More than 11 million calls to Centrelink and Medicare were unanswered in the year to April, while wait times increased to almost an hour for some categories of support.

LPT: if anybody needs to but can’t get through to Centrelink, go into one of the services Australia branch. If they can’t fix your problem, they’ll connect you to an internal number which doesn’t just hang up on you.

It’s fucking disgraceful that they don’t even answer the phone anymore. Seriously one of the stupidest things they’ve rolled out. There’s no ifs or buts about it, it’s disgusting and needs to stop.

You can also try calling the complaints number and they can do the same thing as the branch people, but I’ve heard conflicting reports about this. It used to be how you had to get through, but I’ve heard recently that sometimes that number just hangs up on you too. But if they do answer, they’ll will usually just put you through to a non hanging up number, at least if it means you won’t make them do the paperwork to lodge a complaint.

Also, when you do get through, please try to remember that they’re just minimum wage people doing a shitty job. They don’t make the phones hang up on you, and they aren’t the reason your claims take months to process, or you were underpaid, or whatever’s gone wrong. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You can express your annoyance to them, but abusing or yelling at them doesn’t fix the problem, and won’t make them answer quicker.

If you really want somebody to yell at, write a letter or email to your local MP. Or the minister for social services. Or anyone else who’s penny pinching tactics caused this whole mess

Also remember you’ll get through this soon, even though it doesn’t feel like it in the moment

    • TinyBreak@aussie.zoneEnglish
      5·
      3 months ago

      What about those calling centerlink to sort of maternity leave because their employer screwed them out of job whilst pregnant? What about people who were stood down cause of the economy and needing support to get back on their feet? Also, and hear me out on this one, what about you not being a fuckhead?

      • Aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        If most cunts got jobs wait times would be less for actual use cases.

        You can’t tell me you don’t know of someone on the doll who’s capable of working but doesn’t

        • TinyBreak@aussie.zoneEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          You can’t tell me you don’t know of someone on the doll who’s capable of working but doesn’t

          Genuinely? No. I dont. I don’t know anyone on the doll at all. My own interactions with centerlink have been extremely limited but all legitimate and I get screwed like everyone else seems to.

          I’m not saying people don’t rort the system. I’m not saying that we shouldnt do something about those that do. I am saying people are falling through the gaps who have a genuine need and thats a real issue, but your focus seems to be more on those doing the wrong thing and ignoring those who need help!

          Hence, kindly, I suggest you get some perspective and stop making love to your own skull!

    • Baku@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      Wow! Why didn’t they think of that???

      You’re becoming a bit of a revolutionary here! Maybe you should figure out how to solve world hunger next…

    • trolololol@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      I hope you’re a bot, because otherwise one day you’ll need it and when you do I wish you a thousand delays just to pay with karma your shitty behavior