a threatening letter from the Child Support Agency asking for her dead husband's details...a week after the CSA's chief promised the agency would stop pestering her.

Rosemarie Phillips' husband Warren took a fatal overdose two years ago ,just two weeks after the couple had decided to separate.

Three weeks later, the first letter from the CSA arrived at Rosemarie's home in Accrington.

She took her husband's death certificate into the Department of Social Security, but the agency continued to bombard the 24-year-old mother of three with forms and threatening letters.

Rosemarie, of Bullough Close, got so upset with the situation she contacted her MP, Greg Pope, who agreed to take up the case.

Ann Chant, the chief executive of the government agency, ordered a full investigation and even wrote a letter of apology to Mr Pope.

But just seven days later yet another letter arrived asking Rosemarie for information and threatening to stop benefits if the form was not returned within two weeks.

Rosemarie said: "Just three weeks after my husband died I got a letter from the CSA, and I went down to the DSS straight away with his death certificate.

"The woman was very nice about everything and apologised for what had happened but then six months later the same thing happened again.

"The DSS apologised again but when it happened a third time I decided to get in touch with my MP.

"When the letter of apology from the House of Commons arrived I thought 'Great' because I thought the whole thing was over. I just couldn't believe it when another letter and form arrived.

"More than anything else, the whole thing has made me angry because they can't get the facts right. What do I have to do to prove he is dead, show them the grave?"

Rosemarie went on: "If my husband had just left me then I could understand them hounding me but the man is dead. I don't know what more I can do.

"For all I know, this could be happening to widows up and down the country who haven't come to terms with the death of their husband.

"Every time I thought the whole thing was over and forgotten about another letter would arrive and rake up everything again."

CSA boss Ann Chant said in her letter to Greg Pope: "I was very concerned that Mrs Phillips had received this correspondence and requested a full investigation.

"I understand this letter was issued by the benefits agency.

"This matter has been bought to their attention and I have been assured that no further correspondence will be sent to Mrs Phillips."

Mr Pope added: "This is an appalling situation but sadly I must say that I am not at all surprised by what has happened.

"The whole history of the CSA is one of getting things wrong and I have dealt with a number of constituents who have had terrible problems with them.

"It beggars belief the amount of times this organisation gets things wrong and it is high time a full review of the organisation is carried out.

"If Mrs Phillips would like to get in touch with me I would be only too happy to take her case up with the CSA once again."

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