Child Support Vent

[SillyMe]

This child support thing just keeps getting better and better. As if it's not bad enough that I've had to fight so hard to receive the tiny amount that I even receive (and the arrears are over $7,000).

Now they have decided to get rid of the checks. I received a Debit/Mastercard in the mail today. From now on this is how I will be receiving my support. Now, I understand why they are doing it this way and it makes sense. What I don't understand is how they justify taking 95 cents each time I withdraw my child support from an ATM machine or 50 cents every time I check my balance. My problem with this is simply because I don't receive my child support on a regular basis, so I will have to check my balance often. Yes, some might say, well it's only 95 cents or it's only 50 cents, but I don't get enough to begin with and now they're going to take even more of my money.

My only other option is to receive my support via direct deposit. Well, then I'd be calling my bank every day to see if the deposit has been made. They don't have online checking and they don't have an automated system to check my balance.

This really irritated me.

 

[Patty3]

 

[s&k'smom]

Hugs to you. The one thing my sister does get is her support on time. He was a horrendous husband but he did manage to do this.

 

[Cass]

Wow... what a loser bank that doesn't let you check a balance online...

95 cents does sound high to make a withdrawl for your child

Good luck getting it all sorted out.

 

[TeresaMc]

We will begin recieving child support for my stepson soon and it is my understanding that it must be either direct deposit or debit card. We will opt for the direct deposit and just add the amount when the statement comes each month. This is a long time overdue, my stepson has lived with us for years and DH finally decided to take his ex to court.

 

[dmslush]

The entire child support system is wacky as far as I am concerned. There just simply isn't enough enforcement. My exhusband didn't want to pay, he left the state. They found him one time, 4 years ago, and I got about 6 months worth of child support. Nothing since. It is like because he is out of state, he isn't worth fooling with. He owes me somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

That's insane. Can you open an account with a bank that has online banking and use it just to receive child support payments? Then you can write a check to yourself from that account and deposit it into your regular bank account. Or would that be more trouble than it's worth?

 

[coolbeans]

I would open an account with a bank that offers free checking and free online banking! Mine does, no minimum, all the automated telephone calls your fingers can dial. It would be worth it to save a couple of bucks.

 

[helenk]

Does you state have a child support website. We do in PA, I would just check the website every week. I also opened a checking account that is just for my child support. This way I could use it when I needed it but did not have it go to my regular bill paying account.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Anyone know if this is the case in Texas? I am owed over $25,000, so I am not holding my breath, but you never know, someone may catch up with him one day!!!

 

[Sandy22]

The worst part of dealing with my ex is the child support issues.

 

[mudnuri]

Holy moly-

Let's say for a minute that your child support is paid weekly, you make 52 withdrawals in a year, thats $49.40 Then you happen to have to check the balance 1-2 times a month- theres another 6-12 bucks. Your up to a couple pair of jeans for your child by now, in a years time.

My question is- WHO is getting this .95 and .50 Is it the state child support office, or the banks?

In VT they have something called an EBT card, I think it stands for electronic benefits transfer or something like that...anyways its a "debit card", where your ANFC and Food Stamps go each month. I do not believe you are charged to withdraw money from this card, nor are you charged when you call the 800 # printed on the back, which is how you can check your balance. My Uncle, who is disabled, has this stupid card for his whopping $10 in food stamps each month, and after 3 months the benefits expire. so if we wait- until its actually enough money to get groceries- we have to be careful he doesnt lose his 10 bucks LOL...

Man your program in your state is wacked. I'd be makin some phone calls and open a savings acct at some bank that offers online banking. It doesnt have to be a checking acct, just open a savings.

Brandy

 

[christinadei]

We don't have anything like that, but our system is crazy to. Ex owes me over $11,000. He's $3000 behind in payments. In the last 12 months, he's paid me about 3 months worth of CS. It is just finally going to court. It's ridiculous that it takes getting behind 9 months to get them to take him to court.

 

[SillyMe]

Does you state have a child support website. We do in PA, I would just check the website every week. I also opened a checking account that is just for my child support. This way I could use it when I needed it but did not have it go to my regular bill paying account.

I am in PA. Does the site tell you when the money is available? That would be great.

That's insane. Can you open an account with a bank that has online banking and use it just to receive child support payments? Then you can write a check to yourself from that account and deposit it into your regular bank account. Or would that be more trouble than it's worth?

I just thought about it this morning. I'm going to check into having it deposited into my savings account. I can check the balance on my ATM for free and I always know what the exact amount is in my savings acct vs. my checking acct. Even if I'd find another bank with free and online banking I'd still have to buy checks, so in a sense it still wouldn't be worth it. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[shortbun]

I would open an account with a bank that offers free checking and free online banking! Mine does, no minimum, all the automated telephone calls your fingers can dial. It would be worth it to save a couple of bucks.

We have several banks here who offer these services free as well. You REALLY need to change banks!

 

[SillyMe]

We don't have anything like that, but our system is crazy to. Ex owes me over $11,000. He's $3000 behind in payments. In the last 12 months, he's paid me about 3 months worth of CS. It is just finally going to court. It's ridiculous that it takes getting behind 9 months to get them to take him to court.

What I always find amazing is how some men who pay their child support on a regular basis, and get behind only one or two months, are taken to court immediately when others who are so far behind are not held accountable. It infuriates me.

 

[helenk]

SillyMe

Here is the link for the PA child support website

https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/index.aspx

 

[wvjules]

In WV we went to this in february. We do get a couple of free transactions per month though. When I was charged $2.00 for putting in an incorrect PIN, I went to direct deposit into a seperate checking account. The fees to talk to talk to someone about the problems I had cost $1.50 as well. I was furious. And its not the bank's 'fault' for charging you, it how the stupid state set up the contract with them. I think they must get a kickback of some sort.

 

[Charade]

This child support thing just keeps getting better and better. As if it's not bad enough that I've had to fight so hard to receive the tiny amount that I even receive (and the arrears are over $7,000).

Now they have decided to get rid of the checks. I received a Debit/Mastercard in the mail today. From now on this is how I will be receiving my support. Now, I understand why they are doing it this way and it makes sense. What I don't understand is how they justify taking 95 cents each time I withdraw my child support from an ATM machine or 50 cents every time I check my balance. My problem with this is simply because I don't receive my child support on a regular basis, so I will have to check my balance often. Yes, some might say, well it's only 95 cents or it's only 50 cents, but I don't get enough to begin with and now they're going to take even more of my money.

My only other option is to receive my support via direct deposit. Well, then I'd be calling my bank every day to see if the deposit has been made. They don't have online checking and they don't have an automated system to check my balance.

This really irritated me.

Why not treat it like a checking account and keep a register? You keep track of what you spend/withdraw and keep a running balance.

Who's getting the the transaction fees? My bank issued debit card doesn't carry fees when used at their ATMs and there is a convenience chain store around here that doesn't either.

Transaction fees suck but you don't have many options.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Take the direct deposit...This is done on a specfic time each month. If you take the debit card, once the money is there...take the entire amount out...if you use it like a debit card, then you are charged for each withdrawl...if you take the entire amount out then you only get charged that one time. Does that make sense.

I am torn on the whole child support issue...seeing it from both sides, My friend gets 250 a month for her 4 yo and can barely make ends meet. My DH's ex gets a huge chunk plus private school tuition and extra cir fees and doesn't have to work because she is married to a doctor...that is why the big amount...his income vs. hers is 100% so he pays more...how that is fair I don't know.