Eugh to this 'surrogacy' story

[NutellaEllaElla]

Ok, it's not a reputable news source, but this reddit thread describes a cognitively impaired young woman, being an informal 'surrogate' to clear her debts, now being chased for child maintenance so the couple can have extra cash to pay their mortgage. Makes me sick.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/comments/14r6vw9/my_sister_acted_as_a_surrogate_for_a_couple_she/

In the UK

Well, this certainly wasn't surragocy was it. This is terribly sad and you'd imagine that surely some laws have been broken here.

As they didn't adopt the baby, can she make a claim for custody?

Her family should certainly get the law involved. I'd be tempted to go to the press as well. Maximum light.

Yes I saw that thread on reddit. 🤢
I do think there's more to this story as the start of the surrogacy doesn't quite add up for me.
In all the scenarios I could think of though, that woman was definitely abused by someone and now there's a baby in the mix.
Definitely one for the courts.

I believe its illegal to pay someone to be a surrogate in the UK, so hopefully it does go to court and the couple are hit with the book

Natalie Gamble law states the going rate is £12-25k and the courts never prosecute.
Women in the U.K. absolutely are paid for the baby they hand over, they just dress it up as "expenses" and the courts don't worry about it too much.

This was not surrogacy, and goes against everything surrogacy is.
For a start, it doesn't sound like a parental order was applied for. That means that the child is living with dad and stepmum. It is abhorrent that they should do this, but this isn't a story about surrogacy. This is a story about being taken advantage of. I would be interested to know how he 'impregnated' her.
And indeed, she would be able to go to the courts and ask for access etc just like in any other case.
Surrogates aren't allowed to be paid in the UK. But they are allowed to claim for expenses. It doesn't sound like this was the case here.
A sad story for the mother and baby here.