The DCSE was setup to help those who cannot help themselves gain financial or legal assistance but they make the system frustrating and difficult. They tell people that their "preferred method of payment is garnishment". They don't care if the people are WILLING and able to make their child support would rather pay by weekly, bi-weekly or monthly EFT or by mail. The garnishment is intrusive and frowned upon by employers. Imagine having to start a new job (in this economy) and your new employer gets an order for garnishment for you. Yes, they have to by law comply to the order but having worked in Payroll and HR positions I know first hand what employers think about the people who HAVE to have garnishments taken out of their paychecks.
I went in person to the Richmond DCSE, trying to do the right thing, when I lost my job and my income was severely diminished. Not having the money for an attorney to go through the courts to get support to a more reasonable amount relative to my current income, I went to the DCSE and opened up a case just for the sole purpose of getting a review. After trying for two months to get a hold of my case worker, I decided to close the case, in which they had told me I could since I had opened the case, and go petition the court on my own. And to this very day I have yet to be able to speak with my case worker. When she finally returns my call, she leaves a message to call her back at the 800 number. The call center WILL NOT connect you with your case worker (not even their voicemail). They instructed me to put that request into writing and also add that I would like to cancel the review also. Come to find out they didn't close my case but they canceled the review. That was when they started garnishing my VEC benefits.
Being the non-custodial parent, I had no history of not making child support payments on-time and directly to the custodial parent. They sent me a letter to stop all payments to the custodial parent and make them directly to DCSE. When I got this notice, I was about to mail my payment, as requested, to DCSE when I noticed my weekly VEC benefit had been greatly reduced. I checked with the VEC and they notified me that my child support payment had been garnished from my weekly benefit.
The DCSE makes things more difficult and frustrating than they need to be. I wanted and did pay my support. They had to make things more of a mess than it ever had been. The best advice I can give (along with that of many free legal advisors) is to only use DCSE as a VERY last resort. It is better to work things out without their so called help.
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