NSW Debt Collectors Chasing Me For Unpaid Invoices - Dispute This?

[jayb]

I am hoping someone may have the answer to my question as I can't seem to find any information. Is there a legal requirement regarding how many invoices for payment need to be received before the outstanding amount is sent to debt collectors? I received a final letter of demand for payment as the first invoice and now have received a notice from a debt collector. Contact with the provider has gone unanswered so I was unable to dispute the amount owing. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Tracy B]

Hi Jayb,

Is this for a bill? What service is it for? If you did not get a chance to respond to the bill before they referred to debt collectors, it is best to speak with an ombudsman and get the service provider to withdraw the debt from the debt collectors.

• Telephone/mobile/internet: contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman; see also their position statement on debt referrals: "collecting overdue charges" and "credit information and credit reports (after March 2014)"
• Energy and water: contact EWON
• Financial institution: contact Financial Ombudsman Services

 

[jayb]

Hi Tracy B

It was an invoice for swim school that we no longer attend. We replied to the collection agency saying that we dispute the amount but the creditor will not withdraw the debt. We have spoken to Fair Trading but they are unable to help us now that a debt collector is involved. The provider hasn't responded to our emails regarding the amount he believes we owe. I am not sure what else we can do.

Thanks

 

[WiserNow]

This may be of assistance to you regarding debt collectors. https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/managing-your-money/managing-debts/dealing-with-debt-collectors

I had one where I was disputing the amount; once I put this in writing to the debt collector they stopped calling me and I had time to take the matter up directly with the supplier.