Trust the Truth

Update August 3, 2009

2009-08-03T22:34:00.003-05:00

Hi,

Just wanted to touch base with everyone since it seems we have some new parents trying to find their way through the nightmare with SK and RJBA. For those of you joining our fight, this is a very long process unfortunately and requires great patience and diligence. Most of us have been fighting for our support from SK and RJBA since May 2009. We have made phone calls, sent emails, and corresponded via certified mail. We have contacted SK, RJBA, the Texas AG, the New Hampshire AG, our local DA offices as well as our local support offices and including the Texas Department of Banking.

Through all of our blogs and complaint sites we found each other and have supported each other with our quest to receive our child support which is court ordered for our children.

There is a petition to sign, forms, addresses, documents and various other forms of information that you can all use to guide you through the process. One thing about this process is it is slow and you must stay focused and be assertive.

If after you have read all of the comments you still have individual questions, please feel free to ask but please READ first. It is highly likely that someone else has asked the same question. Good luck and God Bless....

Teri

Update July 11, 2009

2009-07-12T01:19:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone,

I am in a holding pattern myself on complaints against RJBA. I was sent a response from the New Hampshire AG after the NH AG received a reply to my complaints against RJBA. Basically RJBA presented a case to the AG that I was just trying to get out of my contract with them and had been trying to for sometime. Interesting take on the situation because RJBA has only been in charge of the support dispersement (technically) since June 2009. The payments that RJBA took a percentage of in May they were not licensed to do so in the state of Texas. This brings up many questions as well.

We need to keep on and support each other as we can. I am going to post the address for the NH AG's office to file your complaints.

Richard W Head

Associate Attorney General

Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau

33 Capitol Street

Concord, New Hampshire 03301-6397

Make sure to send any correspondence certified mail.

Update

2009-06-19T15:52:00.003-05:00

Well, I left my 7th or 8th message to RJBA today. I really have stopped counting. Again, no one answered, imagine that. I have sent them numerous emails that never get answered and certified mail. No one is listening to me from that company. I must be on the do not escalate list for RJBA and no one wants to speak to me but emailing me would be a nice thing to do.

Anyway, I will keep you posted.

Petition Update

2009-06-16T16:05:00.002-05:00

We have 136 signatures on the petition to the Texas AG office. Please keep passing the information on and keep the pressure turned up. Let these Justice departments know that we will not quit.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/27812.html

Re: New Hampshire AG Office

2009-06-16T14:57:00.002-05:00

I spoke to the NH Attorney Generals office today and the complaint I sent against RJBA is NOT closed as of today. A letter went out to RJBA requesting action regarding my complaint and others. So, I will keep you posted of any updates.

Petition Update

2009-06-13T01:43:00.002-05:00

We are now 130 signatures strong and growing. This is wonderful news because the word is getting out. These signatures and their messages are the crux of our fight. Together we all are learning and uncovering more and more evidence of deceit and fraud on the part of Support Kids and their desire to make more money from our children. Amazingly, after the GREED set in and SK had made millions off of children it just was not enough. SK defaulted on a bank loan that "WE" as parents had no knowledge of and then threw our support, files, information, and private documents to RJBA to take over as the new PCSA. We have been kept in the dark long enough and now we are fighting back.

I personally have requested my payment logs and private information from both SK and RJBA and neither have responded to my plea. These are my records and I have every right to have them.

Please sign the petition if you have not done so and feel free to ask any questions or post comments.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/27812.html

RJBA Contract Example

2009-06-12T14:11:00.006-05:00

You should be able to click and view

New Hampshire AG/DOJ

2009-06-10T20:48:00.000-05:00

Hi ladies and gentlemen,

Ok here is my bombshell...I received a letter today from the New Hampshire AG/Dept of Justice saying that their office had been told that my complaints against RJBA had been resolved. BY WHO or WHOM? She went on further to say that if this was not true to contact her directly.... I am so on the phone tomorrow. I have no idea what is going on but I am going to find out.

Will keep yall posted.....

Dallas County or Bust

2009-06-10T20:12:00.002-05:00

I received a response to my email to Dallas County child support office wondering why they had not held my June 3, 2009 support payment as they had said they would do. Their response was that they had not received my revocation authorization yet. Then they proceeded to tell me that I could just fax it over to them. Hmmm, when I had spoken to them on May 22, 2009 they said that it had to be the original notarized form. So, as I followed Dallas County's instructions I lost another child support payment to RJBA. I have countered back to Dallas County with my correspondence but do not know since the payment is gone what the outcome will be.

