I first recieved a text message from Centrelink at approx 2.30 am, thinking it was a Nigerian scam I posted my thoughts on Facebook. It was not flattering. I got a bit worried after recieving a message telling me to check my Mygov account for mail. After finally giving in, I found that I had a letter of debt approx, 7.1k. I rang and discussed the to process to appealed it after talking with them. I was told to provide evidence of wages earnt against the employer I earnt the largest amount, for the 2012/13 financial year, as I had three employers. Which I did I even made sure that they recieved copies of my payslips by lining up at Centrelink office to get them to scan them and forward them on. An interesting event as they were on skeleton staff as they where on strike. Thinking I was on the right track to get my debt squashed, I found that it had been reduced to approx $1550. I agreed to organise a debt payment plan, as it would stop my debt going to the debt collectors, I've only recently come out of bankruptcy after we lost everything after my wife was diagnosed with a terminal disease. I'm worried that a black mark will stop any future credit applications. This to me is a subtitle blackmail! But the kicker is, when I spoke to Centrelink about the reason why I still have a debt of approx $1500, I found that it went across all three jobs for the financial year, so now I'm forced to retrace my the remaining two jobs to provide once again the weeks of earnings and amounts. Which was NOT explained in previous conversations, I believe ALL conversations where recorded, for training purposes. In which, I know I asked if I only needed to provide evidence for the earnings of wages for the employer that I earnt the most from. As I have previously requested a review I'm now stuck with doing a manual review, after I gather my evidence I have to once again ring them to inform them I have the information they seek, to fax, mail or reline up at Centrelink, to get them to forward on my evidence as you can only submit once via the electronic system setup by Centlink.
The Centerlink staff I've spoken to including the debt recovery section have been great, I understand there under a crap load of pressure and it's only going to get worse, but I wish I had been told to cover my backside by doing all three employers. (At least I know if I owed or not, I need to state if I stuffed up I'm happy to repay). I hate the fact that I can't tell the government to shove it due to my previous credit issues. That alone is causing me undescrible anger. As I know I rang them or uploaded information often to inform them of my earnings throughout that period. I hate the fact that I have provide evidence from 4 years ago, I'm wondering what happened to the records they kept of me entering or informing them of my earnings during that period. I hate fact that I have to enter a payment plan for an unknown amount just to stop a credit default, how is that fair? I want to punch any liberal voter in the head, then laugh in the face of any liberal voter who are now in the same situation as me.