Private Child Support Collections Agencies

[Elmtree in Ohio]

...are evil, just to get that out of the way.

Long story short: while unemployed I fell behind on child support. My ex went to one of those private child support collections agencies.

Since then, I got a couple of contracting jobs to pay try to keep current and got a "real" job so the county can get the money directly. They added another $100 or so a month to be applied to the arrears and have told me that the are no longer pursuing legal action against me - they had previously suspended my license and the whole thing was heading toward a contempt hearing until I landed the first consulting job. All seems to be right with the world.

The private agency has continued to call and mail me and is telling me that I need to send the money to them. The support order says I am to pay it to the county - and I spoke with the county when I received the notice from the private agency and verified as much. The private agency is now threatening me with liens and prosecution for contempt of the order unless I pay (them) the arrears in full.

I have heard that they'll misrepresent themselves and the law to collect. But is there a legal case here that I need to be prepared to defend or are they just blowing smoke? Can they prosecute/sue me to collect on a debt that I am paying to the county simply because they think I should be paying it faster and/or to them?

I am in Ohio (as is the support order) and the collections agency is in Texas.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You can inform any collection agency to stop contacting you. If I were you I would (a) do that and (b) pay off my arrearage through the court.