The debt was when work for a company in hospitality. The job was working for 9 months of the year full time The first year I worked for the company they said that they would try to get me work during the 3 month period I was not prepared for no money or work for 3 months So I went to Centrelink and told them about this they gave me Newstart and now they want it back Have put in a complaint feedback and appeal and still have not had a response Have started paying back the debt while waiting for a response to feedback/complaint appeal It has caused great stress as I feel I am being treated as a dishonest thief Have been told that Centrelink is always right with their decisions so just pay the debt Newsflash they couldn't even except the payments and sent a demand notice You have 3 weeks to comply with a Centrelink request but when it comes to an appeal they can take as long as between 6-18 weeks and longer if they have a backlog I would say they have a backlog I would say the government sees the debt collection as successful as very few people are prepared to ague with the fear of being buried up to their neck in paper work without an explaination as to why and the longer the debt is not felt with the more it goes up Like a parking fine but grossly more upsetting
Upset at the way the government seems to think it is successful as a lot of people either do not have the skill to deal with the appeal complaints process or the time so they just pay the fine It doesn't end with Centrelink if you are issued with an amendment to your tax statement you then need to lodge an amendment to your tax return in the corresponding years