I took a hit today.....

2009-06-08T18:32:00.002-05:00

I have hit a bump in my road to successfully untangling myself from SK and RJBA. I did receive my green card back from my certified letter to RJBA today not knowing what to expect next.

I had a set back with the Dallas County support office as they had confirmed that my case was open pending the receipt of the revocation of authorization and I had asked them May 20, 2009 to stop and all payments being sent to SK or RJBA. I had been told by a supervisor not to worry that May's payment was gone but they had not received the June payment. Well after emailing Dallas County again last night to check on the receipt of the signed authorization a response came today stating they had not received it and that my ex husband had sent in a payment on June 3rd. So, I have had a good cry and started working again. Dallas County did not follow through on their word to me. So, my June support is gone and I am sure when I receive it if I do it will be minus the 34% even after promising me that this would not happen. Well, it did.

Link to Petition Forum

2009-06-05T12:08:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone. I wanted to update you on a new message board that is linked to the petition against Support Kids. Please feel free to check in there and post your comments and questions as well.

We are making progress. Please keep the faith and keep posting your information and we will make a difference.

Teri

Support Kids Petition | Children's Rights Forum | GoPetiton Forums

Petition Update June 3, 2009

2009-06-03T16:39:00.002-05:00

We are now 92 signatures strong and growing. We are making progress and there are preliminary talks with a lawyer trying to find any way possible to help us with our fight. It is a tangled web and SK is hidden behind walls and shells but I promise to continue to move forward and keep trying to help ALL of us in any state to get some answers and hopefully justice and damages if legally possible. You can help by signing the petition if you have not and continue to pass on the word. Keep the faith and together we will continue to fight for our children.

Teri

Investigate alleged Support Kids fraud Petition

RJBA Example of Check Detail May 2009

2009-06-03T16:03:00.002-05:00

I wanted to post the details of my check that I received from RJBA today. I have taken out my personal detail but I find interesting the check title and the detail describing RJBA's commission taken out. This is after I sent a letter requesting my files and my information. I guess they are ignoring my request.

Hope you find this helpful.......

Teri

Support Kids Capital from Investors

2009-06-02T05:43:00.001-05:00

Raising support

Finding the right investors made growth possible for firm

Austin Business Journal - March 31, 2006 by Kathy Lesko Contributing Writer

As the nation's largest private child-support enforcement company working directly with non-welfare custodial parents, Austin's Supportkids Inc. has embraced the vision to be part of the answer to the national problem of unpaid child support.

Today, there are 7 million cases in the United States in which no child support has been collected at all, and there is more than $100 billion in outstanding support. Frustrated by their failure to obtain help from government agencies, thousands of parents have turned to the private sector for assistance in collecting unpaid child support.

Bryon Sehlke, Supportkids' president and CEO, appreciates the measures his employees take on behalf of their clients, and understands the frustrations that send people to his company's doors.

"Most of our clients are already dissatisfied with the system when they come to us," Sehlke says. "Many of them are seeking more than $40,000 in past-due child support."

He cites these conditions as the driving force behind the company's increased communication with its clients.

"We've instituted a live client telephone line to provide additional support," Sehlke says.

Even Supportkids' "self-serve" portion of its Web site has become more user-friendly, enabling clients to log on to find out the current status of their cases. Supportkids has also redesigned its user contracts, with approval by the Texas Department of Banking, to make them easier to comprehend.

While improved customer satisfaction reduces the instances where clients want to close their cases with Supportkids, the organization's biggest critics cite the fact that private-sector organizations are attaching fees to a service that parents should be entitled to receive for free.

Supportkids cases are handled on a contingency basis; the company does not receive payment until child support is collected for the family.

"We agree that it would be great if parents didn't have to pay for this service, but the fact of the matter is that someone has to pay for it. Support on the state and federal level is done by the taxpayers, and unfortunately, the funds are not there to support these efforts," Sehlke says.

He points to the 93 percent of unpaid child support that goes uncollected annually in the United States as evidence that more options are necessary.

Securing unpaid child support is a very labor-intensive process. Supportkids relies on specially trained investigators and enforcement specialists to maximize its results. With 8,000 to 10,000 applications sent every month, concise business metrics track Supportkids' progress on each case.

