|
This page list answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding New Ways to Make Your Child Support Payments
- My child support payment is not withheld from my paycheck. How can I make my child suport payment?
- Who do I make my check out to?
- What information do I need to make a payment through the website or telephone?
- Do I have to register and receive a PIN to make a child support payment online or by telephone?
- Once registered, when can I begin making payments out of my bank account or on my credit card?
- How can I set up a single automatic withdrawal from my bank/savings account or credit card to make my child support payments?
- Can I use any credit card to make my payment?
- Can I use my debit card to make a payment?
- Are there any fees to make a payment using a credit card?
- Can I set up recurring child support payments?
- Can I use different methods at the same time to make my payments?
- How will I know if the child support payments has been accepted?
- How will the payment show on my credit card statement?
- Is my bank account and/or credit card information kept safe and confidential?
- When will I be given credit for my child support payment when I make the payment by credit card?
- The amount of my total obligation as stated on my bill is considerably
higher than that shown on previous bills and notices. Why is that?
- Why are you adding interest?
- How is interest figured on my account balance?
- I understand about interest, but I still disagree with the amount
you say I owe. Will you provide me with a breakdown of payments and interest?
- Can you explain the license suspension process to me?
- How is it possible that I am delinquent when I have always paid by
wage assignment?
- My name was reported to the credit bureau as having overdue child
support. How can I dispute this?
- What is a Release of Lien?
- How did I get a Lien on my house?
- My child support payment is not withheld from my paycheck. How can I make my child support payment?
You have several options:
- Pay by check – mail your payment to:
State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 989067
West Sacramento, CA 95798
- Make a single automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account at www.casdu.com or by telephone at 1-866-325-1010.
- Make a single credit card payment online at www.casdu.com or over the telephone at
1-866-325-1010.
- Set-up ongoing (recurring) automatic withdrawals from your checking or savings account or credit card at www.casdu.com.
return to top
- Who do I make my check out to?
California State Disbursement Unit
return to top
- What information do I need to make a payment through the website or telephone?
You must have a personal identification number (PIN) and your CCSAS participant ID to make a payment using the website or by telephone.
- Obtain your PIN by registering online at www.casdu.com or over the telephone at 1-866-325-1010. When you register, a PIN is generated and mailed to the address on file.
- Remember to keep a record of your PIN, as you will need it whenever you want to make a payment using the telephone or website.
- If you don't know your CCSAS participant ID, contact your local child support agency or the SDU at
1-866-325-1010.
return to top
- Do I have to register and receive a PIN to make a child support payment online or by telephone?
Yes.
return to top
- Once registered, when can I begin making payments out of my bank account or on my credit card?
Once you receive the PIN through the mail, you can make payments online at www.casdu.com or through the telephone at 1-866-325-1010.
Remember to keep your PIN, as you will need it if you want to change your payment information, payment schedule, or amount.
return to top
- How can I set up a single automatic withdrawal from my bank/savings account or credit card to make my child support payments?
After you have received your PIN, go to www.casdu.com or pay by telephone at 1-866-325-1010.
return to top
- Can I use any credit card to make my payment?
No. Only Visa and MasterCard credit cards issued within the United States are accepted.
return to top
- Can I use my debit card to make a payment?
Yes-as long as your debit card carries either the Visa or MasterCard brand. The Visa/MasterCard branded debit card will be processed the same as a Visa/MasterCard credit card.
return to top
- Are there any fees to make a payment using a credit card?
No.
return to top
- Can I set up recurring child support payments?
Yes.
- You can set up recurring payments for weekly, bi-weekly (every other week), monthly, or bi-monthly (1st & 15th of each month).
- Your recurring payments can be automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account or can be charged to your credit card.
- When you sign into the online application, you will be led through the steps for setting up your automatic payments.
return to top
- Can I use different methods at the same time to make my payments?
It depends...
- Yes-You can make a payment by check at any time, regardless of whether you are also paying by credit card or automatic withdrawals from your checking or savings account.
- Yes-If you are making one-time, single payments (and have not set up recurring payments), you can change the method of paying with each single payment at the time of payment. For example, you can make a one-time April payment using a credit card and then make your next one-time payment in May using your checking account.
- No-If you set up recurring payments, you can only have one payment method at a time: checking, savings, or credit card. You can change that method at any time by logging in and changing your profile, but you cannot have more than one method. For example, you can't set your recurring payments to be by credit card in April and your checking account in May. To switch back and forth, you must make one-time payments, rather than setting up automatic recurring payments.
return to top
- How will I know if the child support payments has been accepted?
For a one-time payment, a confirmation number is given once the "Submit" button online is chosen or the "confirm" option is selected on the telephone. Confirmation numbers should be kept as proof of payment.
return to top
- How will the payment show on my credit card statement?
The exact working may vary, but it will be clear that the payment is for child support. You can expect words similar to
"CA DEPT CHILD SUPPORT 866-325-1010"
return to top
- Is my bank account and/or credit card information kept safe and confidential?
