Woman Hauled to Court for Failing to Pay Child Support Bill of 63 Cents

Posted by Alex in Crime & Law on September 25, 2008 at 3:43 pm


Kathleen Threatt was hauled to court for failing to pay child support 12 years past its due date … it was for 63 cents!

Threatt called the court thinking it was a misunderstanding, because not only are her children no longer children, but she’s also a grandmother by both of them.

She even remembers receiving a letter at the conclusion of her child support duties saying she had paid in full. Somehow, some small change slipped through the cracks and resurfaced nearly 12 years past its due date.

"My problem is the waste of resources," she said. "This is crazy."

"It’s a waste, but that’s part of what we do, unfortunately," said Sumter County Clerk of Court Jamie Campbell. "We don’t have the authority to wipe it away."

Link – via On Deadline


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COMMENT

9 comments to "Woman Hauled to Court for Failing to Pay Child Support Bill of 63 Cents"

  1. neotko
    September 25th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    Americans surprise me every day with his stupid legal system ""We don’t have the authority to wipe it away." now that's a answer to 63 cents... COMMON SENSE, do you have it america?

  2. xadrian
    September 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    First off, she was not "hauled" to court, she received a summons.

    Second, no we have no common sense. The amount it would have cost the county to send this to trial versus the fine they'd be receiving is just ridiculous, especially considering the court said she was paid.

    This is like receiving bank statements that have some less than postage amount. Come on people.

  3. shecky
    September 26th, 2008 at 12:21 am

    "It’s a waste, but that’s part of what we do"

    This is why we pay taxes.

  4. Sasha
    September 26th, 2008 at 7:03 am

    It's amazing that people allow the child support system to stand as it is.

    For one, it dehumanizes the role of a parent, declaring that the role of a parent is a purely monetary one. You can buy them supplies, teach them how to paint, take them to the zoo, offer to spend as much time as you want, pour your hearts out to them...but none of it will subtract one cent from it.

    The #1 reason for parents in the child support system to lose their job is having to go to court many times for various reasons.

    Child support basically criminalizes parenthood (in particular fatherhood, because usually it's the dad who gets enmeshed in it).

    Once in the system, you are treated basically like a criminal. Even if you pay the money, you are still given the respect treated to anyone wrapped up in the court system - which is none.

    I had a friend who refused to pay his payment because the mother had become an alcoholic and drug abuser who was treating the kids like shit. He was available to them 24/7, and spent a lot of time and love with them. He eventually got reamed, the judge refused to listen to his side.

  5. Jimbo
    September 26th, 2008 at 7:24 am

    @neotko You must live somewhere that don't have laws. A judges ruling (ORDERS) require them to be followed through. Not kinda or sorta or even close enough. The followed the terms of the settlement to the penny.

    I understand it is silly to the uneducated like neotko, but without laws you have chaos.

    If the stop sign says STOP, it doesn't mean part of the time.

  6. Scotchdrnkr
    September 26th, 2008 at 7:46 am

    Gee and I can't get the courts to get my ex to pay his child support thats hasn't been paid since may 2008.

  7. ted
    September 26th, 2008 at 8:13 am

    It's still a waste of time and resources, and bordering on harrassment for such a trivial amount.

  8. Coyote
    September 26th, 2008 at 9:28 am

    It looks like it was automatically generated. I would assume as soon as she called they would realize not only is the amount ridiculously small but 12 years would be past any type of statute of limitations for debts. Much like the story of my aunt getting a phone bill for 2cents, when systems are run almost exclusively by computers there is no concept of common sense.

  9. donna
    September 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Some of my creditors used to send balance zero statements. Idiots. Most of their programs seem a bit smarter these days.


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