Had been dealing with Centrelink by snail mail, to no avail.
Finally got the hang of the You.Gov online account, and got some action very smartly.
They (and other organisations) seem to assume that everyone has access to a computer and can use it.
Obviously, those posting to this site are computer literate, but what do you reckon is the proportion of the population that is not?
I'd guess it could be as high as 15-20 per cent (I stress that's a guess, but based on people in my street, some relatives, friends etc). Obviously they would mainly be the older generation.
Comments welcome.
Cheers, Tony
Mobi Condo said
08:04 AM Jan 27, 2017
G'day Tony,
WOW! How you have hit the nail on the head in my book!
I have worked with computers since 1987, 1st Macs, then in CAD stuff - Windows and M.S.
HOWEVER with never ending changes by the hardware and software builders, developers and retailers etc., I have had a gut full and of course now being retired can NOT easily obtain NOR afford the updates.
Being old enough (read also gullible enough) to have believed that all changes would be "Backwards compatible" I am at the stage of dumping "Technology" and asking as permitted to, for ALL communications to be in writing and with the C.O.T.A. (Council of the Aging) advice telling all Govt Depts. Agencies & the like that they CAN NOT charge me for a paper / hard copy what ever instead of using electronic means.
I have in fact sent a dot point list of problems along these lines to C.O.T.A. and will do so again when need be. BUT as for any other agency they are severely hamstrung buy lack of funds!
I feel sure that this matter will have to be seriously considered by ruling what-evers due to the seemingly endless need to upgrade, update etc. Even Govt bodies and agencies can not easily be accessed now unless one uses Windows 7 or 10 to begin with and this causes us to have to purchase a new what ever and then try to read the tiny fonts of Govt electronic forms and so on!
I for one do not just sit all day gazing at a screen of what ever size and format just to live life.
Here endeth my lesson / rant / gripe
brickies said
08:44 AM Jan 27, 2017
I use MYGOV and find it great , But for non computer people I think waiting on the phone to talk to someone is better than waiting in a line at Centrelink , That is if you are on a landline not a mobile but if you are on a a mobile you would have acces to Mygov.
msg said
10:31 AM Jan 27, 2017
Ah don't feel bad people. My young computer savvy niece was complaining about medicare the other day because they no longer send out cheques and you have to go to my gov and register to have refunds put into a bank account. She couldn't get it to work either. It took me quite a while to figure it out too.
I have concerns about all this govt. forcing you to use my gov. Big brother.
Possum3 said
11:23 AM Jan 27, 2017
As Mobi Condo mentioned above; MyGov, Medibank, ABS, My Services, etc Websites cannot communicate with other than Windows 7 or 10 and not every one has an iPhone that has features to communicate with their systems.
Add this to the problem of having a Celtic name that has an apostrophe (such as O'XXXXXXX) or has Mc prefix), most Government sites either confuse or will not recognise. This is extended into the use of Celtic surnames in issuing Passports.
After not being able to transact business on NSW Services website I attended a local office where I was advised by a recent arrival to Australia, working at NSW Services that I was wrong about how my name is spelt - Her supervisor (wearing a turban) accused me of having a fraudulent identity because differing organisations utilised different systems and my records on Drivers Licence, Medicare, Firearms Register, Passport all differed i.e. O'Nxxxx, O'nxxxxx, ONXXXX - They withheld (confiscated) firearms licence, drivers licence, pension card and only gave me a piece of handwritten paper with a registry stamp after I demanded to have some proof of their withholding my documents.
For over seventy years I have always written O'Nxxxx - as written on my Birth Certificate, when filling out any document.
I am considering changing my name to Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan - just so I can get service from Government Departments.
hako said
11:37 AM Jan 27, 2017
I'm not sure that hardware and software changes make computing expensive - Joy and I both have 7 year old Toshiba Satellites running Windows 7 and we have not had to upgrade or change anything in those 7 years. Only had to replace batteries once. When we bought them they were the cheapest available under $500 so for the 7 years it has cost us each about $1.50 each a week for hard/software.
We are both on MYGOV and get no paper bills at all and we reckon it's great. We have GMAIL accounts so all bills are kept for reference on the GMAIL accounts for ever and for free - same with all banking. If your memory is bad and you worry about forgetting passwords just get a free copy of LastPass or similar and then just remember one password.
