Hi, my name is Adam Stewart, Debt Collection Expert and owner of ADC Legal Litigation Lawyers.
I am giving you more debt collection tools this week. This time, I wanted to point out to you some really good websites I found that provide free information and some free templates that you might find useful if you are doing your own debt collection.
1. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Debt Collection Guidelines
First of all, it’s beneficial for you to know the guidelines on debt collection. Here in Australia, our government has a set of debt collection guidelines, put together jointly by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and ASIC. Website is here: https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/debt-collection-guideline-for-collectors-creditors
This guide is written to assist creditors, collectors and debtors understand their rights and obligations, and ensure that debt collection activity is undertaken in a way that is consistent with consumer protection laws. I strongly recommend you start here.
2. Victorian State Government’s Free Debt Collection Advice and Templates
The other website I stumbled across recently, which has amazing information and lots of free debt collection stuff is http://www.business.vic.gov.au/money-profit-and-accounting/getting-paid-on-time/debt-collection-guidelines-and-recovery.
This is put together by the Victorian State Government- well done to our public service debt collection professionals for getting this together. I am really impressed.
The site has practical advice on actual debt collection procedures, plus free templates for send reminder emails, final notice emails, follow up emails and letters of demand. It has info about the Personal Property Securities Register which we talked about last week. It also has links for where to go for dispute resolution. Awesome stuff.
3. Moneyhelp.org’s Free Tips on Debt Collection
Lastly, another website put out by Victoria State Government (I am really so impressed with you guys!) with more free advice and other free tools, is http://www.moneyhelp.org.au/tools-tips/debt-collection/.
This website is written for the debtor, explaining their rights and obligations when facing debt. But I think it’s good to credit managers to know what debtors have to deal with and what their rights are, so that you can learn to work with them to repay the debt.
ADC Legal Litigation Lawyers is a legal practice specialising in commercial advice and litigation, debt recovery and insurance claims recovery disputes. We are also providing free templates for you to use on your debt collection. For more details, email us at email@adclegal.com.au or call 1300 799 820. You may also Skype us at adclegal.