"The business process basically begins when the case comes through the door," Sehlke says. "We have developed a culture and process of setting monthly expectations for every step and every person who handles a case. By doing this, I believe we will achieve our targets at the highest level."

Supportkids' collection of more than $270 million since its founding 15 years ago speak to this philosophy.

Finding the right financing structure and investors who understand and support Supportkids' business model has proven to be a challenge.

In 2000, a $20 million investment from Austin Ventures and other investors accelerated Supportkids' growth, putting the company on PricewaterhouseCoopers' list of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in 2000.

Sehlke stresses that Supportkids' ability to essentially double its revenues since 2000 has been an ongoing effort.

"Matt Landry, Supportkids' former president and CEO, recognized the need, early on, for financial vehicles and investors that would allow us to effectively do our jobs," Sehlke says."Along with strong equity partners, he was able to create relationships that fueled Supportkids' growth, both on the debt and equity side."

The group recently received another $2.7 million funding from investors, including Austin Ventures. The company has raised a total of $40 million in private investment since 1997.

Developing relationships with government officials and agencies was also important in this industry, Sehlke says.

"Landry also recognized and appreciated the fact that the state of Texas is a great state in which to do business. He saw that Texas recognized the need for private child support agencies, and worked diligently with the state to maintain their support of our efforts."

On average, it take nine months from the time Supportkids opens a claim until the first payment is received and Supportkids begins to get paid.

Sehlke notes that a considerable amount of executive resources are expended on financing, and financing is the key to supporting growth given a very long business cycle.

"Supportkids has done a tremendous job," says Darryll Grubbs, an attorney who provides consulting support to the organization. "The work they are doing is something that requires significant capital, and they've been successful in obtaining it."

"We've been fortunate to have some great financial partners who support our mission, and our business has matured to the point where we have been able to acquire the debt structure that supports our business model," he says.

Supportkids Inc.

What it does: Provides child-support enforcement services for custodial parents
Employees: 175
Revenue: $15 million
Address: P.O. Box 18988, Austin 78760
Phone: (800) 305-KIDS
Web: www.supportkids.com
Email: info@supportkids.com

Back to more press release stories

About Supportkids

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Helpful Questions & Answers

	Why is Supportkids so successful?
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	Do I need to close my case with the state?

Good News From Our Clients

“It is such a help to know that the money is still going to be coming in. We got quick results. I was totally blown away.”

– Dalene D., WA read more

Casey Hoffman, good guy or greedy guy?

2009-06-02T05:18:00.000-05:00

2004 Golden Heart amd Heartless Awards, Association... - [Cached Version]
Published on: 2/12/2004 Last Visited: 9/22/2004

Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbot for hiring Casey Huffman, former president of Supportkids.com a private child support collection agency with a history of law suits against it for unscrupulous collection practices such as contracts which auto renew indefinitely if only one payment is collected, fees for collection of support taken out of current and back support due to contract language which defines all support past, present and future as ""support".
...
When Mr. Huffman was previously the director of Texas Attorney General's Child Support Enforcement Division the collection rate was only 10%.

Boston.com / Latest News / Business / A growing field,... - [Cached Version]
Published on: 6/12/2002 Last Visited: 6/12/2002

Nobody's forcing them to," said Casey Hoffman, founder and chief executive officer of Supportkids, which has handled 10,000 cases and is the largest of about three dozen private collection companies.

The lawsuit against Supportkids, filed Tuesday in state court in Manitowoc, Wis., comes as the private companies push for greater access to confidential financial data to help them track down parents who don't pay.Advocates, meanwhile, are pushing for greater consumer protections in this fast-growing field.

Clients like Zipperer typically sign contracts directing all child support payments to the company, which passes the money along after taking a cut 29 percent, on average, according to government auditors.

...
Hoffman responded that the contract clearly states that the fee will be applied to both back-owed child support and current payments.He said clients are given an option to exclude from the commission any support being paid when they sign up an option Zipperer said she was never given.

Hoffman said he does not know how many clients have tried to leave the program but defended his company's policy of not letting people quit.Otherwise, he said, the company would spend time and money to find a parent and people could quit once payments began.

He said his contracts are straightforward and easy to understand.

"We've benefited children to the amount of $66 million since we've been in business," he said.

