Go to top of page

I proved I did not have a debt, Centrelink accepted this, then charged it to me again and took it from my payment anyway

Debt amount: 
$640
Date debt issued: 
Friday, 1 February 2019
Period debt occurred: 
December 2011
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Youth Allowance
Appealing Debt?: 
Yes in process
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

Huge increase in anxiety levels, I've been quite depressed and hopeless. I have not been able to keep my head above water financially, and am barely coping in other areas of my life.

How do you feel about the way the Government has handled this process?: 

They forced me to prove my innocence or cough up for this "debt" a year ago. I followed the agonising process of chasing up records that were over 7 years old. I was right and proved they were incorrect.

They sent me a letter stating this, that I owed nothing, that the debt was incorrect and there is no such debt.

Then, a year later, they sent me the same debt again.

This time, rather than let me be guilty until proven innocent, they have REMOVED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP OR PROVE MY INNOCENCE AT ALL. They simply took the "debt" straight out of my payment instead.

So with all the media frenzy around #robodebt being so unlawful, they are not even letting you prove your innocence anymore, just simply steal money from vulnerable people?!