You may contact COSC, CFO by email at CFOResponse@maricopa.gov, or by phone at 602-372-5375.

The debt is based on a criminal sanction, neither the COSC nor the CCU is able to collect or negotiate less than what has been ordered by the Court. 

Yes, call or email and CCU will assist you. Keep in mind that in order to see your outstanding balance decrease, your monthly payments will need to be more than your monthly accrued interest and any collection fees.

CCU does not report to the credit bureaus, however CROs are recorded public documents.

CROs are enforced by filing a lien against interests in personal property. This is done by filing the lien with the Secretary of State, except for titled motor vehicles which are filed with Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicles Division (MVD). A CRO is placed against real property by filing the lien with the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office in which the property is located.

Pursuant to A.R.S. §13-806, CROs do not expire until paid in full and are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

It is recommended that you contact MVD prior to the exchange of money. MVD should be able to tell you if there is any reason the vehicle cannot be transferred into your name. You will need to have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) when contacting MVD.

CCU is prohibited from providing legal advice and this “Frequently Asked Questions” is for informational purposes only.
You may wish to consult with an attorney or visit the Court's online self- service center at: www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter. You may visit the Maricopa County Law Library for additional research. Maricopa County Law Library is located at 101 W Jefferson, Phoenix, AZ 85003. You may also contact COSC at 602-372-5375 for filing instructions.

Once all of the terms of your sentence are met, you may contact the Criminal Filing Counter at 602-372-5375 for instructions.

Interest is accrued on a daily basis at an annual rate of up to 10%. For demonstration purposes only: If the outstanding principal is $1,375.00, then the interest is figured as follows:

$1,375.00 X 10% = $137.50 per year/365 days = $0.38 per day (rounded)
$0.38 per day X 30 day month = $11.40 per month

All releases are done electronically. Typically the hold is released by MVD within a few hours, but it may take up to 3-5 business days.

Chances are, the person on the title has a CRO against them and this is preventing the title transfer. Pursuant to A.R.S. §13-806, in order to transfer the title into your name, the debt must be paid in full. If you purchased a vehicle in good faith you may contact the MVD to request an Executive Hearing with their court.

Chances are, you have a CRO against the vehicle and this has stopped the title transfer. CCU files all CROs directly with the MVD. Pursuant to A.R.S. §13-806, in order to transfer the title out of your name, the debt must be paid in full.

CCU will prepare a Satisfaction of Judgment which will be filed with Clerk of Superior Court and recorded with Maricopa County Recorder’s Office. CCU will also release restitution liens and holds filed with MVD as a result of the CRO.

If the account is delinquent, CCU will send your account to a private collection agency per A.R.S. §12-116.03. The collection agencies have additional fees (collection fees) that will be added to your outstanding financial obligation.

You may compare your payments with the payment history and provide evidence that your account is in error. Examples of “evidence” would be COSC receipts or front and backs of cancelled checks or money orders.

If it is determined that an overpayment is due, a refund check will be issued and mailed by Clerk of the Superior Court.

A Criminal Restitution Order (CRO) is a financial judgment that may be issued at the time restitution is ordered, at the time the defendant's period of probation or sentence ends, or the defendant absconds. CROs are further discussed in the Criminal Code within Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) §13-805. All Arizona Revised Statutes can be found at: www.azleg.gov.

A CRO is a restitution lien against all current and future interests in property which includes personal property, real estate, mobile homes, vehicles, boats, all-terrain vehicles, etc., within the State of Arizona. The CRO would need to be paid in full in order for the lien to be released. Maricopa County does not subordinate.

Restitution Liens are not financial liens in which the lienholder is typically a bank, finance company, or other financial institution whom you have a signed agreement to borrow money using a particular asset as collateral.

CCU collects on the amounts owed for all CROs that are issued by the Maricopa County Superior Court. CCU sends a series of courtesy letters in an effort to make contact with the debtor and establish a payment plan. When a payment is made, CCU will send an updated billing letter acknowledging payment was received.  If no payment is made, CCU sends the account to a collection agency for further collection efforts. 
 

Aside from paying the debt in full, you may file a motion with the court. CCU is not a financial lien holder so we cannot take possession of the vehicle in lieu of payment. CCU cannot release the CRO lien without either the debt being paid in full or a Court order to release.

A CRO is a recorded public document and can be found online through Maricopa County Recorder’s Office at: www.recorder.maricopa.gov.

 

You may contact COSC, Criminal Financial Obligation Unit (CFO) by email at CFOResponse@mail.maricopa.gov, or by phone at 602-372-5375 for instructions on obtaining your payment history.

CCU can intercept your Arizona State Tax Refund and lottery winnings for all non-current (delinquent) accounts. At this time, CCU cannot intercept Federal Tax Refunds and casino winnings.

In addition to the outstanding court ordered financial sanction (principal), pursuant to A.R.S §13- 805, a CRO is subject to interest at a rate of up to 10% per annum from the effective date of the CRO. A collection fee may be added which is calculated as a percentage of the principal.