Someone owes you money. You are thinking about hiring a debt collector. Before you do, consider this: many debt collectors take a commission on whatever they recover, so part of the debt never reaches you.
Here is the secret debt collectors do not want you to know: most of what they do, you can do yourself for $49.
What debt collectors actually do
- Send a letter of demand (you can do this)
- Make phone calls (you can do this)
- Send a second letter (you can do this)
- File a tribunal application (you can do this)
That is it. There is no magic. They do not have special powers. They cannot seize assets or freeze bank accounts without a court order — and neither can they get that court order any faster than you can.
The DIY debt collection process
- Letter of Demand — formal letter citing the debt, giving 14 days to pay.
- Final Demand — if they ignore the first letter, send a final demand warning of tribunal/court action.
- Tribunal Application — file with QCAT/VCAT/NCAT. Cost: $72-$302. No lawyer needed.
- Enforce the order — if the tribunal orders them to pay and they still do not, apply for a garnishee order or enforcement warrant.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who owes you?
2. How much?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
The cost
Claim Done drafts the letter of demand for a flat $49, whatever the size of the debt. There is no commission.
Start collecting — $49
Claim Done drafts your Letter of Demand for $49 flat fee. No commission. No percentage. You keep everything you recover. Tell us who owes you and how much — we draft and send the letter in about 5 minutes.
What happens when you send a Letter of Demand
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Letter of Demand drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Letter of Demand from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read the draft and approve it before anything is sent; nothing goes out without your approval. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=letter-of-demand. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Letter of Demand cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. Email delivery is free; registered post is $29 extra. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Letter of Demand in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Letter of Demand; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.
What does Claim Done do that a free Letter of Demand template doesn't?
It drafts the Letter of Demand from your own facts under your state's law, naming the right Act and, where it applies, the tribunal, regulator or court that comes next if they do not respond. Nothing is sent until you approve it. Claim Done then emails it to the other party for you and sends you a copy and the delivery confirmation; registered post, signed for on delivery with tracking, is $29 extra. The key dates in the letter are listed on your dashboard.