Court rejects 'fear of letters' appeal

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

A GERMAN court has ruled against a woman who claimed a phobia of official letters in her appeal against a decision to cut off child support benefits.

The finance court in western Rhineland-Palatinate state said yesterday that the woman was sent a letter in May 2007 asking for evidence to support continued payments for her daughter.

After she failed to respond, she was notified in July 2007 that the money was being cut off and given a month to appeal. Only in September did she reply and supply the requested documents - telling authorities, who threw out her appeal because it was too late, that she had a phobia of official correspondence.

The woman, who was not identified, said that "she had already suffered many financial disadvantages" as a result of leaving mail lying around or throwing it out.

The court ruled she had had plenty of time to seek help.