Removing Barriers to Child Support – How TouchPay’s Automated Services are Increasing Payments Across the United States
Almost 22 million children, over one-fourth of all children in the U.S., have a parent who lives outside their household
FALLS CHURCH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / August 6, 2020 / TouchPay, a leading provider of automated payment services, today announced that it now provides assistance to child support agencies in 18 states and continues to expand its reach across the nation. TouchPay provides a comprehensive, turnkey suite of services that is convenient for government agencies handling all types of payments, including child support. This includes offering many payment options, including premise-based kiosks, countertop terminals, an online payment portal, mobile app, and an automated phone system.
In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there were 12.9 million custodial parents in the U.S., caring for 21.9 million children who had a parent living outside their household. About half of those custodial parents had either legal or informal child support agreements; yet, over 30% of them received no child support payments at all in 2017.
“Billions of dollars in child support goes uncollected every year,” said Matthew Caesar, TouchPay President. “By offering the ability to make payments in many ways – website, mobile app, kiosks, phone – and with many methods – cash, check, credit card – TouchPay is removing barriers, increasing payments, and helping families receive the support they need and deserve. In addition, agencies are also benefiting from services that are increasing efficiency, saving money, and reallocating staff to focus on more operational needs.”
In addition to more payments being made and more money being collected, child support agencies also realize many other benefits:
- Eliminating cash-handling responsibilities
- Reducing in-person contact
- Seamlessly integrating with accounting software
- Allowing TouchPay to handle all aspects of payments, including installation, cash handling, accounting, remote monitoring, maintenance, and cash pickup
- Guaranteeing payments 100%
- Complying with all federal rules and regulations (Licensed Money Transmitter in 48 states and has attained Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) level 1 compliance).
“Having access to a kiosk that takes cash payments has been a positive experience for customers that may not have bank or credit card accounts,” said Krista Gray, Director of Child Support Grants & Contracts, State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services – Child Support Division. “The kiosk service in Tennessee has proven to break down a barrier for noncustodial parents to make payments on their court-ordered child support obligations. When implemented, surveys were conducted with noncustodial parents that were using the kiosk, and all feedback received was very positive. We do see a trend of noncustodial parents using the kiosk monthly to make their payments and sometimes on multiple cases. We look forward to adding additional kiosks in more of our child support offices and courthouses.”
“Over the past two years, we have almost doubled the number of our child support agency customers, and each new agency reports the same change as they switch to TouchPay services-they have seen an uptick in the number of payments and amount of child support received,” concluded Mr. Caesar. “Our solutions make it easier for people to make payments, and it makes all the difference in the lives of custodial parents and the children they support.”
About Us
About TouchPay
TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services is a subsidiary of GTL. With over two decades of experience in providing automated payment services, TouchPay’s dedicated team produces high-impact, technologically advanced products for government agencies in the fields of corrections, courts, child support, and parole and probation.
About GTL
GTL leads the fields of corrections technology, education, and intelligence, as well as government payment services, with visionary solutions that integrate seamlessly to deliver security, financial value, and operational efficiencies while aiding inmate rehabilitation. As a trusted industry leader, GTL provides services to over 1.6 million inmates in more than 2,300 correctional facilities in the United States and Canada, including 29 U.S. departments of corrections, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons. GTL is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more about GTL, please visit www.gtl.net or social media sites on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Contacts:
Randy Brown
Work: 703-215-5383
media@gtl.net
SOURCE: GTL
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