I went through the online process alone the first time, and got a debt generated of $5,200.95 - I freaked! I called up their hotline and got talked through an appeal, got talked through their silly website format and the second appeal sat for nearly 3 months before a human called me and told me they needed extra paper work, for the end of the 2014 financial year. This paperwork was NEVER requested before.
Once I submitted all this paperwork my debt suddenly plummeted to $907.58
But in the meantime I have been loosing $60 a fortnight from my disability payments, yeah that's right, since graduating uni, going onto Newstart, getting full time work - I got sick, went back onto Newstart and eventually DSP.
The money being taken while I have been disputing these sucks, but it hasn't left me without anything, I'm on of the lucky ones in this situation so to speak.
I am currently in the process of trying to work out the $900... I don't know who/what/when/where/why - I just want a break down so I have the chance to dispute it, if I owe it, I'll pay it.
I think the Government has acted like children in this situation. They wanted something back and instead of following rules that any other business/corporation would have to take, they've just gone about it their own way, regardless of the rules and regulations - THE LAW!
I think if they were honest with people to begin with and set up their data matching software properly and took the time to make sure it works they wouldn't look like idiots right now.