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Debt repayments not on the customer’s record 107-05150000



For Debt Staff only.

This document outlines locating debt repayments that are not showing on the customer's record.

On this page:

Locating payments not on the customer's record

Australia Post, direct debit, BPAY® or Money You Owe repayments

Withholding (WHS) repayments

Escalation

Locating payments not on the customer's record

Table 1

Step

Action

1

Check Debt List (OPDL) screen + Read more ...

Check the repayment History (OPRH) screen for the payment.

There can be more than one page of debts on the OPDL screen. Payments may split over multiple debts. Search all debts. For example a payment of $500 may have been split over multiple debts. $300 went to Debt A, $100 went to Debt B and $100 went to Debt C.

Does the customer have more than 1 debt on the OPDL screen?

2

Check all debts + Read more ...

Check the Repayment History (OPRH) screen for each debt, including finalised debts.

Was the payment located?

3

Payment details + Read more ...

Ask the customer for:

  • payment method (such as BPAY® or cash)
  • date of the payment
  • full amount paid
  • receipt number (if applicable)
  • biller and customer reference number used (if applicable)
  • cheque or money order number (if applicable) and the address it was sent to
  • EFT remittance details (if applicable)
  • the intended CRN/s for the payment

4

Processing time + Read more ...

Most payments take at least 3 working days to show on a customer's record. Cheques and money orders will take longer when posted. Allow at least 10 days.

Has enough time passed for the payment to display on the customer's record?

  • Yes, go to Step 5
  • No:
    • advise the customer not enough time has passed to allow receipt of the payment
    • tell the customer to check Money You Owe for their payment history
    • procedure ends here

5

Payment method + Read more ...

For:

  • Australia Post, direct debit, BPAY and Money You Owe payments, see Table 2
  • withholdings, see Table 3
  • EFT and mailed payments, see Table 4

Australia Post, direct debit, BPAY® or Money You Owe repayments

Table 2

Step

Action

1

Payment method + Read more ...

For payment method:

2

Australia Post + Read more ...

Does the customer have a receipt?

  • Yes, go to Step 3
  • No:
    • do not credit the payment. The customer must provide more information, for example, cashed cheque details, receipt number
    • advise the customer to call back once they have more information
    • record a DOC
    • procedure ends here

3

Receipt details + Read more ...

The receipt must show Services Australia – Centrelink. The receipt must have the same customer reference number as the Extra Details (OPXD) screen.

Does the receipt show Services Australia with the correct reference number?

  • Yes, see Table 4
  • No. For payment/s:
    • not made to Services Australia, go to Step 4
    • made with the wrong reference number, see Table 4

4

Customer to contact Australia Post office/outlet + Read more ...

If the customer paid someone else in error, the customer must correct the error.

The customer can contact the Australia Post office/outlet where they made the repayment and request they apply the payment to the agency or reverse it.

Record a DOC.

Procedure ends here.

5

Direct Debit + Read more ...

Confirm the deduction has occurred. Check the customer's bank statement. The statement will show a reference number for the deduction. This should match the reference number on the OPXD screen.

Did the payment deduct from the customer's account?

6

Check account details + Read more ...

Go to the Direct Debit (OPVD) screen. Check the account details and start date of the deduction.

Are the account details correct and has the deduction commenced?

7

BPAY + Read more ...

Does the customer have a BPAY receipt number?

  • Yes, go to Step 8
  • No:
    • advise the customer to call back once they have a receipt number.
    • record a DOC
    • procedure ends here

8

Check Biller Code used + Read more ...

Check the customer has used the correct Biller Code. See General Centrelink debt recovery information. If the customer used another biller code by mistake, the customer is responsible for correcting the error.

Has the customer used the correct Biller code?

  • Yes, see Table 4
  • No, the customer should:
    • contact the financial institution and have the payment reversed or directed to the agency
    • procedure ends here

9

Money You Owe + Read more ...

Credit and debit card payments made via Money You Owe can take up to 48 hours to:

  • adjust the debt balance, and
  • show on the customer's record

Did the customer make the payment more than 48 hours ago?

  • Yes, see Table 4
  • No:
    • allow more processing time
    • advise the customer to check Money You Owe for their payment history
    • record a DOC
    • procedure ends here

Withholding (WHS) repayments

Table 3

Step

Action

1

Check the Payment Summary (PS) screen + Read more ...

