NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- These days it seems as though the whole world runs on credit. That's why some parents are concerned that Tennessee has stopped accepting credit card payments for child support.

One parent said the change makes it more difficult for parents to do the responsible thing.

James Barnett is a musician, so his paycheck isn't always regular. But he knows his 9-year-old daughter's child support needs to be.

"Regardless of what my financial situation is, my daughter always has to be taken care of," said Barnett. "I mean, that's first priority."

So Barnett pays his child support online with a credit card. At least, he did, until the state changed its system last month and the credit card option was gone without warning.

"It was completely out of the blue, just all of a sudden, 'Here -- you have to be on a new system, and, there's no credit cards,'" Barnett said.

The state Department of Human Services said it decided to stop accepting credit cards because it had lost thousands of dollars from credit card fraud. DHS said not many people used the service anyway: Only one-third of one percent paid by credit card.

"In tough times, you rely on your credit a little more than you do on your cash," said Barnett, "and if they take that option away, especially right now, it could be a catastrophe."

With so many deadbeat parents out there, Barnett said, why give them one more excuse not to pay?

"A lot of them will say, 'Well, if I can't pay it easy, I just won't pay it,'" said Barnett. "And that's ridiculous; that's hurting the children for no apparent reason."

When Barnett couldn't use a credit card, he asked where he could make a cash payment. But he found out that that's not allowed, either; they don't take cash.

DHS said it's federal law and that people haven't been allowed to pay in cash since 1996.

DHS said most people have the money automatically withdrawn from their bank account or their paychecks. A check or money order can also be used for payment.