Department of Justice

Frequently Asked Questions about MEP Direct Deposit

Do I have to sign up for direct Deposit (DD)?

No, but if you do, we expect that DD will decrease the amount of time it takes for you to receive your payment.

Why are you only issuing cheques once a week now?

We would like to encourage people to use the DD service. It will make it easier for you by automatically depositing maintenance payments into your bank account.
DD reduces the number of cheques produced (and potentially lost or misplaced, or incorrectly printed). An added benefit of DD is that it will help to ensure enforcement action to collect payments is being implemented in a timely and effective manner.

Why can't I have my money when the MEP gets it?

The bank's policy that we endorse is to hold personal cheques for a period of 14 days to ensure that there are sufficient funds to cover the payment.
If cheques were released without this hold, it is possible that they would bounce. MEP would then be spending time recovering payments from claimants instead of working to collect from payers. Also, if a cheque bounces, MEP pays the NSF charges, not the claimant.

What about cash payments (money orders, VISAs etc - one day turn around payments)?

I would encourage you to seriously consider DD if cash payments are a common method of payment on your account. These payments will be paid into your account when funds are transferred electronically to claimants' accounts. We will be doing electronic transfers twice a week.
We are attempting to streamline our processes and to integrate them with those used in other jurisdictions. Across Canada the common practice is to issue cheques once a week.

What do I do if I can't figure out the form for Direct Deposit?

Your bank can help you complete the top portion.

I live outside Whitehorse in a community in which there is no bank. What do I do to set up Direct Deposit?

In most cases all you need to do is send in a cancelled cheque to us with the signed form that states that you agree to set up DD.

If I don't set up Direct Deposit now, can I do it later?

Yes, but we strongly encourage you to do it now.

How will I know when a deposit has been made to my account?

Your bank account should show an item that will read "MEP Deposit - $X."