This is kind of a rant but sort of a question.

I have been getting child support for the past 7+ years through the Texas Attorney General's office from my ex. The amount is taken directly out of his pay and electronically sent to the AG's office (this has worked perfectly for as long as I can remember on the company he works for's side) I haven't gotten a payment in almost a month and he has had 2 paychecks since then that have had my support amount taken out.

I called the AG's office to find out what is going on and was told that he has a credit (no way he paid extra because he told me he didn't) and that they haven't received anything from him since 3/12, which is weird since i got a payment on 3/14 and one on 3/27.

I am having a hard time dealing with them because they just tell me there is nothing they can do and all I can do is try to talk my ex into having the company he works for trace the funds to see when or if they were sent. Which he is not going to do because talking to the payroll dept is a pain in the rear.

Any suggestion on what to do?

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 01:20 pm:

I get my child support throught the TX AG, and have never run into this before. Honestly, I would keep on them, and get letters from your ex stating he has not overpaid. Good luck, keep us updated.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 03:36 pm:

i receive my CS through WDC., AG'S office. What I make sure that I do is keep the stub form each check hat i receive . And they also send out bank like statements about ever 3 months which shows payments how much when they where received and mailed out. Now if I was ever faced wtih a issue like this I would assume that I would be able to take each of my statements and or stubs and show proof as too how much was paid. Do you happen to have any check stubs or anything showing a total year to date to show that he has not overpaid. And also what Crystal suggested get something in writing from him stating that he has not overpaid. On his pay stubs has it showed that support payments have been taken out that he could maybe let you borrow to show the the AG that payments have been made on his end but not received on your end? Hope you get it worked out , I would stay on top of the Attorney General's Offiec also. Good Luck.

By Tarable on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 04:12 pm:

They do an auto-deposit, so there is no stub. I am actually a lot more aggravated that I have not received a payment in almost a month, than I am worried about him having "over paid" because my support order tells the company he works for to take out X amount of each paycheck no matter what, so I will keep getting the same amount even if he has overpaid unless he does something about it through the courts. And to get him to find out the check number, date and amount sent from the company he works for is just not going to happen. And the AG's office says they can't and won't do anything about it unless I find that info out unless I go 2 months without payment. And I doubt that Texas Instruments (company he works for) is going to answer any of my questions about if they sent my child support check or not (not to mention I would not know where to even call).

BTW.. Crystal, have you received a payment since the beginning of April? If you don't mind me asking. Everyone else I know that gets child support from TX has not but that is only 2 others. I know that the hold time when I called was outrageous and normally it is not but a min or so because it is through a small county instead of Dallas or somewhere.

Maybe I am just being impatient but I use that money to pay for clothes for the girls and they have no shorts/capri's they can wear to school that fit them and I had to use other money to pay for a dr appt that Jordan went to.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 06:44 am:

I would make one more phone call, telling them what your ex has told you (and get the name of the person you spoke with). If that person says there is no error and that their records show an overpayment, ask to speak with a supervisor (and get the supervisor's name also) and go through it again. If the AG's office continues in their position, I suggest that you write - yes, write, by snailmail, to the Attorney General's office (check their website for the name of a top person to address the letter to - as that top person will then tell someone to investigate and report), relating the history as you described it above, including that your ex told you specifically that (a) he has not overpaid, because the payments are taken from his paycheck, and (b) payments were deducted from his last two paychecks, but you received no payment through the AG's office. Ask them to investigate. State in your letter that this gap in payments is causing you severe hardship and you request that it is investigated and resolved as quickly as possible. Ask them to respond in writing. Include in the letter the names of all the persons you have spoken with and what they said.

My guess is that someone made a mistaken computer entry, maybe crediting your ex's account (and yours) with some else's payment, someone else took a quick look and didn't catch the mistake, and you are suffering from it. My reason for saying send a letter is that a letter leaves a record, where a phone call doesn't.

If your ex will provide a letter stating that he hasn't overpaid, and copies of his paystubs showing the recent deductions, include that with your letter. Keep a copy of your letter and anything you send with it.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 05:04 pm:

I receive mine at the end of the month rather than the beginning, so I won't know if everything is ok for another week or so. Last one I received was 27 March 2007, and that was March payment. Let me know how this all works out, I have my fingers crossed for you!!! Have you checked the AG child support site?

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 06:52 pm:

I agree with Ginny... Send a snail mail, certified would be better as you will receive a receipt of delivery. This is your money and they have messed up some where and they need to fix it...

By Tarable on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 08:31 pm:

I can't resolve anything until next week because my ex can't get the info I need to me until sunday when I meet him to pick up my girls, if he remembers to bring it.
I keep hoping that I will look on the AG's website and the payment will have been posted and then I can just have to look into the overpayment problem.

Crystal, I have been checking the AGs website everyday since I noticed that my payment was late over a week ago. And I have even asked them if it could be because of the updates they did over the weekend.

Thanks for the advice everyone and I will keep y'all posted.

By Cocoabutter on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 11:47 pm:

Since all of this was set up in court, if you don't get any results or can't get the ex to cooperate, I'd go ahead and contact your lawyer who handled the divorce settlement. He/she may know how to get the ball rolling back in your direction.