Yes. All information about your case is kept confidential. The California SDU is bound by the same requirements as the DCSS to protect the personal information of its customers.
return to top
- When will I be given credit for my child support payment when I make the payment by credit card?
If you make your credit card payment BEFORE 3:00 p.m. pacific time on a business day (Monday-Friday), you will receive credit for your payment on that day.
If you make your credit card payment AFTER 3:00 p.m. pacific time on a business day or on a non-business day (Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday) you will receive credit for your support on the next business day.
Payments are processed and are disbursed within two days from the date the payment is received at the SDU.
return to top
- The amount of my total obligation as stated on my bill is considerably
higher than that shown on previous bills and notices. Why is that?
One reason your bill appears higher is that all obligations under all
court orders you may have are consolidated on your bill into a total overall
balance. If you look closely at your bill you can see the individual court
order amounts and the total of all of them.
Another reason for the difference may be due to the addition of interest
to your arrearage. You will find a column on your bill that identifies
the interest amount added to your account. Our automation system automatically
added interest to balances that were carried over from the old computer
database. If the old computer database balance already was subject to
an audit that applied the calculation of interest, then the addition of
interest on the new system may need to be looked at more closely to ensure
the balance is accurate. If you dispute the amounts, you may ask for a
"Request for Review of Arrears" form from this office and we
will review your case.
return to top
- Why are you adding interest?
Under the California law (California Code of Civil Procedure Sections
685.010 and 685.020) federal and state regulations, we add interest to
all outstanding balances. With automation, the system computes interest
automatically.
return to top
- How is interest figured on my account balance?
Everyday, the computer automatically figures the interest at the legal
rate, which is now 10% simple interest, and adds that amount to the total
obligation you owe.
return to top
- I understand about interest, but I still disagree with the amount
you say I owe. Will you provide me with a breakdown of payments and interest?
We will be happy to provide you with a copy of the financial history detailing
your payments and our calculations. Please be sure to include your complete
address with your request.
return to top
- Can you explain the license suspension process to me?
If a parent is more than 30 days overdue in their payment of support
since the last order, and there is no wage garnishment in effect, the
parent's name and social security number are reported to all state licensing
agencies for license suspension or denial. This includes driver's licenses
and professional licenses such as: teacher, contractor, truck driver,
attorney, doctor, realtor, or cosmetologist.
The licensing agency has the duty to notify the parent of the suspension
or denial. The Notice will indicate which agency is reporting the parent
as delinquent in paying child support. A parent who receives notice that
his or her license is subject to suspension or denial, because of child
support arrears may contact the Department of Child Support Services.
We will attempt to negotiate a payment plan in return for the release
of the license. Additionally, if the parent is unable to reach an agreement
with us, he or she may take the issue before a judge for a review of the
case by filing a proper motion before the court.
return to top
- How is it possible that I am delinquent when I have always paid
by wage assignment?
There are several possible reasons. For example, once a court order is
entered and until the wage assignment is implemented, the obligor must take
responsibility for remitting the court ordered support payments. There
is often a lag-time between an employer's receipt of a wage assignment
and its implementation. It is also possible that the payroll department
has not withheld the total support amount due each month. Some employers
can pro-rate the wage assignment deductions over the period of one year,
so depending on how many weeks in each month, the child support remitted
may not satisfy the court order. Also, national company payroll departments
can be in another state, causing additional delays in processing.
return to top
- My name was reported to the credit bureau as having overdue child
support. How can I dispute this?
Once a child support account is established, a 30-day Notice is sent
to the obligor advising that the account will be reported to credit bureaus
in 30 days. If the obligor disputes the initial reporting, they must file
a "Request for Review" which is a formal process conducted by
SMC/DCSS.
Once an account has actually being reported to credit bureaus, and the
obligor is disputing it, the obligor must contact his/her credit bureau in order
to file a Consumer Dispute Verification. The credit-reporting agency will
forward the form to the SMC/DCSS. We will promptly review the account
to ensure accuracy and respond directly to the credit bureau.
return to top
- What is a Release of Lien?
A Release of Lien is generally requested by, the obligor or the title company,
in order to buy or sell or refinance property. Child support is a lien
against property. In general, liens will only be released in two situations:
- When we have information that all the children involved in a case
are emancipated and all amounts required to be paid under all the orders
in the case have been paid in full;
- When requested to do so by an obligor or a title company due to real estate
transactions after all amounts due and payable at that time have been
paid in full.
- How did I get a Lien on my house?
When you have an order for child support a lien is filed in the county
in which the property is located. Federal regulations mandate that a lien
be recorded in all child support cases where there is an order.
Note: If it is an out of state order a lien may also be filed.
return to top
- Can a lien be transferred?
We do not transfer liens. Liens are recorded in every county where the
SMC/DCSS knows the obligor has property.
return to top
- I am trying to sell my house. Can SMC/DCSS do a release of lien?
You need to send, or FAX (650) 366-4711, a Request for Demand to us.
Upon receipt of the written Request for Demand, the case will be evaluated
and a release will be done (if account is current) or a Demand Letter
will be sent to Title Company if the account is in arrears.
return to top
|
