I had heard nothing about the robodebt issue at this time, and once again being stuck on the casualised/underemployed/centrelink merrygoround (ie financially stressed), this caused me considerable stress & upset.
It occurred at a time when I was undergoing assessment tasks in my ongoing university study & and at a time when I knew that my variable casual income was going to drop substantially for the summer months due to the partial shutdown of my workplace over the summer months.
I made numerous phone calls to CLink & the debt compliance office asking for explanations as to how this could occur as I was adamant it was wrong. The only explanation I got was "it'll be about the dates", but NO-ONE would explain further.
In the end CLink sent me out (weeks later) a FOI form. I organised a minimal repayment program for the time being.
After Xmas I revisited all this info & sent the FOI form away requesting all data used determining this "debt"
A month later I have this info. Just as the media has reported, they averaged out my entire annual income into fortnightly blocks. This in NO WAY reflects the fact that for 4 months I worked approx only 10 hrs per week and that in late NOV 2010 I picked up an extra contract giving me approx 29 hrs per week (same employer) for the next few years.
Of course I have my tax records, but NOT my payslips, or bank statements from over 6 yrs ago. Fortunately I can get & will shortly have all the documentation needed to demonstrate my innocence.
I am very angry about the unnecessary stress & waste of my & others time and resources. It was sooooo unnecessary and easily avoided.
This whole episode appears to be an exercise in intimidation and quick cash grab from the unsuspecting and those viewed as vulnerable & unlikely to argue the point.
I am disgusted at the governments tactics & even more so by the ministers denial of the problems.
I will pursue my case to the end.
My debt is minor compared to many others but the principle is the same.
Unless this debt collection system is fixed, I will expect another accusation for this current financial year (variable low income), but this time I will be very well prepared in advance.