Casey Hoffman: ZoomInfo Business People Information

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

Texas Finance Code for Private Child Support

2009-05-30T00:22:00.003-05:00

Here are the Texas codes by which private child support agencies are governed. It looks to me that Support Kids has broken several of the codes regarding advertising actions that they could not enforce. Let me know what you think.

(5) "Unconscionable action or course of action" means an act or practice which, to a consumer's detriment, takes advantage of the lack of knowledge, ability, experience, or capacity of the consumer to a grossly unfair degree

CHAPTER 396. PRIVATE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES - Texas Finance Code - Texas Code :: Justia

Revocation of Authorization Dallas County Form

2009-05-29T17:48:00.002-05:00

Here is the link to the Revocation of Authorization form for Dallas County, Texas. I am not sure about other counties in Texas but this is the form I am using. You can click on the link to take you to the form, then you can right click on the form itself to print for your own use.

Teri

From the Austin Statesman Newspaper

2009-05-29T00:34:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

Here is the link to the first article published from the Austin Statesman Newspaper on Support Kids. Please read it and then post your own opinion to let them know that there are many of us that are banding together to fight against fraudulent practices when collecting child support.

Teri

Supportkids transfers 20,000 of child-support collection cases after loan default

Support Kids- Parents Unite Update May 28, 2009

2009-05-28T20:06:00.002-05:00

I received a request today from an Austin newspaper via the petition site. Finally someone is taking notice and I am hopeful that this story will continue to grow until the Texas Attorney General has to take note and do something about this fraud.
Hopefully a Texas based law firm will see our cases and will gather a class action suit.
Please continue to pass the word and pray for all of the children and their parents that Support Kids has affected.
I am calling the Texas Department of Banking tomorrow myself. This is not going to go away for Support Kids or for RJBA. What has gone on and what is going on has to stop.

Thanks,

Teri
Investigate alleged Support Kids fraud Petition

Petition Update May 27, 2009

2009-05-27T01:45:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

I just wanted to update you on the great news that we are now 59 signatures strong. I want to thank you all for your continued support and passing on the word to others that have been defrauded by Support Kids. I have put out feelers to the media and am extremely hopeful that it will not be long before our fight goes public and an investigation gets underway.

As always I appreciate anyone that has input or suggestions along with any facts pertaining to their specific case against Support Kids.

Updates to follow.

Teri

Investigate alleged Support Kids fraud - Petition signatures - GoPetition

Petition Link

2009-05-21T21:04:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

We are now 21 signatures strong and growing. I want to thank all of you for your support and for your stories. I pray that we will continue growing strong and will have enough signatures to move to the next step. I continue to dig for facts and will post them as I find them. Any help or suggestions from you all will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Teri

Investigate alleged Support Kids fraud Petition

Virgina Governor Files Suit Against Support Kids

2009-05-19T00:39:00.002-05:00

Here is one of the articles on the law suit filed by the state of Virginia against Support Kids.

In Virginia, Governor Kaine Announces Suit Against Supportkids, Inc

Commonwealth sues Texas-based private child support collection agency

RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and Attorney General Bob McDonnell today announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia has sued Supportkids, Inc., a private child-support-collection company based in Texas. In filing this suit, Virginia seeks to prevent Supportkids from interfering with the orderly enforcement of child support obligations in Virginia.

“Any actions that impede the Commonwealth’s efforts to lawfully and fairly collect child support must be addressed,” Governor Kaine said.

Under Virginia law, child support payments must be routed through the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE). This process ensures that both parents are given credit for supporting their children.

The Commonwealth believes that Supportkids interferes with the orderly enforcement of support obligations and tracking of support payments in the following ways:

Supportkids, Inc. sends wage-withholding notices to employers of noncustodial parents. In these documents, the company refers to itself as “Child Support Enforcement,” a name easily confused with Virginia’s “Division of Child Support Enforcement.”

Supportkids, Inc. also directs, unlawfully, the employer to send payments directly to the company’s office in Texas, rather than to Virginia’s DCSE.

It then charges the custodial parent a 34% fee before forwarding the remainder of the payment to the custodial parent, regardless of whether it has undertaken any work on behalf of the parent to collect such payments.

Attorney General McDonnell observed that SupportKids’ practice has disrupted DCSE’s coordinated system for enforcing child support; there are noncustodial parents who are not being credited for the support they pay to their children. Some noncustodial parents are improperly having wages withheld by two withholding orders — one obtained through the DCSE and one through Supportkids, Inc. “Most importantly, custodial children are not receiving the full support payments to which they are entitled under Virginia law,” McDonnell said.

