Centrepay complaints and feedback

Find out how you can make a complaint or give feedback about Centrepay.

You can give us your complaint or feedback about Centrepay at any time, and we’ll investigate it.

As part of this investigation, we may refer your complaint or feedback to any of these:

  • the business
  • the relevant regulatory body
  • a consumer help organisation.

You can also contact these parties if you want to.

How we help you

We’ll help you resolve concerns including where you think:

  • a business may have started or increased a deduction without your consent
  • a business has passed on fees or charges, for your use of Centrepay
  • you may have overpaid Centrepay deductions to a business.

Our complaint specialists will help to investigate any concerns about a business.

Using your Centrelink online account

Follow these steps through your Centrelink online account:

  1. Sign in to myGov and select Submit a complaint or provide feedback from the menu.
  2. Select the Service type General payments and services.
  3. Select the Service detail Centrepay deduction service.
  4. Tell us your feedback or complaint and select Submit.

Using the online form

You can use our online form. The steps are different depending on your situation. If you choose to stay anonymous you won’t get a receipt or any contact from us to follow up with you.

If you’re a customer, follow these steps:

  1. Open the online form and select Begin.
  2. Select Submit a Complaint, then Next.
  3. Read the information and select Continue.
  4. Select A customer, then Next.
  5. If you want to remain anonymous select Yes, or if you don’t want to remain anonymous select No. If you chose:
    • Yes, select Next then Continue.
    • No, select Next, enter your First name, Last name and CRN in the boxes then select Next, then Continue.
  6. For the Service type select General Payments and Services, and for the Service detail select Centrepay Deduction Service, then Next.
  7. Select Yes if you have told us about this complaint before or No if you haven’t told us, then select Next.
  8. To tell us about your complaint select A debt, deduction or collection then Next.
  9. For Complaint details select the best option from the dropdown list and for Feedback details enter the information in the box, then select Next, then Continue.
  10. For Outcome sought select the best option from the dropdown list, then for Outcome sought details select the best option from the dropdown list. Enter any further details in the box and then select Next, then Continue.
  11. At Review and submit you can now check the information you entered before you send it to us. Select the relevant Edit button for each section to make any changes. When you’re sure the information is correct, select Submit.

After you submit your complaint or feedback if you chose to stay anonymous you won’t get a receipt or be able to find out about progress. We won’t be able to contact you.

If you gave us your details you’ll:

  • get a Feedback ID
  • be able to view the status of your feedback
  • have your feedback stored on your customer record.

If you’re acting for someone else, follow these steps:

  1. Open the online form and select Begin.
  2. Select Submit a Complaint, then Next.
  3. Read the information and select Continue.
  4. Select A nominee/representative, then Next.
  5. Enter your First name and Last name in the boxes, then select Next.
  6. Enter the customer’s First name, Last name and CRN in the boxes, then select Next, then Continue.
  7. For the Service type select General Payments and Services, and for the Service detail select Centrepay Deduction Service, then Next.
  8. Select Yes if you have told us about this complaint before or No if you haven’t told us, then select Next.
  9. To tell us about your complaint select A debt, deduction or collection then Next.
  10. For Complaint details select the best option from the dropdown list and for Feedback details enter the information in the box, then select Next, then Continue.
  11. For Outcome sought select the best option from the dropdown list, then for Outcome sought details select the best option from the dropdown list. Enter any further details in the box and then select Next, then Continue.
  12. If you want us to contact you about your complaint select Yes or No. If Yes provide preferred phone contact and the time not suitable for contact. If you select No Services Australia will only contact if further information is required to address your feedback. After choosing your option and completing the fields select Next.
  13. At Review and submit you can now check the information you entered before you send it to us. Select the relevant Edit button for each section to make any changes. When you’re sure the information is correct, select Submit.

After you submit your complaint or feedback you’ll:

  • get a Feedback ID
  • be able to view the status of your feedback.

If you’re from a third party organisation, follow these steps:

  1. Open the online form and select Begin.
  2. Select Submit a Complaint, then Next.
  3. Read the information and select Continue.
  4. Select A third party organisation, then Next.
  5. Enter the Organisation name, First name and Last name in the boxes, then select Next.
  6. If you want to give us the customer’s details, enter their First name, Last name and CRN in the boxes, then select Next, then Continue.
  7. For the Service type select General Payments and Services, and for the Service detail select Centrepay Deduction Service, then Next.
  8. Select Yes if you have told us about this complaint before or No if you haven’t told us, then select Next.
  9. To tell us about your complaint select A debt, deduction or collection then Next.
  10. For Complaint details select the best option from the dropdown list and for Feedback details enter the information in the box, then select Next, then Continue.
  11. For Outcome sought select the best option from the dropdown list, then for Outcome sought details select the best option from the dropdown list. Enter any further details in the box and then select Next, then Continue.
  12. If you want us to contact you about your complaint select Yes or No. If Yes provide preferred phone contact and the time not suitable for contact. If you select No Services Australia will only contact if further information is required to address your feedback. After choosing your option and completing the fields select Next.
  13. At Review and submit you can now check the information you entered before you send it to us. Select the relevant Edit button for each section to make any changes. When you’re sure the information is correct, select Submit.

After you submit your complaint or feedback you’ll:

  • get a Feedback ID
  • be able to view the status of your feedback.

Using the phone or visiting us

You can make a complaint or give us feedback about Centrepay by:

What happens next

We aim to:

  • contact you within 2 working days where you’ve provided contact details
  • resolve the complaint or feedback within 10 working days where possible.

If we can’t resolve your complaint, we’ll explain why and let you know your other options.

We may take longer if:

  • we can’t contact you or a business
  • the concern is complex
  • we are waiting on extra details from you or the business.

If we need to contact you, it’ll be from a private number. For privacy reasons, we won’t leave a message, unless your voicemail clearly identifies who you are.

How to contact regulatory bodies

You can make a complaint about Centrepay to associated regulatory bodies like the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

How to contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman

If you’re not happy with the outcome of your Centrepay complaint, you can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Page last updated: 9 April 2025.
QC 74517