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Wasn't even receiving centrelink for that year!

Debt amount: 
$2400
Date debt issued: 
Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Period debt occurred: 
July 2014
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
Yes
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: 

Made a mygov account to access Medicare, linked centrelink though i haven't even received it since i was studying 6 years ago. 2 debts appeared, one for $2400 due Jan 2014 and one for $4.77 due Nov 2010. I have not been receiving centrelink since before 2013, thought i have been eligible for it for low income but did not claim it! I stupidly agreed to a payment plan of $100 a fortnight before talking to friends in a similar situation and i stopped paying it while figuring out what to do. It has now been referred to an Agency because every single time i try and contact centrelink I am on hold for over an hour after being transferred to several different departments, and then the line hangs up on me.

I don't know what to do at this stage but keep on trying to get through on the phone. Meanwhile, the agency is harrassing me for payments and referring me to the same call centre for an appeal which never gets through. Have wasted hours and hour on hold and lost income because of this.

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

I feel absolutely let down by this Government, this is causing me massive stress and anxiety as i'm not sure when/if my bank account is going to be garnished before i even get a chance to speak to someone about appealing or even having a discussion as to why and how this debt has appeared in a time when i was not even receiving centrelink. This government will not get my vote this is atrocious.