Received letter June 2015 that Centrelink owed me $354 family tax benefit after tax return lodged for 14/15 year. Then, in June 2016 I get a letter saying I owe $1,657 for 14/15 year.
Silly me, I didn't question the accuracy of the Government and dutifully paid it assuming they were right.
Then I received another letter three months later in September 2016 saying I owe family Tax benefit for the 13/14 tax year of $1,744. First thought is that that is quite some time ago and then I also think about when I was working and realise that I don't believe that I owe this. I spoke to Centrelink and asked for a statement and breakdown of how this is worked out. They cant help or send statement. I hang up and think this is ridiculous that they cant at the least sent a statement of payments they have made and just expect me to pay it like I paid the last one. I then sent a request for a review November 16 and have followed up to confirm that they have received it. She tells me that it can take up to 35 days. In the meantime I have had Dunn and Bradstreet bombarding me with texts and letters of demand. When I last spoke with Centrelink and explained that D&B are sending me letters demanding payment and I asked if she could put a hold on D&B’s communications until it is proven that I owe this money she said she would put me through to their accounts department so they could put a note in the system. I thought great, I will speak with Centrelink account, but no,this turned out to be D&B, so got me nowhere as D&B won’t stop hassling until Centrelink ask them to.
I am about to send D&B a letter which includes this wording:
"I have just received another notice from Dunn and Bradstreet. I am beyond asking nicely for you to stop harassing me for payment.
I take enormous offence to your wordings of:
“We have accepted your offer to pay the following”
- I never offered that so please don’t lie. I ask that you go to the original recorded conversation and check for yourself. Your representative kept asking for payment and I said that I would pay in full if and when Centrelink got back to me with the results of the review proving that I owed.
“You have ignored prior communication from D&B” – no I haven’t, I have spoken to you on two occasions and you just choose to disregard what I say and keep sending letters of demand. I asked you to contact Centrelink and get updated directives from them, but you just keep sending automated letters to me.
You said in the last letter “This may be your last opportunity to resolve this matter amicably. Please contact us to make your payment” I will not be bullied in to your “Be nice and pay up” – which is what that translates to.
The implication there is that I am not being amicable. I am being amicable about it – you just don’t want to listen to the reason I give and will only be happy with payment. There is absolutely no customer service and working with the public here.
I am finding this extremely stressful to keep getting these letters when I have never owed anyone outstanding money in my life."
The Goverment has handled this terribly. Centrelink have made a mistake, but wont do the honorable thing and put a hold on Dunn and Bradstreet's demands. That is all I ask until this is resolved. Instead I get texts and letters from D&B which I wont pay as I dont believe that I owe it. If it can be proven that I owe it then I will pay in full. Centrelink and D&B need to work together and communicate. Instead Centrelink hs told D&B to keep pushing for payments.
Words that come to mind are harrassed, stressed, anxious, bullied, hassled and empathy for those in less position of strength. This is causing huge anxiety for people.