By Stephanie Holliday
MOOROOPNA resident Rebecca was perplexed by an influx of letters arriving to her address of 20 years earlier this week, all from Centrelink, addressed to complete strangers.
Rebecca was sadly forced from her home when Mooroopna flooded last month, but adding further distress is the apparent registration of her address to strangers who have never met Rebecca, believed to be a part of an attempt to claim flood relief payments.
“I have received 14 letters so far, all names I’ve never even heard of,” explained Rebecca, displaying the thick stack of envelopes.
“I am not the only flood victim this has happened to, and have read it also happened to Lismore flood victims.”
Rebecca has done her best to rectify the situation but has been frustrated with the lack of real response or any sort of protocol to protect the addresses of those already facing a barrage of uphill battles after a natural disaster.
“I went into Centrelink, but was not met with the response I expected. I was told to just keep dropping them off as they arrive. I thought logically that surely, they can put a block on my address being registered to these people who certainly don’t live there but was told that is not possible.
“I couldn’t drop off or discuss the letters without identifying myself and being asked many questions, but strangers can just somehow register that they live at my address, no questions asked.”
Rebecca did have a more helpful suggestion from a Centrelink customer service phone operator who suggested she mark the letters as ‘return to sender’ and drop into a post box instead of attending the office every time she had letters to drop off.
“I’m just confused as to why there’s not a way to block people from doing this and safeguard people’s identity details. We now have so much to deal with post-flood, and this adds to the list.”
