Debt recovery in Australia A debt is a sum of money owed by a debtor
to a creditor which is legally enforceable. Debt recovery is the legal process and procedure
which a creditor can initiate to get back the money which is owed by the debtor.
What is and what is not a debt Strictly speaking, a debt arises in situations
where the legal liability on the debtor to pay or repay money is clear, and the debtor
has failed to meet his, her, or its obligation to pay the creditor.
Common situations where a debt may arise include: where one person loans money to another
on the condition that it is paid back and it is not repaid
when an account is rendered for goods and services and it is not paid by the due date
where money is due and owing under a tenancy
agreement. If the liability to pay is questionable, then
debt recovery may not be the appropriate procedure for the person who is seeking to be paid.
For example, a contract may specify that a sum is payable upon completion of a project.
However, the person who was to have paid queries whether the project has been completed to
the required level of skill and care. In this situation the legal issue may be whether there
is a breach of contract or negligence, and debt recovery proceedings may not be suitable.
We recommend you speak to a lawyer prior to commencing debt recovery proceedings on your
own so that you can get the right advice regarding whether this is the appropriate course of
action for your situation. Letters of demand
In every jurisdiction, creditors are expected to have issued a letter of demand to a debtor
prior to commencing proceedings in Court. A letter of demand must always:
be addressed to the debtor and specify that it is a letter of demand
detail the amount of the debt and under what circumstances the debt became due and
payable give a deadline for payment of the debt,
and advise the debtor that, unless payment
is made by the due date, the creditor will commence proceedings in the appropriate Court
or Tribunal. Where debt recovery proceedings are initiated
Once a letter of demand has been sent, if a debtor either ignores the letter or refuses
to pay, then the creditor may commence proceedings to recover the debt.
The appropriate Court or Tribunal for the commencement of proceedings will depend on:
where the debt arose (which state or territory) the amount of the debt, and
whether the debt is of a particular nature, such as a consumer-trader claim or a residential
tenancies claim. For example, the Queensland Civil and Administrative
Tribunal (QCAT) has jurisdiction to hear debt disputes for amounts under $25,000, provided
that the matter is related to certain kinds of disputes such as money lent and not repaid,
unpaid invoices, and IOUs. It also has jurisdiction to send to a hearing those disputes which
relate to a sum of money less than $3,000. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
(VCAT), on the other hand, has jurisdiction to hear disputes in relation to goods or services
where payment for the goods or services has not been made. It does not have jurisdiction
to hear general debt recovery matters like QCAT.
Each of the Courts in the individual states and territories has a different jurisdictional
limit, which you should check prior to initiating proceedings. The Supreme Court of Western
Australia, for example, hears civil matters where the amount in dispute is over $750,000,
whereas in South Australia either the District Court or the Supreme Court may hear civil
disputes of $100,000 or above. The procedure for debt recovery
The procedure for debt recovery depends on the Court or Tribunal in which the creditor
commences proceedings to recover the debt. We recommend you seek advice from a lawyer
prior to commencing your claim to ensure you follow the correct procedure.
Alternatives to litigation It is always recommended that a creditor endeavour
to resolve a debt recovery issue with a debtor through negotiation unless it is inappropriate
in the circumstances, such as where there has been a threat of violence or a debtor
cannot be located. Some states and territories have government
departments which offer dispute resolution services, such as the Victorian Small Business
Commissioner or the Department of Justice and Attorney General’s dispute resolution
branch in Queensland. What to do next
If you or someone you know is owed a debt you wish to recover, it is important to obtain
legal advice as soon as possible. Go To Court Lawyers operate a Legal Hotline
on 1300 636 846 where you can talk directly to a lawyer from 7am to midnight, 7 days a
week. Your call will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and without judgement.
The lawyer will assess your matter and recommend a course of action.
Should you need a Court lawyer, even at very short notice, the Legal Hotline staff will
be able to arrange one for you. You can also request a call back via the website gotocourt.com.au
and a lawyer will call you back to assess your matter.