Good Luck.
jules47 said
11:46 AM Jan 27, 2017
Possum - I have a very simple name - and they still can't get it right. Can't spell my first name - how hard is it - Julie!
I am fairly good on the computer, and am having great difficulty getting onto MyGov - I think I am going to have to go to Centrelink and get it sorted. As a traveller, not always being anywhere near a CLink office, I at first thought MyGov would be a great asset, but no- another government nightmare!
Santa said
11:51 AM Jan 27, 2017
MYGOV certainly works well for us.
The Belmont Bear said
12:33 PM Jan 27, 2017
I don't run windows I run Mac OS Sierra 10:12:2 and I haven't experienced problems with government websites (so far) other than sometimes getting a message that either my Safari browser or Adobe Reader is not the latest version. You are right Ali El-Aziz if you are saying that some of the sites only communicate with Windows then no doubt you will experience problems using an iPhone. I have recently renewed our passports and driving licenses, paid registration, set up an epass for road tolls etc. through the government sites which was a convenient way of doing it. Even though it suits me to do it this way I don't believe that people should be pressured into having to use a computer, you should always have another option.
Recoup said
01:04 PM Jan 27, 2017
Well my email is not working for the last 3 days , The Big Pond POP server mail.bigpond.com rejected the password , tried new password ,spend half a day fiddeling around with no result. New bills are comming in and no email. I wish I was still on snail mail. Cheers
Possum3 said
01:16 PM Jan 27, 2017
I'm with you on that as well Jules47 - my first name Collin (Irish spelling), no matter how many times I correct them they insist I'm wrong and spell it Colin (English).
Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan.
Clare46 said
02:56 PM Jan 27, 2017
I've been on MyGov since it first became available and never have any trouble. Much easier to make updates to Centrelink on line instead of hanging on the phone or lining up in person
-- Edited by Clare46 on Friday 27th of January 2017 02:57:10 PM
Santa said
03:02 PM Jan 27, 2017
Clare46 wrote:
I've been on MyGov since it first became available and never have any trouble. Much easier to make updates to Centrelink on line instead of hanging on the phone or lining up in person
-- Edited by Clare46 on Friday 27th of January 2017 02:57:10 PM
Certainly is Clare.
aussie_paul said
03:29 PM Jan 27, 2017
This thread has reminded me to set up my myGov account.
Aussie Paul.
rockylizard said
03:49 PM Jan 27, 2017
Gday...
I'm with Clare and Santa ... been using MyGov from the outset. Never a problem.
I use Centrelink, ATO, eHealth, Medicare and JobSearch regularly.
I have found it the best thing they have introduced. I only have to front to the office when they get a little behind in processing my uploaded documents.
And since the 'debt recovery' and 'revised pensioner asset test' were introduced from 01 Jan 2017 they are a bit slow in processing the uploaded documents ... but then again, they have had to take staff off many areas to field enquiries/complaints etc.
I use WIN7 on a seven-year old Toshiba laptop.
Cheers -
Phil C said
05:20 PM Jan 29, 2017
Santa wrote:
MYGOV certainly works well for us.
Im a bit like santa, I have centrelink, DVA, medibank, Tax on my gov.. Its a little difficult to navigate at first but its way better than waiting on the phone or on a line to be told to get on the phone (now thats annoying).
Phil C said
05:25 PM Jan 29, 2017
aussie_paul wrote:
This thread has reminded me to set up my myGov account.
Aussie Paul.
Yeah Paul, unfortunately its the way of the future. ALSO a half decent app for smartphones called express plus that lets me declare income, download rental forms (via camera) and make claims. Works well if you have the patience to sit and fiddle.
I have a mate who works at centrelink, the govt dont want this organisation or any other welfare/pension organisation to exist past 2020 (thats CPSU speak). So I guess we all have to take on a modicum of PC savy.
Cheers
Baz421 said
05:27 PM Jan 29, 2017
Recoup wrote:
Well my email is not working for the last 3 days , The Big Pond POP server mail.bigpond.com rejected the password , tried new password ,spend half a day fiddeling around with no result. New bills are comming in and no email. I wish I was still on snail mail. Cheers
Make sure they haven't migrated you (compulsorily) to webmail. See ink below.
