This has been a very frustrating process that makes sure to instill a sense of hopelessness. I went into Centrelink the date I received my debt to dispute it in disbelief. They wouldn't let me talk to someone and referred me to an online dispute site. This had crashed and my only other option was to lodge a complaint online and request to lodge a dispute, I got given a reference number for this. After calling the Newstart number 68 times in an hour it continues to say user busy. Over the months I have spent time and money I don't have to resolve this or even just raise it as an issue. This is not possible, not without a lot of stress. I have anxiety disorder and chronic depression and this is a major trigger for both. I braved Centrelink again a few days ago to discuss why I have heard absolutely nothing in return and I was told their offices have nothing to do with the debt and do not deal with anything relating to it. This is astonishing. I am no longer eligible for loans since this debt. As my payments are already being deducted by the debt I am left in need of a loan. This is what hopelessness looks like..
The governments response is truely deranged. If a politician had to do a dummy run on a debt dispute this would no longer be an issue. The current state of affairs is in-humane.