Although my debt has been cleared, I wanted to share my experience in the hope that it will help reassure others that this is not only a horrific injustice but definitely a computer system failure that the government and all those involved need to be held accountable for. My debt first appeared, out of seemingly no where, with just a letter saying I had a debt. It didn't say by when I had to pay it by or for what it was. I went on MyGov and found it there and eventually another letter appeared to tell me that it was apparently to do with the Newstart I had recieved between jobs back in 2012. It also strangely stated that my debt was "On Hold" until October this year. I would never have been able to receive Newstart at that time if I hadn't recieved a separation certificate from my previous employer, but I was still very worried and upset that I might not be able to have proof that I wasn't receiving an income at that time. I luckily contacted Notmydebt for advice. It was so strange to see that my debt was on hold but it was also a chance to wait and see what would happen in October. I was in the midst of a mental health relapse and still mourning the loss of my mother-in-law, who had just passed away from cancer. I luckily had the support of my husband, family and friends but I felt so angry and upset for the people who had recieved a debt, who might not have access to help or were in a more vulnerable position. I'm not on Centrelink and haven't been since 2013. I never contacted Centrelink about my debt. I then recieved a letter stating that I owed nothing. Zip. Debt cleared. No money oweing. But instead of it saying that it was a fault on their part it said that it had been decidrd that there had been no overpayment "Due to the information you have provided..." I, didn't, do, anything. I didn't contact them at any point. Of course I'm relieved, but what about everyone else? What about those who have gone through such unessesarry misery, pain stress and horrifically (the biggest tragedy in all this) death due to Robodebt? Robodebt "is" generating false and/or incorrect debts. Its happening, it's real and the government needs to be held accountable.
They haven't handled it at all. Instead of taking responsibility and recognising that the computer system they had implimented was faulty, they took advantage of some of the most vulnerable people in our country. Welfare cheats wouldn't be suffering to pay back Centrelink. True, honest and trusting people have suffered and even died because if this horrific debarkle. Its disgusting, cruel and a complete disgrace.