Screwed Again by Child Support.
A little HistoryThe original order for Child support was written in Jan 2012, and like most people, I was in arrears from the start because, again, like most people, I wasn't paying from the day that my kids' mother filed, which is the law. Granted, you don't know the amount you'll have to pay or even that the custodial parent has filed, in most cases, which is why so many people wait until the order is set.
So from day 1, I was $5600 bucks in arrears, with the standard 9% interest kicking in and prorated back to the date she filed. An additional $25 per week was added to go towards arrears, which is really going to the interest.
In 2012 I didn't get a tax return because I was self employed. In 2013, I didn't file, because I was lame and in 2014 I filed for both years - and paid the late penalty for 2013. Any remaining refund money went right to my kids' mother - about $5,000. Yes, I get nice returns.
In Sept of 2015, I got a letter from Child Support, like everyone that's behind gets when they owe back Child Support, saying I still owed $4600.00 - which they took in 2016. In May of 2106, I called the local office and asked to confirm I was no longer in arrears, and was told the balance was $0.
An Education on How Illinois Screws UsSeptember of 2017, I get a letter from Child Support claiming I'm $1000.00 in arrears, so I respond, asking for a full account review. Mind you, the extra $25 a week is still being added to my Child Support all this time, except now, for some unknown reason, they take the extra for a month, then drop it for a month, then take it for a month, and so on, and so on.
1st week of October, I go to a job here in Pekin and whaddayaknow, the Customer is the Head of the Peoria Child Support office. SO I tell her this story and she says to me, "You must get paid bi-weekly!" Which, I do. Follow this, bi-weekly means every 14 days, not twice a month.
She proceeds to tell me that people who get paid bi-weekly and pay Child Support are getting screwed by the state. The computer is designed to recognize weekly payments and twice a month payments - on the 1st and the 16th.
Follow me now. If the 1st is on a Tuesday, and you get paid on Friday - you're in arrears. Boom, the 9% juice kicks in. The payment that comes out on that Friday doesn't get you out of arrears. Next Check is in 2 weeks on Friday, but wait, the 16th was on Thursday. You're in arrears!!
The state knows about this glitch, but they refuse to fix it, and why would they?? They keep that interest money. The custodial parent only gets the principle amount.
Well, I never did get my review, but in 2018, they also didn't hit my account for an extra $1000.00.
TodayHere were are, in September again and guess what I got today?? You got it, a letter from Child Support, telling me I owe $746.00 in back Support!!
These bastards are getting away with a crime, in my opinion and anyone in the same boat is getting the shaft the same way - although most people probably never even take the time to research why they can't ever seem to get caught up on their arrearage
