Debt collectors

I'll try and keep this as short as possible... I left a very violent man when our daughter was 9 weeks old. I was literally trapped in that relationship, I mean, he drilled the windows shut and locked the door every time he left the house (always for hours at a time). He controlled everything... money, when I spoke to my family, when I ate (there was never any food in the house, I'd have to tell him when I was hungry and wait for him to get something). He was explosively violent so I spend every day walking on eggshells trying not to set him off.

So first chance I got I ran to the closest shop and called the police. He got a $450 fine for what he did to me... the police only charged him for the incident that caused me to call them, they didn't care about anything else. but I did get an AVO stating that he wasn't allowed to contact or come near me or our daughter unless it was through family court (which never happened)

I escaped him nearly 3 years ago now and I'm doing really well... I work part time in sydney, renting a 2 bedroom apartment, I have enough to cover food and bills and have a little bit left for the extras like clothes and activities for my daughter.

My problem is that things keep coming up as a result from that "relationship"... there are 2 electricity and a gas bill totalling $1500, $370 for white good rentals and $300 for an internet provider. I didn't know the utilities were under my name, my ex told me he paid out the rental place (clearly he just took the money and spent it on something else) and I'm shocked to find that we had internet access.

I'm at the point now where I just want to pay them and let it go ... I don't want to run the risk of Trying to get him charged for defrauding me, him just getting a slap on the wrist and knowing where I am/what my daughter looks like.

I spent a great deal of time trying to be invisible so it was a long time before I was even aware these bills... origin energy would not work with me to enter a pay agreement I could afford, at the time I wasn't working. I spoke to a financial planner from salvos who said she would advocate for me but she never did. The 3 utility bills are now with the same collection company, they sent me a letter so I called them that day and entered an agreement with them of $60/fortnight but I've just checked my credit file and they have default listed me a month after I entered this agreement with them! The rental place and internet provider have also defaulted me.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Is there any way I can have these listings removed? I have $1000 saved up, is there anything I can say to these debt collectors to settle for a lower amount?