It tried to get out of it but they wouldn't have a bar of it. We'll all be on webmail eventually with bigpond servers being closed down.
Well my email is not working for the last 3 days , The Big Pond POP server mail.bigpond.com rejected the password , tried new password ,spend half a day fiddeling around with no result. New bills are comming in and no email. I wish I was still on snail mail. Cheers
Make sure they haven't migrated you (compulsorily) to webmail. See ink below.
It tried to get out of it but they wouldn't have a bar of it. We'll all be on webmail eventually with bigpond servers being closed down.
Baz, that opens my Telstra account which I have been using for several years.
Aussie Paul.
Baz421 said
05:41 PM Jan 29, 2017
aussie_paul wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
Recoup wrote:
Well my email is not working for the last 3 days , The Big Pond POP server mail.bigpond.com rejected the password , tried new password ,spend half a day fiddeling around with no result. New bills are comming in and no email. I wish I was still on snail mail. Cheers
Make sure they haven't migrated you (compulsorily) to webmail. See ink below.
It tried to get out of it but they wouldn't have a bar of it. We'll all be on webmail eventually with bigpond servers being closed down.
Baz, that opens my Telstra account which I have been using for several years.
Aussie Paul.
Yes it's the link to webmail, where bigpond emails are now located
Santa said
06:35 PM Jan 29, 2017
Baz421 wrote:
Recoup wrote:
Well my email is not working for the last 3 days , The Big Pond POP server mail.bigpond.com rejected the password , tried new password ,spend half a day fiddeling around with no result. New bills are comming in and no email. I wish I was still on snail mail. Cheers
Make sure they haven't migrated you (compulsorily) to webmail. See ink below.
It tried to get out of it but they wouldn't have a bar of it. We'll all be on webmail eventually with bigpond servers being closed down.
Baz all Big pond customers are able to access their email and user account details through Webmail.
We can also login to Webmail (through our browser) whilst overseas and access our email account.
Webmail is not the email service its the portal to the service.
"Webmail is our online email portal that provides you access to your Telstra email, calendar and contacts that are linked to your email account. You can view Webmail in most internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox."
Well my email is not working for the last 3 days , The Big Pond POP server mail.bigpond.com rejected the password , tried new password ,spend half a day fiddeling around with no result. New bills are comming in and no email. I wish I was still on snail mail. Cheers
Make sure they haven't migrated you (compulsorily) to webmail. See ink below.
It tried to get out of it but they wouldn't have a bar of it. We'll all be on webmail eventually with bigpond servers being closed down.
Baz all Big pond customers are able to access their email and user account details through Webmail.
We can also login to Webmail (through our browser) whilst overseas and access our email account.
Webmail is not the email service its the portal to the service.
"Webmail is our online email portal that provides you access to your Telstra email, calendar and contacts that are linked to your email account. You can view Webmail in most internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox."
Had been dealing with Centrelink by snail mail, to no avail.
Finally got the hang of the You.Gov online account, and got some action very smartly.
They (and other organisations) seem to assume that everyone has access to a computer and can use it.
Obviously, those posting to this site are computer literate, but what do you reckon is the proportion of the population that is not?
I'd guess it could be as high as 15-20 per cent (I stress that's a guess, but based on people in my street, some relatives, friends etc). Obviously they would mainly be the older generation.
Comments welcome.
Cheers, Tony
WOW! How you have hit the nail on the head in my book!
I have worked with computers since 1987, 1st Macs, then in CAD stuff - Windows and M.S.
HOWEVER with never ending changes by the hardware and software builders, developers and retailers etc., I have had a gut full and of course now being retired can NOT easily obtain NOR afford the updates.
Being old enough (read also gullible enough) to have believed that all changes would be "Backwards compatible" I am at the stage of dumping "Technology" and asking as permitted to, for ALL communications to be in writing and with the C.O.T.A. (Council of the Aging) advice telling all Govt Depts. Agencies & the like that they CAN NOT charge me for a paper / hard copy what ever instead of using electronic means.
I have in fact sent a dot point list of problems along these lines to C.O.T.A. and will do so again when need be. BUT as for any other agency they are severely hamstrung buy lack of funds!
