Website puts spotlight on Alberta's most wanted debtors

May 28, 2009
Website puts spotlight on Alberta's most wanted debtors
Public can help find those owing child and spousal support
Edmonton... Alberta’s worst child and spousal support debtors now have even more incentive to live up to court-ordered obligations to their families. The newly redesigned ‘Help us find’ website, administered by the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP), seeks the public’s help in finding defaulting maintenance debtors across the province.

“Child support is a responsibility, not an option,” said Alison Redford, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “There are a lot of responsible payers in Alberta, but some still don’t get it. We are taking aggressive action to find those people who are registered through MEP and avoiding their financial obligations.”

Website users are able to view the photos and information of debtors through a new interactive map divided into provincial regions. The website (http://justice.gov.ab.ca/mep/help_find.aspx) now also features a looping presentation of the top 10 worst debtors in the province. This list is based on a number of criteria, including amount of arrears, amount of communication with MEP and number of months in default. The public can call 780-401-TIPS (8477) with information about debtors’ whereabouts. Since 2000, Albertans have helped locate more than 200 defaulting debtors.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the well-being and quality of life of the child,” said Redford. “Children deserve love, attention and financial support - divorce and separation do not change that. Paying child and spousal support on time, and in full, leads to stronger, happier homes and safer communities.”

In addition to the website, MEP uses a variety of enforcement procedures to collect payments from debtors. Some of these include attaching money from wages and bank accounts, seizing personal assets, placing liens on property, reporting debtors to the credit bureau, and requiring debtors to appear in court. MEP may withhold motor vehicle services - such as driver's licences, abstracts and vehicle registrations - for failure to comply with maintenance orders. To help locate debtors when they move, MEP can also access motor vehicle records throughout Canada.

Federal legislation also permits attaching federal sources of income such as GST rebates, income tax refunds, employment insurance benefits and Canada Pension payments.

MEP also has special investigations units in Calgary and Edmonton that work on especially difficult cases across the province. The units can order debtors to appear for hearings and can conduct surveillance to develop proof for court or to find assets.

Backgrounder: MEP facts and stats

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Alison Burns
Justice Communications
780-427-8530

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Facts and stats about the Maintenance Enforcement Program

The Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) currently manages an average of 48,000 active files per month with almost 100,000 clients (both creditors and debtors) and almost 64,000 children.
MEP provides quality service to Albertans through 24-hour Internet and phone access to file information; a user-friendly website; an expanded client services centre; new texting capabilities; and an efficient complaint review process. Clients are also able to communicate with program staff in the language of their choice over the telephone.
In the 2008-09 fiscal year, the Maintenance Enforcement Program collected $212 million for Alberta children and families.
MEP’s 2006-07 client satisfaction survey indicated that 70 per cent of creditors were satisfied with program services.
In the 2008-09 fiscal year, during each month on average, MEP:

collected approximately $17 million;
processed over 12,290 items of incoming correspondence;
responded to more than 12,657 calls through the Client Services Centre;
handled 68,294 inquiries received though the Info Line; and
received 576 files for registration.

MEP has reciprocal agreements with the rest of Canada, the United States, and 24 other jurisdictions, which allow them to enforce maintenance orders on the thousands of files that involve a creditor or debtor who resides outside Alberta.
Complying with payment arrangements allows debtors to avoid enforcement actions, interest and penalties and have some enforcement actions removed.
In addition to charging debtor penalties for late payments, MEP now charges creditors a penalty for not reporting direct payments received from debtors.
Section 14 of the Maintenance Enforcement Act allows MEP to advertise for information about debtors in any method considered appropriate.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Alison Burns
Justice Communications
780-427-8530

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Send us your comments or questions