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This is incompetant and cruel!

Debt amount: 
$913
Date debt issued: 
Monday, 16 January 2017
Period debt occurred: 
January 2013 to May 2013
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Newstart Allowance
Appealing Debt?: 
Unknown
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

Today I received a text saying Centrelink would call me to discuss my payments. I missed the call. Eventually, after 9 attempts to call and (only) 36 minutes on hold, I was able to speak to someone who told me I owe $913.51 for Newstart from 1.1.13 to 17.5.13- 4 years later! When I asked if I would be receiving anything in writing they told me they were sending me a letter...today! I was stunned! After the call I just cried. How am I supposed to continue to making ends meet???? There aren't any more cuts to make!!!! And I have to resume paying for my sons high school soon, year 10.

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

I can't believe after 4 YEARS Centrelink are telling me the calculations, for an allowance they put me on, are wrong and I have 4 weeks and 1 day to pay back nearly one thousand dollars! They didn't even send the letter before they called me! This is incompetant and cruel!