Debt collectors started hounding Ivana Clonaridis' family only a month after the teen died in a horrific accident. From left to right - Ivana Clonaridis, her mother Mary Doungas and sister Cassandra Cachia. Police allege the car was travelling at speeds of up to 160km/h when it careened off the EJ Whitten Bridge on the Western Ring Road at Keilor East. It flew 100 metres through the air before bursting into flames, killing both the P-platers. Ms Cachia, who was 23 at the time, and her mother, Mary Doungas, a single parent, were left to deal with the aftermath. "My mum was just destroyed," says Ms Cachia. "I was quite sick. I wasn't eating... so the ambulance had to come." Yet, barely a month after Ivana's death, on March 1, Ms Doungas received a letter from Centrelink demanding the family pay back $230.50 her daughter owed them.

Debt collectors started hounding Ivana Clonaridis' family only a month after the teen died in a horrific accident. From left to right: Sister, Cassandra Cachia, brother-in-law Jake Cachia and mother Mary Doungas. They were given one month. In the end, after a call, Centrelink didn't pursue the matter, but, says Ms Cachia, the damage was already done. "It makes the whole thing harder," she says. "You don't really want to be thinking about that stuff. To even make sense of that is virtually impossible when you are thinking about what happened."

Ms Cachia's husband, Jake, says Centrelink was, in retrospect, much kinder than the bank. Just two weeks before her death, Ms Clonaridis had bought a second-hand car, a 2011 black Ford Falcon XR6. She had borrowed $23,000 through Macquarie Bank. After her sister's death, Ms Cachia decided to keep the car. For sentimental reasons. She called the bank immediately, she says, to tell them they would make a full payment - as soon as the superannuation death insurance funds were paid. They were given a May deadline, but, she says , matters dragged and the bank got impatient.

Ms Cachia says the bank's representatives started calling daily, sent numerous text messages, emails, and even door knocked despite being told about the delay in the settlement of the estate. The family decided to return the car. Ms Cachia says they received a letter from the bank saying the car would be sold at auction, and they would be pursued for any outstanding money. Human Services Department general manager Hank Jongen says Centrelink is required to contact the executor of a deceased person's estate to recover outstanding taxpayer funds of more than $200 when the estate is settled. But, he says, the money is not intended to be paid by the surviving family members. Or to add to their distress.

"We contact the executor to determine whether the estate has sufficient funds to repay outstanding debts and, if no funds exist, we have grounds to write off the debt. If this has caused distress in this case, we apologise." A Macquarie spokeswoman says they are unable to discuss individual customer matters without the written permission of the Clonaridis family. She says the matter is still ongoing, but their dealings with the family since Ms Clonaridis' tragic death had been reasonable and in accordance with the customer contact provisions within the consumer credit protection laws. Maurice Blackburn lawyers senior associate Danielle Leo, who is representing the family, says both Centrelink and Macquarie Bank have been "inconsiderate" in approaching the family so soon after the death. "...those grieving the tragic loss of someone should be afforded time, patience and above all else be treated with compassion by those seeking to recover money they are owed."

She says matters become "incredibly complex" without a will, and can take time to investigate and resolve. "Ivana did not borrow above her means, or simply refuse to repay the loan," Ms Leo says. "She was killed unexpectedly in an horrific car crash, which is a big difference and should be taken into consideration by those who are compounding the family's unfathomable grief."