I have a centerline debt and don't receive any benefits and have been recieving phone calls from their debt agents and it has sent my anxiety sky high. I am scared as l don't like dealing with centrelink l don't work (illness) and have no money as lm supported by my partner l have to go into centrelink as l abit confused to this debt and the phone calls are making it worse and lm trying to get the courage to go in there without them judging me and help me try to understand or even help. Fully knowing that the centrelink here are not all that. I don't know what lm asking really has anyone else had the same issues and how did it work out
13 Replies
You would need to enter into a payment plan with them. If your not eligible for money from them, you would need to work on how to lay them back.
Due to a misunderstanding on my behalf I ended up with a Centrelink debt. I entered into a payment plan but I was recieving benefits at the time - money was very tight so they let me go on a plan where they took $20 a fortnight directly from my payment. Not sure how it works when you aren't recieving payments from them. Best just to bite the bullet and speak to them - I personally had a really good experience with the man I dealt with. He explained exactly how I had incurred the debt and helped me sort out a plan without making me feel like a 'benefit cheat' or judged
Did you receive payments in the past? That’s probably where the debt came from
You need to talk to Centrelink to work out how to pay it off
Now that it is with debt collectors you have to go through them and not Centrelink themselves.
1st thing you need to do is answer your phone to them.
You may be suffering anxiety but it will not get any better if you dont answer your phone.
It would have been better if you had delt with centrelink but debt agencies are willing to work with you as all they want is you to pay back the debt.
You need to sort out a payment plan with them and the sooner the better.
Answer the call, come up with a plan that is affordable and I guarantee your anxiety will subside. No point going into Centrelink, it is with the debt agency now. You aren’t alone, you have a partner, you can get through this. You were obviously getting money you weren’t entitled to, for whatever reason and now need to pay it back. Don’t ignore it, face it head on or even get your partner to talk to them. The quicker you have a plan, the quicker this will be behind you, you can do this.
I just got a Centrelink debt myself. It was due to my mistake. I paid it and went into Centrelink and explained why it happened. The thing is if you ignore it, you could be done for fraud depending on what happened. You really do need to sort it out as soon as you can. For me, it worked out well. I had forgotten to update my custody with my ex and honestly didn't think I needed to as he wasn't on Centrelink anyway. They understood my side and just left it at that. Now the debt is gone and nothing more needs to be done and I don't need to be investigated.
They raised a $7000 debt from god knows where, three years after I was getting anything. I paid back at $50 a month and then gave my whole tax return to get rid of it. Give them a call directly or get a friend toon your behalf - sit with them to give verbal permission over the phone. It will be ok.
If you are really anxious about speaking with them go and see a Financial Counsellor at community organisation in your area and they will assist you to make contact and set up a reasonable amount to pay back.
Happened to me once. Centrelink sent me a letter to say I owed them over $1000. At the time, I was 21 with a new baby ad my husband earned about $270 a week (this is going back 27 years). Not surprisingly, I panicked. But the very next day I received another letter stating there was an error and I was in fact due that money from Centrelink.
So you see Centrelink have been making errors for many many years. Best bet is to go in there and talk to them about it. And as others have said, if you do owe them, then they can work out a payment plan for you but they can't take all you money. It has to be fair so you can still afford food and essentials.
Good luck x
If you have never received payments you couldn't have a debt! You could phone Centrelink instead of going in. Sounds like a scam, maybe??
If it's with the collection agent you need to contact them directly as once it goes to the collection agency Centrelink no longer deal with the debt therefore you need to contact the collection agency and arrange a payment plan. If it's not with the collection agency please don't feel you will be judged. A debt is everyday business for a Centrelink employee, attend the office and arrange a payment plan or contact the centrelink debt recovery team and arrange a payment plan with them. The longer you leave it the worse it will get they can add % on to the debt if you fail to comply
I have a debt. I had up and down hours also lost work for months living of savings. I then worked and earned “too” much in the 4 months before tax time as I was dead broke so took all the work I could get. Ended up with a few grand bill for FTB and childcare for the time I used it when I actually had work(but got too much in benefits at eofy but not at time of care)It’s bloody easy to get too many benefits because stable work is hard to get.! Do get in while it’s still with Centrelink though as I feel in the long run this is better for your financial rating.