How can i get my money back

Debt amount:

$10205

Date debt issued:

Friday, 2 October 2015

Period debt occurred:

July 2011 to June 2012

Has your case been referred to a collection agency?:

Yes

Payment Type:

Austudy

Appealing Debt?:

I don't know how to

Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress:

I had to move out of my home, as i could no longer afford the rent.
i took about 2 months before i found a place to live.
i had to stop using my car during this time and i was living off friends couches and eating a non nutritious diet, just to get by.
I became very reclusive and couldn't afford to go out anymore and see friends.
I can't even get the debt collector to provide me with a statement.
all i get is "how much more can you pay as you need to pay more and you're not paying enough to pay my wages".

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

I feel the government didn't handle this at all. they just passed the buck.
I first answered a call from the debt collector asking me to pay money now or else they would garnish my wage.
i told them i have no idea what they are on about and offered a phone number to call Centrelink.
When i called, they said they sent a letter to the residence that i resided at in 2011 - i hadn't lived there in 3 years.
They then said because i never responded to the letter it automatically gets passed to a debt collector and they then can not asset me and i should have actioned the letter.
They couldn't even provide me with a letter of how much and when.
i was only on Austudy for a year and half and they told me they can only go back 3 years, missing my first 6 months on Austudy.
I can on imagine the extra thousands they wanted to add on but "legally" couldn't.