The State of Florida is so bad at helping parents collect child support, many are now turning to collection agencies to get it. They'd rather pay someone to get what they're due rather than do without.

Dave Bowman has a stack of papers that demand payments from his ex-wife. He says he's owed more than $13,000.

But Bowman says his big stack is miniscule to the courts and Florida's Child Support Enforcement Office.

"All you do is get pushed to the side. And that's how I feel, that the state is pushing me to the side," said Bowman.

That sentiment among custodial parents is fueling a growing business in Florida. Private collection agencies are getting in the game the state is losing. Samir Jhina is in that very business.

"It's very difficult when you have a parent, a non-custodial parent that just ignores their children, and wants nothing of it," said Jhina.

Local parents may have received one of Jhina's mailers. Like many collection services, Jhina's company charges 30-percent to collect when the state fails.

Click here for Florida State Child Support Collection website

Post edited by: mary22, at: 2007/05/10 19:58