They can:
- Call to ask for payment
- Negotiate a repayment plan with you
- Negotiate a payout with you
- Revisit payment plans after some time (typically 3-6months)
- Tell you the consequences of not paying
- Repossess assets after a series of steps.
When can they call you?
- They can call you from 7.30am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 9pm on weekends
- They can only call you 3 times a week or 10 times a month.
Can they show up at my house?
- They can attend from 9am to 9pm but only if you haven't answered your phone or responded to email.
What should you do?
- Always be polite
- Answer your phone (the 10 contacts don't count if they don't talk to you)
- Don't agree to make a payment if you can't afford to. It's better not to break an agreement.
- Keep your contact details up to date.
- Write down every date and time you speak to the collector. Write down the name of the person on the phone and the company they work for. Write down a summary of what they said.
- Don't agree to pay a debt you don't believe it's yours
- Ask for a copy of the original contract that you signed
What do if you can't pay the debt?
- Be proactive
- Do a budget and work out what you can repay regularly.
- Contact the debt collector and offer to make this payment
- Explain you're in financial hardship, ask for interest to be frozen.
- If your sole source of income is welfare and you have no assets you can ask for the debt to be waived.
When to make a complaint.
- If the debt collector swears, insults, or demeans you?
- Demands that a friend or family member pay your debt.
- Says you will go to jail if you don't pay the debt
- Contact the ACCC or AFCA to make a complaint.
Did you see us on TV? - Click Here
