Thread: How you too can waste time

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

I have been on the phone with Centrelink about health care card, that I renewal in Jan. Went toCentrelink on the 4th Jan so they could up load paper work to my file. And the girl said that she put a urgent on it, as I have bills coming up end Feb. . Rang at 12.12 and they picked up at 12.49pm and he transfer at 1pm and the department answered at 2.50pm. The paper work is there and there isn't any note saying urgent, this was the same Centrelink up the road that stuffed up Brendon's payment when is was overseas studying at uni. So just under 3hrs of my time wasted. I really don't like them with a passion. Sorry for the rant, Heather

I'm with you Heather, and they don't seem to care or have been brow beaten into submission - nearly 5 months since our pension application was lodged and still waiting. I won't list the previous time losses for various issues over the last 5 years - not enough paper to print them.

Nothing to be sorry for Heather, let it out.
No one can hold a candle to government departments, in the inefficiency and misinformation stakes.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Nothing to be sorry for Heather, let it out.
No one can hold a candle to government departments, in the inefficiency and misinformation stakes.

I can see why people get so mad with them over the phone or at Centrelink offices. I wouldn't work for them for all the money in the world.
My eldest son told me that they are always cutting staff back. And you double check all the paper work and it still takes a lot of time to get any where.
I remember long time ago I had to ring them for something about my son, I was talking and getting no where, and Mario was standing near me and he was trying to put his 2 cent in quite loudly and I was telling him to stop and the next thing that happened, they hung up. So I had to call them back and wait another hour before they answered their phone.

It is getting worse and worse,yet no one really gives two hoots.
Something a bit different but similar.
One of the boys last week spent an hour and ten minutes getting the paperwork sorted with site to solder two small 1/4" pipes together in the main kitchen on a Qld Health site.

Sure is rediculous.

I forget what it was I contacted them about but after going through all sorts of garbage I got the message telling me to say "In Australia my voice identifies me"! What sort of up himself egg headed nerd thought that one up? What's up with all the other ways of identifying who you are like Medicare number, driving license etc?
It's not as if I'm an unknown new arrival on a boat as I/we have been pensioners for some 15 years now.
Bloody idiots.
AlanH.

PS. It's actually 'Centrelink' not as spelt otherwise by some people.....

I gave up trying to deal with them directly after spending hours over three days trying to speak with them directly or sitting on the phone for two hours only for the call to be dropped or having finally been answered only to be told I had come through to the wrong area and then been giving incorrect information which resulted in me submitting an application which took6 months for them to tell me I don’t qualify.

I ultimately went through an agent. They filled in all the paperwork and submitted within a couple of days and followed up!

an interesting link...

Centrelink customers reveal months of frustrating call hang ups—are you one of them? | Seniors Discount Club

Been thinking about whether to post this... Some years ago now I was on a Carer's pension and allowance, both for my dying wife and later my totally bedridden mum until she too died. The people who operate the phones on that particular line were always brilliant, and went out of their way ( I know, right?? ). Mum died in April, 2021. The world was nuts back then. I had some issues transitioning to the Aged pension, and thoughtlessly rang the same number. I got the same treatment; hardly any wait time, and friendly, helpfull and knowledgeable staff. They didn't hesitate or tell me to call the correct number, they just helped.

I'm not sure if these people work in different sections or if it's call centres with certain numbers getting priority. I'm not sure if I got this treatment because I had been a carer for four years. I don't know if it is still the same, as the Aged pension is like clockwork and I have no eligibility to prove and thus no need to call. I guess I'll find out when I get work and go past the income threshold.

I nearly didn't post this, as I don't want to break the system......

Edit: It occurs to me that Heather may have been on the Carer's pension also. Give it a try.