More than 5000 garnishee orders have been issued over the past three months, but some say money was taken from their bank account before they received an invoice.
More than 5000 people have had their bank accounts garnished to pay off hotel quarantine debts as Revenue NSW tries to recoup almost $40 million owed from the COVID border closure program.
A garnishee order is a debt-collecting tool authorising money to be taken from a person’s bank account. Revenue NSW can also legally garnish a person’s wages, seize property and put claims on land to recover overdue quarantine fees. However, these actions have not been taken.While there was no charge for staying in a NSW quarantine facility during the first months of the pandemic, a $3000 fee was introduced in July 2020.
A Revenue NSW spokesperson said the agency would only issue a garnishee order where a person has received at least three separate notices across a 90-day period and that bank accounts could not be reduced below a threshold .is aware of cases where bank accounts have been overdrawn by the order, or where the order was made with no prior successful contact of the person owing the debt, who was not provided an opportunity to pay the fee on time.
Chang next heard from the agency in an automated text message on the morning of September 18, while she was overseas, which outlined her hotel quarantine debt. The funds, plus a $13 bank garnishing fee, were taken from her account later that day.After pressing the issue with Revenue NSW, Chang was told she had been contacted multiple times to an incorrect email address and an old residential address, despite having current details with Service NSW.
Redding, who has lived in Sydney since 1999, says she did not receive any communication from Revenue NSW before she arrived home to a letter informing her she was at the final stage of the debt recovery process, with an additional $65 “debt recovery cost” added to her $3000 fee. Her account had already been garnished.
“Revenue NSW attempted to help all customers resolve their invoices via various channels including by phone, SMS, email or post,” they said.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel as Palestinian gunmen reported in southSenior Hamas commanders says 5,000 rockets launched from Gaza, while sirens sound across Israel
Read more »
Hamas launches major rocket strike against Israel as Palestinian gunmen reported in southHamas' military wing has fired 5000 rockets into Israel to launch a new assault, the armed group's leader Mohammed Deif says.
Read more »
Floating ‘turkeys’: Is Australia spending $50bn on dud ships?The Australian armada is sinking under a mountain of debt as it chases projects some argue aren’t fit for 21st century warfare.
Read more »
Floating ‘turkeys’: Is Australia spending $50bn on dud ships?The Australian armada is sinking under a mountain of debt as it chases projects some argue aren’t fit for 21st century warfare.
Read more »
Trent Dalton talks about his never-ending love story with Brisbane as he lines up Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, promotes new novel Lola In The MirrorThe journalist turned bestselling author says he owes a huge debt to his hometown for turning his and his family’s life around.
Read more »