I do the right thing, updating my circumstances as it happens then i get a debt a year later!!!

Debt amount:

$1503

Date debt issued:

Wednesday, 21 December 2016

Period debt occurred:

September 2015

Has your case been referred to a collection agency?:

Yes

Payment Type:

Family Tax Benefit

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:

This debt comes at the worst time, my partner had her contract finished so she just started a new work, but we had to get a 30k pay cut. Now we cant afford much extra and that extra stress is coming.
My wife is extremely anxious and that makes her anxiety levels go through the roof.
Worst part is we only received the second letter after the the initial one was apparently sent to us. If i had received the first one i would have let it go so far but now we have to deal with a debt collection agency.
Not helping .

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

We were updating our circumstances as it came, the thing is normal if you have to give the money back. But waiting 12 months down the track to notify us is just bad. When you are updating your income they could just make the reconciliation and advise you that you will have to pay some back but no they just say your payment will stop. The situation could have been handle seamlessly from day one when we advised the change in our situation but they prefer to wait then you get in trouble.