which I was reading this morning and caught an article on Tim Geithner. The article was good, but the more interesting tidbit I found was one about how debt-collection agencies are one of the winners of the stimulus package (in a highlighted box within the same article). Get a load of this:Debt-collection agencies. They thrive on others' misfortunes, of course. They'll really love the $1 billion headed for states to help them collect child support. Nearly every state outsources deadbeat-dad services to companies like Supportkids, an Austin, Tex. firm that was recently sued by the state of Virginia for alledgedly interfering with the enforcement of child support obligations by taking 34% of the debt it collects as a fee. (The company says the suit is "the result of a lack of comunication with the state" and hopes it will be resolved before going to trial.)
Yeah, right, lack of communication. Anyway, why should the stimulus package use tax payers' money to subsidize a group of sharks like Supportkids charging outrageous fees for shaking down "deadbeat dads"? And what about deadbeat-moms of which there are many?
I propose that all the men out there who are not collecting child support from these women sign up with this company. Apparently, Supportskids is quite successful as they state:
Supportkids is the leader in non-traditional child support enforcement, providing an alternative to government agencies. With over 16 years in business, our total collections exceed $400 million. We collect over to $3.9 million every month for families all across the nation, many of whom went years without child support payments.
My guess is that dads don't try and collect from women who don't pay. But if they do, I hope they're smart enough not to pay a 34% commission.