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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    18

    Default Being Harrassed By CSE

    Here is a quick rundown of the history of our problem. My husband has 4 grown children from a previous marriage. He and his wife divorced in 1974. He was in the military at the time and child support was taken directly out of his pay and sent to the mother. In 1978 her new husband adopted the children and child support was no longer taken out of my husband's military pay. When husband #2 divorced the mother, he paid child support on the 4 children until they were emancipated. This all took place in the state of NC.
    Last August my husband recieved a phone call form CSE (Supportkids) out of Austin, TX accusing him of owing child support for all 4 chidren in the tune of $150,000. We reside in the state of NY. After the CSE case worker was done calling my husband a deadbeat dad and informing him that he WILL pay, my husband informed this man that the children were adopted in 1978. A fact that his ex-wife conveniently did not mention to this outfit when she contacted them to try to scam this money out of my husband.
    To make a long story short, after many harrassing phone calls and the hiring of a lawyer in NC to obtain copies of the adoption records, we provided them with proof that the kids were indeed adopted.
    TODAY, my husband was on the phone with the 3rd case worker from this outfit still defending himself. The case worker admitted that his client (the ex-wife) did not tell them that the kids were adopted, but he demands that my husband proove that he paid child support from the time of separation until the adoption. This was over 30 years ago! He explained to the case worker that it would take litteraly months to get pay records from the Army, if they are obtainable at all.
    He said that the burdon of proof lies upon my husband. And they have ways of getting around the statute of limitations.
    I apoligize for the long story, but can someone please tell me if this outfit can continue to harras my husband this way when he does not owe this woman a dime? He has never been saught after for non-payment of child support (because he doesn't owe any) and she has known where he is all these years. She and her latest husband are in great financial trouble (according to the children) and aparently have come up with this scheme to get some money from my husband.
    What do we need to do to get CSE off of our backs. Should we hire a lawyer? THanks to anyone who can educate us on this issue.


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    18

    Unhappy Re: Being Harrassed By Supportkids

    I would like to clarify something in my thread, since no one has responded yet. The outfit that is harrassing my husband is SUPPORTKIDS, an independent company out of Austin, TX that goes after deadbeat parents and charges the custodial parent a hefty percentage of what they collect for them. No court is involved. The only court papers that have been produced is the original one dated back in 1974 when my husband and his first wife separated. It was the separation agreement with child support established. He lived in NC until 1993 and has never been served with any papers from NC concerning back child support, simply because he does not owe any. Supportkids often tacks on the initials CSE to make them look more official. They are not associated with any state child support enforcement office.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    755

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By CSE

    Don't answer the phone when they call.
    And the burden of proof is on THEM, not your husband.
    I'm willing to bet this company has heard everything, so threats to sue for harassment wont work.
    Did you check the better business bureau website, and see if they have a negative rating?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    109

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By Supportkids

    Quote Quoting HannahLaw
    View Post
    I would like to clarify something in my thread, since no one has responded yet. The outfit that is harrassing my husband is SUPPORTKIDS, an independent company out of Austin, TX that goes after deadbeat parents and charges the custodial parent a hefty percentage of what they collect for them. No court is involved. The only court papers that have been produced is the original one dated back in 1974 when my husband and his first wife separated. It was the separation agreement with child support established. He lived in NC until 1993 and has never been served with any papers from NC concerning back child support, simply because he does not owe any. Supportkids often tacks on the initials CSE to make them look more official. They are not associated with any state child support enforcement office.
    Good clarification--and needed. I am ASSuming the EX got a bug up her butt and decided to take this action. Nice.

    I agree with Dad2.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    109

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By CSE

    They are listed as a "reposession agency" on the BBB---it seems the BBB is gathering information about them at this time and there is no information.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    California
    Posts
    64

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By CSE

    Like many collection agencies they do not have to stop harassing you until you do it in writing.

    Tell them once (on the phone) that you want them to stop calling or that you will sue them under the Fair Debt and Collection Act. Once you tell them to stop, they must. (read up on debt collectors and what they are and are not allowed to do).

    Follow up with a letter outlining that the children were adopted in 1978 and there is not support outstanding. And to not contact you anymore.

    Then *ignore* them. I do not think SupportKids will sue. The debt they are trying to enforce is bogus anyway.

    Hmm I just looked them up online and they do not have a very good rep. SupportKids was sued for fraud and misrepresentation. They have a contract that is almost impossible to get out of. They are very aggressive.

    Oh yeah the Attorney General of Virginia has filed a lawsuit against SupportKids.

    RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and Attorney General Bob McDonnell today announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia has sued Supportkids, Inc., a private child-support-collection company based in Texas. In filing this suit, Virginia seeks to prevent Supportkids from interfering with the orderly enforcement of child support obligations in Virginia.
    “Any actions that impede the Commonwealth’s efforts to lawfully and fairly collect child support must be addressed,” Governor Kaine said.
    Under Virginia law, child support payments must be routed through the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE). This process ensures that both parents are given credit for supporting their children.
    The Commonwealth believes that Supportkids interferes with the orderly enforcement of support obligations and tracking of support payments in the following ways:
    Supportkids, Inc. sends wage-withholding notices to employers of noncustodial parents. In these documents, the company refers to itself as “Child Support Enforcement,” a name easily confused with Virginia’s “Division of Child Support Enforcement.”
    Supportkids, Inc. also directs, unlawfully, the employer to send payments directly to the company’s office in Texas, rather than to Virginia’s DCSE.
    It then charges the custodial parent a 34% fee before forwarding the remainder of the payment to the custodial parent, regardless of whether it has undertaken any work on behalf of the parent to collect such payments.
    Attorney General McDonnell observed that SupportKids’ practice has disrupted DCSE’s coordinated system for enforcing child support; there are noncustodial parents who are not being credited for the support they pay to their children. Some noncustodial parents are improperly having wages withheld by two withholding orders — one obtained through the DCSE and one through Supportkids, Inc. “Most importantly, custodial children are not receiving the full support payments to which they are entitled under Virginia law,” McDonnell said.
    The Commonwealth does not oppose the use of private child-support collection agencies; however, when those companies threaten the interests of Virginia's children and disrupt the Commonwealth’s system for enforcing support obligations, it will take action to protect its citizens.
    Governor Kaine commended Virginia’s child support enforcement professionals who collected more than $608 million last year for 484,000 children who are owed child support.

    Hmm guess they are going to be too busy soon to harass you!

    Bird Brain

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By CSE

    To all of you who have replied to my thread, THANK YOU!!! Even though we know that my husband does not owe, it is still causing a tremendous amount of stress for both of us. He has done everything this outfit has asked of him, even proving that their client is lying, so I do not understand why they are pressing him to produce Army records that are over 30 years old!? Well I have a pretty good idea. It's because they can tack on 30 years of interest, meaning more money for them.

    The thing about this is that we HAVE sent them a written letter disputing the claim and asked them to stop calling. We faxed the letter and even sent a signed copy to them, back in August. In December they sent a letter saying that since they have not heard from him they are pursuing action. This outfit is down right shadey. So we sent ANOTHER letter along with the adoption papers in December. They are now asking him to provide proof that he paid for the four years prior to the adoption!

    My husband's 40 year old son, (one of the adopted kids) has told him to ignore the calls and threats because he does not owe anything, but that it easier said than done. It's just nerve wracking. Even the kids know that she is lying.

    My main concern is, can they garnish my husband's wages, and put liens on our property if he does not produce these records? Don't they have to have some kind of proof themselves that he does indeed owe before they can do that, and doesn't it have to go through the courts first? He has sent a request to the National Archives for the records, but who knows if he will ever get them.

    Again, I thank you all for your advice and appreciate the research that some of you have done. If anyone has anything else to add, or have any questions please put in your two cents.

    Thanks!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    California
    Posts
    64

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By CSE

    Hi

    You know, in light of the Virginia State Attorney General's lawsuit, I think you might want to call Your state attorney general about the violations of the Fair Debt and Collection Act (actually that's Federal). And report them to the FTC!!

    http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.shtm

    Also make a complaint to the State Attorney in Texas because SupportKids is violating THEIR State laws.

    Always make your complaint in writing!

    Bird Brain

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    18

    Thumbs up Re: Being Harrassed By CSE

    Dear Birdbrain53,
    I am going to do just that. I have done alot of research on Supportkids, but just have not been sure on what action to take. I have the address for the TX AG already, but now I know about the Fair Debt & Collection Act.
    We'll get started on this right away. writing letters to everyone we can. Thanks again for taking interest in our dilema. You, and the others have been most helpful.
    I will keep you posted.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    6

    Default Re: Being Harrassed By CSE



    I too became a victim of Support Kids (SK). I wrote to them twice to cancel and they refuse to do so. I wish I had done a thorough job of researching this company before I signed with them. However, I contacted the state agencies by a notarized letter asking them to put my name and address back to what it was originally. The disbursement unit only required a phone call. I contacted SK and told them that my contract with them in null and void and in direct violation of the court order.

    Still, they refuse to cancel. SK sent a copy of my signed contract along with my court order and a direct deposit form to the disbursement unit to have checks direct deposited into their account. I sent a notarized letter, filled out the direct deposit form and sent a voided check to redirect everything to my bank account. I am thinking of closing out that account in case SK tries to put a freeze/lien on it.

    I also sent a notarized letter to the non-custodial parents employer and asked them not to send any information to SK in Austin, Texas without my written, notarized consent. Make sure to include this information in all correspondence to the state agencies. Contact every office in connection with your child support case and give them your new information. I've dealt with some very rude customer service reps so I contacted the attorney general's office, the state attorney's office, explained my situation and asked for names and numbers of anyone having anything to do with child support. The director of child support in Tallahassee contacted SK and informed them that I removed them as the recepient of the direct deposit, they reiterated that I cannot cancel my contract. The director told me to send my direct deposit information to make the necessary changes. She also reminded me that my contract is between me and SK. They don't get involved with that but they will accept my changes.

    I have searched many websites and read all the complaints; it is really impossible to cancel this contract. I went to the site for the Texas state attorney's office and located the child support information. Looking further there is a section about the banking department that regulates these private collection agencies and it states that the contracts that are signed with these agencies are legal and binding.

    I still feel that there are ways to go around them. Not everyone has money to hire legal counsel to fight this.


    http://www.ncsl.org
    National Conference of State Legistators

    https://www.nwlc.org
    National Women's Law Center
    11 Dupont Circle, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036
    Ph: 202-588-5180 Fax: 202-588-5185

    These two websites have valuable information.

    Hope this is helpful.

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