NotMyDebt Stories
We are collecting stories on the site because we think it's important to have a way to people to add their voice to this issue by sharing their story. It's puts a human voice to the issues with using technology and automating systems and providing a blanket solution without providing staff and people that can right wrongs and help people when there is an error.
Please share your story with us if you have a Centrelink debt story that you believe has been issued in error or due to a fault in the system.
As frustrating as it is, persist with the appeals process, and know others are behind you.
Stories are 100% anonymous
I think it is absolutely ridiculous and greedy that this has happened. Given the fact Centrelink are taking $100 a fortnight out of my Centrelink pay, I really couldn't care less (it's their money anyway, and I earn enough to not have it crippling me).
I received initial letter of intent at the start of November 2016...I complied with everything I was required to do eg.. provide documentation and letters of support from my employer and yet I still received my bill of $3196 on the 5/12/2016...due date 3/1/2017.
This is a disgrace, it was 4.5 years ago it's going to be a mammoth task to find everything to prove them wrong, it's not a small amount of money and being on Carers pension isn't easy, this is stretching budgets to breaking point.
I am the mother never seen my girl so stressed, wants to give up in her life, due to this , we need help
This "debt" was incurred whilst I was a 78 year old worker. I reported all my earned wages to Centrelink by phone as required. I received a letter in October 2016 asking me to confirm income information online (I have never had a computer and never used one). I am forced to repay $136.80 per fortnight out of my Age pension.
Well it started out at $12,485.31. And I sorted it all out over the phone before xmas, and the person from centrelink admitted there was a huge mistake by there part and I no need to worry. Thinking it was all done and dusted, I received a letter today saying the amount is now $6,497.10.
Very busy time of year, compounded by a death in the family, but the point is that it should not have happened.
My life has drained as currently looking after 8 kids 5 kids of my sister and 3 kids of my own, my marriage was always like a boat, never settle or separated and he lived at his mum house some years and months and we go back. I am genuine and always worked and got shocked that I got $42k debt not sure why?
This debt apparently occurred because I said I was thinking about studying but every time I ring first it's the study then it say something else if they read my records I was entitled to a disability pension due to my learning disability but I told them I didn't want it
I got this debt from the above date because I failed one of my units but my results weren't released until the 11/07/2016 and I was still enrolled when I checked on the 18/07/16.
ours occurred after CL suggested the wife seek a pension from NZ as she had lived there for near on 20 years .The sent her the paper work to fill in .Once the wife started receiving payment from NZ.. CL then sent us a letter to say we have to pay back money to them .
I received this debt and I wasn't even on Centrelink benefits. This caused a lot of stress and anxiety. I had to prove to Centrelink that they didn't pay me and I wasn't on their system???
I was confused but as it was a long time ago, I pulled out bank statements & tax returns to try & work out WTF was going on. Simultaneously (fortunately) the egregious nature of these debts hit the press/social media. I was not stressed about the debt, being forced to resign my job in the same week kinda overshadowed it..
Worry, stress etc
I was told I owed it because I had failed to advise if a second "bank account" with $8000.
The bank advised they must've been referring to my VISA account which has a limit of $8000.
Immense stress. This has now been appealed through AAT and I had a small reduction. What is alarming is the differing amounts of total wages that centrelink has for this period. They are all different and do not equate to my notice of tax assessment. In addition I received a debt for 11045.00 in late november that had a due date of 06/12/2016.
Like everyone else, enormous stress and anxiety which was all consuming. I no longer recognize the authority of this government or any of its departments. My citizenship is worthless.
so much anxiety and stress. They told me i had this debt a few days before my partner left for the U.K for Christmas, we were moving house and now couldent afford Anywhere, had to borrow too much off the family to afford the bond and first months rent from the first place that accepted us because of my now low income.
Received letter from Centrelink stating I owed $10000.00 on 17/11/16 and that I had to pay it by the 16th Dec 16.
I initially rang C'Link to withdraw from Newstart, as I had a job, but they advised me not to as I was a casual worker. Newstart automatically cancelled in April due to zero returns. In the mean time I had received payments over Xmas - New Year because There was no work till late January.
I received a debt covering the 2013-2015 period I was working casual contracts (thats all i could get at the time!) and I was unemployed in between. Centrelink averaged these payments over the entire financial coal years to make it look like I was claiming Newstart while earning money.
I have a false debt of thousands from 5 years ago. I am being treated like a criminal. I am being bullied. I am being told I'm a liar. The stress and anxiety this is causing is shocking. The powerlessness I feel is unrelenting. I can't sleep and I can't stop thinking about the injustice of this.
Centrelink incorrectly raised a debt based on data matching and using a flawed averaging mathematical calculation.
Was $17 000 Centrelink service officer dropped it to $6000 appealed but lost still paying it. Onus on me to prove I didn't owe it. Same process was used to calculate debt. When I pointed out I should be taken to court for $17 000 the customer service officer dropped it to $6000 and told me I should be grateful and relived.
I was on Austudy for 4 to 5 months, worked casually. Each fortnight declared wages and Austudy adjusted. I had p/time work either sides of those dates.