The Commonwealth does not oppose the use of private child-support collection agencies; however, when those companies threaten the interests of Virginia's children and disrupt the Commonwealth’s system for enforcing support obligations, it will take action to protect its citizens.

Petition Update May 18, 2009

2009-05-18T22:49:00.008-05:00

Hello everyone,

We now are 9 voices strong on our petition and I am hoping that the number continues to grow. I want to be able to show the Texas Attorney General the many parents that have been wronged by Support Kids. For now, I have been advised by my attorney to write the child support office of the state that court ordered support and advise them of a change of address to send the child support payments to. Many of us have ordered support that goes through the state system that Support Kids took 34% of for their own cut which was unjustified.
Hopefully our state child support offices will adjust our addresses accordingly now that Support Kids is no longer operating. My letter is being mailed in the morning and I will update you on the progress as I receive the news.
In the meantime, please continue to spread the word and the link of the petition and my blog so that together we can make a difference.
This includes the fathers and/or mothers that have paid their fair share of child support and were continually harassed by Support Kids to obtain more money for their unjustified fees.
Thank you all for you stories and for your signatures.

Teri

Parents Against Support Kids Fraud

2009-05-16T20:35:00.005-05:00

I have started the petition for victims of Support Kids with the link provided below:
Parents Against Support Kids Fraud

I pray for your support and hope that this will lead us to a class action suit that makes Support Kids accountable for their actions.

Thank you and God Bless

Teri

Support Kids- Parents Unite to Fight Back

2009-05-16T19:10:00.000-05:00

Looking for parents that have been ripped off and targeted by Support Kids out of Austin, Tx. Support Kids has officially closed its doors as of May 14, 2009 taking along with it multitudes of unearned client fees and child support that was intended to go to our children. I am hoping that with enough of the same stories and scams that a lot of us have gone through we will be able to recoup some of our lost support and hold Support Kid responsible.
I have been a victim of Support Kids for over 4 years personally and have tried numerous times to get out of their "contract" . Having had 34% of each support check go to these people and the constant slamming from their representatives has taken its toll on me financially and mentally. But now I want to fight back and I am hoping to gain through numbers the ability to be able to bring about a class action lawsuit against these leeches. I have a story and it is a long story that I will be unfolding but I need to hear your stories and your complaints. When Support Kids closed their doors it seems that all of our cases have been forwarded to another questionable recovery group with the information as follows:

Richard J Boudreau and Associates
5 Industrial Way
Salem, NH 03079

Phone: 1-866-997-2449
Email: childsupport@rjba.com

Now after researching online and the BBB of Salem, NH of which this group is NOT a member there are many unresolved issues as these people seem to be none other than a debt collector. I personally did not know that you could sell child support recovery to a debt collector but I am new to this and am trying to find out information as I write this. As I know that we all live in different states and the battle is a large one I believe it is a worthy fight to make. Since, Support Kids resides in Austin, TX I would think that the Texas Attorney General would be the one to come down on these people. But I will find that out and will update you with any more information.
I will also be starting a petition and will supply the link to that petition when I have it written. We as parents are empowered to protect our children and fight against such an organization as Support Kids that claimed to want to help us but took from our children and exhausted us mentally and physically as well.
I thank you for your time and hope that together we can make this happen.

Trust the Truth

Update August 3, 2009

Update July 11, 2009

Update

Petition Update

Re: New Hampshire AG Office

Petition Update

RJBA Contract Example

New Hampshire AG/DOJ

Dallas County or Bust

I took a hit today.....

Link to Petition Forum

Petition Update June 3, 2009

RJBA Example of Check Detail May 2009

Support Kids Capital from Investors

Raising support

Supportkids Inc.

About Supportkids

More horror stories from Support Kids Clients

Casey Hoffman, good guy or greedy guy?

Texas Finance Code for Private Child Support

Revocation of Authorization Dallas County Form

From the Austin Statesman Newspaper

Support Kids- Parents Unite Update May 28, 2009

Petition Update May 27, 2009

Petition Link

Virgina Governor Files Suit Against Support Kids

In Virginia, Governor Kaine Announces Suit Against Supportkids, Inc

Petition Update May 18, 2009

Parents Against Support Kids Fraud

Support Kids- Parents Unite to Fight Back