As a single parent, getting the child support you’re owed is one of your biggest priorities. Unfortunately, it’s not always the main priority ofyourassigned government case worker. The public system has forced them to take on too many clients at once, which means they can’t afford every case the individual care it needs. It can be difficult raising a child on your own on a good day, but when you don’t receive child support because of overburdened government agencies, it’s near impossible. With this in mind, it’s important that you explore all of the options available. You don’t have to close your case with your state and go it alone. Follow this simple 3 step plan to find a third party child support enforcement agency to help you.
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Research Reputations
A company can claim to do a lot of things, but if they can’t back up their services with reviews and referrals then there’s no point in hiring them. Take the time to look up the background of any private child support collection agency working in your state. Reviews of their services should be easy to find on their website, but you should cast you net wider than that. Look up their rating on sites like the Better Business Bureau. These organizations can reveal not only how they’ve treated their clients in the past but also how they treat any clients who have registered a complaint with their services.
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Shop for the Right Price
Studies show that raising a child until they’re 18 years old can cost more than $240,000, so you don’t exactly have any money to spare. You need to do everything you can in order to keep your costs low. That goes from using coupons at the grocery store to searching for a collection agency with manageable costs. Luckily, the best child support enforcement organizations understand how difficult it is to run a family on just one income, which is why they defer any payment until they’re able to connect you with the support you’re owed. You should also ensure a private agency doesn’t tack on any unnecessarycharges like case development or application fees. The contract should have a defined specified amount so you always know how much you’ll owe.
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Speak with the Company Personally
The best thing you can do for yourself is to reach out to the company to get a feel for their way of business. Set up an informal meeting, or, if your schedule is too busy, a phone conversation to speak with their agents. Make sure you have a list of questions prepared in advance so you don’t miss anything during your meeting. They should have all of the answers to your concerns. If they don’t or if they treat you unkindly, then you know their service isn’t for you.
In recent studies, some 7 million people are owed child support of at least $5,000. Imagine what you can do once you finally get that much money (or more!). Raising a family on your own won’t be as challenging when you have the appropriate financial support, so see what a private agency can do for you.