Go to top of page

What the hell?!

Debt amount: 
$1400
Date debt issued: 
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Period debt occurred: 
July 2010 to July 2011
Payment Type: 
Parenting Payment
Appealing Debt?: 
Yes but I lost
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

This whole thing has had nothing but made me angry and anxious.

Got the email back in late November 2016- asking to confirm the ato income for that year as it was different to centrelinks. I got my tax return letters out and found I happen to still have that years (2010/2011) tax return paper still - confirmed it was what the ato stated it was. Next thing I get is a notification I owe them $1097( including a debt recovery fee) since I only earner $7000 odd over that financial year I thought it couldn't possibly be right. Rang and queried it - was pretty much accused of reporting false income data and it was my fault and that's what I owe them. Stupid me paid it in full (I only had the $ due to saving for getting orthodontic work done that I desperately need!) I asked for the forms to submit my pay slips after I got hold
Of them and realised some weeks I earnt as little as $50 - well sent everything that was needed and even got my local mp involved - they pushed through the review... well then one day I log into my Centrelink app to see I have another $300 odd debt I had no idea where or why it was there.. was completely stressed out over the weekend (only showed up that Friday afternoon) no rang me on Monday to say that they reviewed it all and I actually owed them MORE money for that year!!

Seriously what the hell! I always reported my income every fortnight and have always done so whilst Iv been working while recivig the parenting payment single.

I'm now at a loss to what to do.. do I submit a objection to it? Do I just pay and forget it. I am beyond angry at this whole thing. I'm stressed out their going to send me debt notices from other years now and every more I dread opening up my emails to see if I have a notifications of mail in there.

The government are targeting people on already extremely low income who live week to week as it is!! How about they look at their own who claim thousands a week on things like family travel and accommodation or better yet get the tax big companies SHOULD BE PAYING!!!

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

It's a complete and utter attack on low income earners. They need to look at their own spending and also start taxing the big companies who pay zero tax!!

Leave us alone and let us be - a marjoiety whom are already struggling day to day to be able to afford everything to just be able to survive!!