Debt amount:
$7300
Date debt issued:
Wednesday, 10 July 2019
Period debt occurred:
April 2017 to June 2018
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?:
No
Payment Type:
Youth Allowance
Appealing Debt?:
Yes in process
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress:
Received a 7k debt letter for "underreporting" for a period from April 2017- June 2018. I suffer from anxiety and depression and am trying to manage full-time study and part-time work while dealing with this mess. Very time poor and almost feel like giving in and setting up a payment plan, even though I have always been meticulous with reporting my income and am already struggling to pay bills as a student.
How do you feel about the way the Government has handled this process?:
I am appalled at the way that Centrelink staff have spoken to me about this, when I have always kept my calm and spoken to them respectfully. Makes me feel like a criminal when I haven't intentionally done anything wrong and they can't explain to me how this apparent debt was incurred.