I was working full time for half of the financial year and only 6 hours a week for the other half so when my yearly income was stupidly averaged out over 12 months the figures were just all wrong.
I told the nice lady at a Centrelink office that I have requested copies of my pay slips from my employer to prove that I hadn't been over paid and she gave me a 15 day extension to show proof or pay the debt. When I got my pay slips I entered all the relevant figures online and uploaded them to Centrelink.
The very next day I received a letter to say my payment was due. When I rang to tell them I had an extension and it was being reviewed I was told that there are no extensions and that I was to start a payment plan. I told them that I have proven beyond all doubt that I wasn't overpaid and therefore I refuse to start a payment plan.
They threatened me with debt collector stories, garnishee stories and additional fees so I agreed with their payment plan option.
When I told them that I was unemployed at present and not receiving any benefits they decided to give me a 2 month extension. I said that I had been told there are no extensions and that I would like that in writing.
That's where I'm up to. Waiting for another letter.
I was so confident that this debacle would sort itself out and at first I wasn't concerned because I knew I had done nothing wrong but when government employees threatened me with taking money out of my bank account I started to realise the seriousness of the situation. I was on the phone for 4 hours yesterday and haven't slept since. I am 55 years old and this is the first time in my life that I've been unemployed.