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AUSTUDY DEBT

Debt amount: 
$1272
Date debt issued: 
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
Period debt occurred: 
December 2011
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Austudy
Appealing Debt?: 
Yes in process
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

I received a debt approx 4 years ago from 2010-2011 for over $2500, I went on a payment plan and over a number of years paid the debt back.

This year, I received another debt of $1600 from the same year.
A few months later i received a debt of $3000.

I instantly thought this has to be a mistake. I phoned up centrelink and escalated the debt.

After a reassessment, I was told the debt was back to $1600 — I questioned this and the assessor said she would relook at the debt, she has come back saying i owe $1272. I actually have no confidence Centrelink know what they are doing at all.

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

At an amateur level.
Completely unprofessional and a complete lack of confidence that anyone at the Department knows what they are doing.
Nobody I have spoken to seems to keep records.