Go to the PS screen. Ensure the correct system is used to view the payments.

Select the payment relevant payment. Press [Enter].

On the Payment Details (PD) screen check for a WHS amount in the deduction column.

Does the PD screen show a WHS amount in the deduction column?

2

Income support or Reconciliation payment type + Read more ...

Check the payment type field on the Payment Details (PD) screen.

Is the payment type for reconciliation?

3

Check the Withholding Instruction (OPWH) screen + Read more ...

Go to the Payment Arrangement List (OPAL) screen. Check the start and end date of the WHS arrangements.

Did the WHS arrangement start before the date of the deduction?

4

Check the deductions hierarchy + Read more ...

WHS will only apply if there is enough money after:

  • payment penalty
  • immediate payment recovery, and
  • advance payments

See General Centrelink debt recovery information for the Deductions from payment hierarchy.

Are there enough funds remaining in the customer's payment for WHS to apply?

  • Yes, go to Step 5
  • No:
    • advise the customer there was not enough money left over for WHS to apply after other deductions
    • record a DOC
    • procedure ends here

5

Processing delay + Read more ...

WHS should apply to a debt on the same day a customer received their payment. Occasionally there may be a delay.

Have 3 business days passed since the delivery date on PS screen?

  • Yes, see Table 4
  • No:
    • advise the customer there is a delay in the payment applying to their debt. They can check Money You Owe for their payment history
    • record a DOC
    • procedure ends here

6

FAO offsetting WHS + Read more ...

Withholdings from Reconciliation payments will not display on the OPAL screen.

Locate the WHS destination:

  • go to the PD and check the financial year for the reconciliation payment
  • go to FRCS:
    • press [Enter] twice
    • key the relevant financial year in the Financial Year field
    • press [Enter]
  • check the Calculation Status field for a completed reconciliation
  • navigate to the FTB WHS for Debt Recovery (FWDC) screen by placing a 'W' in the available field next to the completed reconciliation line.

Any amount withheld will show under the current and other years debt withheld section. WHS did not apply to the reconciliation payment if no amounts display.

Did WHS apply to the reconciliation payment?

7

Locate the WHS Debt ID + Read more ...

Check the OPRH screen of each debt listed on FWDC. If the debt does not show on OPDL check Parked Debt List (OPDLP) screen.

Were the WHS located?

  • Yes:
    • advise the customer where the payment went
    • record a DOC
    • procedure ends here
  • No, see Table 4

Escalation

Table 4

Step

Action

1

Debt Staff or Quality Development Officers (QDO) + Read more ...

For:

2

Escalate to QDO + Read more ...

To refer to a QDO:

  • record a DOC, include payment details
  • refer to a QDO via email for follow up
  • check the customer's phone numbers are correct
  • advise the customer the enquiry has been referred for follow up

Procedure ends here.

3

Investigate + Read more ...

Check the record for the missing payment, using the details provided by the customer. This includes:

  • rechecking the customer's record for the payment
  • checking all CRN's the payment relates to. The payment may be receipted against one CRN instead of two or more.
  • checking the reference number used to make the payment matched the reference number on the Extra Details (OPXD) screen
  • requesting any receipts or additional information from the customer

Was the payment located?

4

Further intervention + Read more ...

Do not manually correct any payments. If the payments are not located or requires further intervention to correct, refer the enquiry to the appropriate area.

Does the payment require further intervention?

  • Yes, go to Step 5
  • No, respond to the Debt Staff member. Request they call the customer to advise the payment has been located. Procedure ends here

5

Specialist areas + Read more ...

If a payment cannot be located or requires action by a specialist team refer the enquiry to the relevant team. For:

6

MySupport + Read more ...

Lodge a mySupport request. Refer the following details to Debt Correspondence and Systems:

  • Customer Reference Number (CRN)
  • total amount withheld
  • payment type
  • delivery date
  • mySupport details

Record a DOC.

Procedure ends here.

7

Refer details to the Debt Administration and Bankruptcy Team + Read more ...

Refer the following details to the Debt Finance Team:

  • Customer Reference Number (CRN)
  • intended CRN's and debts ID's
  • payment method
  • total amount paid
  • date of payment and receipt numbers
  • any relevant payment codes and customer reference numbers
  • cheque details including date, number and account holder (if applicable)
  • EFT remittance details including date number and receipt number

Record a DOC.

Procedure ends here.