Aussie blasts infuriating Centrelink issue that's leaving customers emotional: 'It's a joke'
Former Big Brother star Estelle Landy said she visited a Births, Deaths and Marriages agent to get help with obtaining her mother's death certificate.
Ms Landy, who has previously worked for Centrelink for 13 years, claimed she witnessed several frustrating exchanges between workers and customers.
'I watched agents systematically not help people in the job they're supposed to do by sending them online and not taking their documentation,' she claimed on TikTok.
Ms Landy couldn't understand why customer service agents were sending people home to fill out their forms online, when the same people would need to return in person with their documentation.
She said she felt forced to step in when she watched one man become upset after an agent refused to help.
'I could see how upset he was so I stepped in and said, '"Hang on, you can do that on his behalf,"' she said.
Ms Landy explained she knew as a former Centrelink employee that agents have the ability to help customers with the online process.
The agent conceded she could help the customer fill out the forms online for him before submitting the necessary documentation.
'Why not do it? You're sending him home to then come in again,' Ms Landy fumed.
'It's a joke that people don't want to help others especially when it's their job.'
Ms Landy claimed the exchanges she observed were 'not uncommon' and that she frequently saw them at government agencies and Centrelink.
Social media users shared their frustration, revealing they also had terrible experiences.
'Centrelink is the worst- they make you feel like a criminal for asking questions. I swear it's untenable so people just give up,' one wrote.
'I was in Centrelink a few months back, waiting for ages just to finally get called up and I see a bunch of them just standing around talking/laughing with each other,' another claimed.
'Like dude, people are sitting here for hours waiting but they either send them home to call up or just have to suffer sitting around all day. It sucks.'
A third added: 'Years ago when I was on Centrelink, I went in and they told me to call them. I was like, this is why I'm here, because I can't get through.'
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