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paid the amount because I suffer anxiety and I couldn't handle the pressure

Debt amount: 
$1200
Date debt issued: 
Friday, 30 September 2016
Period debt occurred: 
June 2011
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Newstart Allowance
Appealing Debt?: 
No
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

I received may debt in September '16, before the robot debt recovery became highly publicised and we were aware of the fraudulent nature of how it is accessed. I was on newstart in 2010 for a limited time after I finished school. Very little information was given to me about how the debt had occurred.. I paid the amount because I suffer anxiety and I couldn't handle the pressure. Perhaps I may have pursued it more if the debt was more than $1200. Even though $1200 is still a lot if the debt is fake.

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

I think this process should be halted. If there are so many fake debts then it's disgusting that they are continuing with this. When I received my letter I was made to feel like a criminal for ripping off centrelink. I had always reported to centrelink. I wondered why it has taken 5 years to discover a discrepancy, if there even was one.