I've been targeted because I have no way to prove otherwise.

Debt amount:

$350

Date debt issued:

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Period debt occurred:

May 2013

Has your case been referred to a collection agency?:

Payment Type:

Carer Payment

Appealing Debt?:

Yes but I lost

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

I work my butt off & have not received any benefit from Centrelink for over 3 years. I am living week to week & just manage. Now to have this debt suddenly appear & be told my only option is to contact my ex & see if he has pay slips for May 2013. The stress of a bill, No way do I want to contact my ex. Even more stress. Even the payment option is pushing me over the edge. I didn't even receive a letter. Just got email. Because I'm not on Centrelink I don't look for Centrelink messages anymore. I did the right thing & was honest in my dealing with Centrelink now I have a debt that I can't prove because my partner at the time, Centrelink say, gave them the wrong income amount.
I've been targeted because I have no way to prove otherwise. When I moved into a house with my partner. Centrelink say that he underestimated his fortnight income so I was overpaid. We are no longer together & the company he worked for no longer exists.

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

Absolutely disgusting. To be contacted my email, 3 years after the fact. Tax return's done every year so should have been picked up earlier. Stop the debt collection & check facts before hitting people with bogus debts