I feel sure that this matter will have to be seriously considered by ruling what-evers due to the seemingly endless need to upgrade, update etc. Even Govt bodies and agencies can not easily be accessed now unless one uses Windows 7 or 10 to begin with and this causes us to have to purchase a new what ever and then try to read the tiny fonts of Govt electronic forms and so on!
I for one do not just sit all day gazing at a screen of what ever size and format just to live life.
Here endeth my lesson / rant / gripe
I have concerns about all this govt. forcing you to use my gov. Big brother.
Add this to the problem of having a Celtic name that has an apostrophe (such as O'XXXXXXX) or has Mc prefix), most Government sites either confuse or will not recognise. This is extended into the use of Celtic surnames in issuing Passports.
After not being able to transact business on NSW Services website I attended a local office where I was advised by a recent arrival to Australia, working at NSW Services that I was wrong about how my name is spelt - Her supervisor (wearing a turban) accused me of having a fraudulent identity because differing organisations utilised different systems and my records on Drivers Licence, Medicare, Firearms Register, Passport all differed i.e. O'Nxxxx, O'nxxxxx, ONXXXX - They withheld (confiscated) firearms licence, drivers licence, pension card and only gave me a piece of handwritten paper with a registry stamp after I demanded to have some proof of their withholding my documents.
For over seventy years I have always written O'Nxxxx - as written on my Birth Certificate, when filling out any document.
I am considering changing my name to Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan - just so I can get service from Government Departments.
We are both on MYGOV and get no paper bills at all and we reckon it's great. We have GMAIL accounts so all bills are kept for reference on the GMAIL accounts for ever and for free - same with all banking. If your memory is bad and you worry about forgetting passwords just get a free copy of LastPass or similar and then just remember one password.
Good Luck.
I am fairly good on the computer, and am having great difficulty getting onto MyGov - I think I am going to have to go to Centrelink and get it sorted. As a traveller, not always being anywhere near a CLink office, I at first thought MyGov would be a great asset, but no- another government nightmare!
MYGOV certainly works well for us.
Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan.
I've been on MyGov since it first became available and never have any trouble. Much easier to make updates to Centrelink on line instead of hanging on the phone or lining up in person
-- Edited by Clare46 on Friday 27th of January 2017 02:57:10 PM
Certainly is Clare.
This thread has reminded me to set up my myGov account.
Aussie Paul.
Gday...
I'm with Clare and Santa ... been using MyGov from the outset. Never a problem.
I use Centrelink, ATO, eHealth, Medicare and JobSearch regularly.
I have found it the best thing they have introduced. I only have to front to the office when they get a little behind in processing my uploaded documents.
And since the 'debt recovery' and 'revised pensioner asset test' were introduced from 01 Jan 2017 they are a bit slow in processing the uploaded documents ... but then again, they have had to take staff off many areas to field enquiries/complaints etc.
I use WIN7 on a seven-year old Toshiba laptop.
Cheers -
Im a bit like santa, I have centrelink, DVA, medibank, Tax on my gov.. Its a little difficult to navigate at first but its way better than waiting on the phone or on a line to be told to get on the phone (now thats annoying).
Yeah Paul, unfortunately its the way of the future. ALSO a half decent app for smartphones called express plus that lets me declare income, download rental forms (via camera) and make claims. Works well if you have the patience to sit and fiddle.
I have a mate who works at centrelink, the govt dont want this organisation or any other welfare/pension organisation to exist past 2020 (thats CPSU speak). So I guess we all have to take on a modicum of PC savy.
Cheers
Make sure they haven't migrated you (compulsorily) to webmail. See ink below.
It tried to get out of it but they wouldn't have a bar of it. We'll all be on webmail eventually with bigpond servers being closed down.
https://www.my.telstra.com.au/myaccount/home
see if that will let you in.
Cheers Baz
Baz, that opens my Telstra account which I have been using for several years.
Aussie Paul.
Yes it's the link to webmail, where bigpond emails are now located
Baz all Big pond customers are able to access their email and user account details through Webmail.
We can also login to Webmail (through our browser) whilst overseas and access our email account.
Webmail is not the email service its the portal to the service.
"Webmail is our online email portal that provides you access to your Telstra email, calendar and contacts that are linked to your email account. You can view Webmail in most internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox."
https://www.telstra.com.au/support/category/email/manage/how-to-use-webmail
Thanks Santa I realise that was keeping it simple to show another way to see it gets his mail to him