Contra Costa County Dept. of Child Support Services - Martinez, California

B B.

If I could do zero stars that would be most appropriate. My review is more of a notice to those that are or have to deal with DCSS. I've been dealing with them for years. My ex wife had an affair, but because of the wonderful state of CA I still had to pay child and spousal support. Due to that the DCSS had to intervene and garnish my paycheck as "protocol". On 5/31/24 my support was scheduled to end after many years. A day to celebrate. However, I get a notice that a new garnishment request was sent to my employer but now for almost my entire paycheck. DCSS told me that it was an error and that they would reach out to my HR and fix it. I just looked at my paystub for my check tomorrow and it's almost all going to the garnishment, which officially should of ended last Friday. I'm beyond upset about this. There is no help to get these things fixed. DCSS and the state will get my money and now I have to wait for them to fix it and send it back. Do they keep the interest on all of these "errors" before returning the money to the rightful owner? The system is broken and outdated, not to mention the rules of the state with divorce. My advice is to stay on top of things and pay attention to what they're doing. This also comes after a couple months ago of them withholding money from my state and federal tax refunds erroneously. I finally got that money back the other day.

melvin B.

They automatically started deducting my child support from my 2nd job even though I was and still am current on my payments. Liars all of them. First agent said, the extra money would be sent back after 10 days. Second agent says no money would be returned until I was paid a month in advance. Then I asked about when my child graduates. If graduating at the end of the month, they send notice on graduation date for termination, meaning an extra month can and will be taken. If at the beginning of the month then it could be an additional month of payments plus the following month before garnishment stops. The most abusive system in America. And they don't verify if the other party is fulfilling their obligations of the court orders. I HATE THIS ORGANIZATION! MAY THEY ALL BURN IN A PHOSPEROUS GEL FIRE!!!

J M.

Incompetence exemplified. The case managers talk about how the "system" does everything and they are unable to do anything. Why even have case managers if they can't do anything and it's all the "system?" What is your job even then? They will lie to you about a court order, then when you point it out, they just go "oh you're good." They'll suspend your license even when you're paying and say they can't do anything because of the "system." This office literally went out of its way to hire the dumbest and most ineffectual people ever.

Yeee E.

As a concerned father, my son just turned 10. I learned that for the most part my son is in his grandparents custody. I report that his mother is smoking meth and they do nothing.
I'm a man that did the cps situation in the 90s.
Crack was a reason but meth ain't when it comes to fathers reporting what they do call back tomorrow. She might get some fentanyl thinking it's meth.
Deshawn Laverne, dealing with Contra Costa County

T R.

Their so-called "call center" is an insult to the taxpayers. They know NOTHING and hang up when asked a question about their own scope of work. Wish CA gov't/congress had a way to eliminate this waste. Salaries paid for doing nothing.

Chris R.

I've had my driver's license suspended 3 times, twice it was their fault, some system glitch once. I still had to pay the reinstatement fee. I have a suspended license right now that I just found out, and I start a construction job where I drive the company truck next monday.....or so I'll see.

Literally just hung up on me. Takes forever sometimes for them to call back and then they're just a di*$.

Like

laurie S.

The second largest collection agency behind the IRS. They say they are only enforcing child support orders. They have no idea what is done with the money that is supposed to be spent on the children. What about providing receipts for expenses paid for the children? There is way too much abuse of power in the family court system and all of those affiliated with it. They even have a special ATM at the Martinez office so deadbeats who are collecting support who don’t have bank accounts can make a cash withdrawal from their accounts . Truly sickening.

Lindsey S.

I have never had any issues with this office. I'm a mother who previously paid child support and they always made everything really easy for me. All I had to do was put in the footwork, which is my obligation as a parent anyway, and really wasn't difficult.