Just like many of the stories already shared i received a letter from Centrelink advising of a $8300 debt from 2010 to 2012. Hours waiting on hold and numerous calls to eventually be told that they could see that the debt was incorrect as the system had doubled my income due to not recognising the ABN of my employer. I also questioned having to repay the Pensioner Educational Supplement whilst studying full time in 2012 to be advised that the system was saying i was employed in 2012 when I wasn't. I was advised to contact my numerous casual employers to chase up my fortnightly payslips from 2010 and 2011. I was further advised that whilst there was an error it could not be manually fixed..A case of guilty until you can prove your innocence. A month later and I am still waiting for Centrelink to finish the reassessment and am paying a debt I do not believe I owe just to keep the debt collectirs away. The system is fundamentally flawed. The onus is on the victim to prove their innocence rather than the system to correctly establish that a debt has occurred.
Frustrated by the whole process and the hours wasted chasing up documents, contacting employers and waiting for hrs on end to speak with Centalink. Angry at the current government ministers and their apathy, dismissiveness and arrogance..... 12 minutes call wait time...what a joke! Try 45 minutes plus. Why doesn't the givernment spend the same ammount of energy, time and resources chasing large corporations who currently pay no tax rather than chasing after innocent people