If you’re behind on your bills, one of the Debt Collectors Australia may be contacting you soon. Collectors can be intimidating, but it’s important to know your rights and what to expect from them.
What should I know about this?
Collectors are allowed to contact you by phone, mail, or text message. They can also contact your family, friends, and employer to try to get your attention, but only to find out where you are and how to contact you. They’re not allowed to discuss your debt with anyone other than you.
If a debt collector does contact you, they must send you a written “validation notice” within five days that includes the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Once you receive this notice, you have 30 days to dispute the debt if it’s incorrect or if you don’t think you owe it.
We hope this information has been useful to you.
