---
title: What Can Debt Collectors do?
description: What debt collectors can and can't do in Australia
---

[Beyond Debt Blog ](https://www.beyonddebt.com.au/blog)

# [What Can Debt Collectors do?](https://www.beyonddebt.com.au/blog/what-can-debt-collectors-do)

 Written by [Ben Paris](https://www.beyonddebt.com.au/blog/author/ben-paris) | 2/09/21 1:28 AM

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.

[View full post](https://www.beyonddebt.com.au/blog/what-can-debt-collectors-do)

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