Yes. It happens more than you'd think. A private loan that started with good intentions and stopped being repaid is a valid debt, and we treat it as one. You don't need a signed contract, though any evidence helps. Text messages, bank transfers, an email confirming the amount. We handle it professionally, so the debtor is dealing with us, not you.
Personal Debt Collection Services Australia
Owed money by an individual? Our debt recovery services cover personal debts across Australia and New Zealand, with no upfront cost and no fee unless we collect.
Can We Collect Your Personal Debt?
Yes. If someone owes you money, we'll chase it. You don't need to be a business, and the debt doesn't need to be large.
Personal debts get the same dedicated account manager, the same compliance framework, and the same no-recovery, no-fee model as our commercial work. A $1,500 loan to a former friend is treated with the same seriousness as a corporate invoice.
No membership. No monthly minimum. Nothing to pay upfront. Lodging takes two minutes through our online portal, and if we don't recover, you don't pay a cent.
If you're weighing up whether professional debt collectors will take a private matter seriously, that's your answer.
What Counts as a Personal Debt
If the money is owed to you as an individual, it's a personal debt. The usual suspects:
Private loans to friends, family or partners that stopped being repaid
Private sales gone quiet: a car on Marketplace, a caravan, tools, furniture
Sole-trader invoices left unpaid by a client (see also our small business debt collection service)
Board or rent owed informally, outside a formal lease
Money fronted for a shared expense that never came back
Short version: if you lent someone two grand and it's gone quiet, we can look at it.
We deliver stress-free, professional personal debt recovery nationwide, with debt collectors across Australia ready to act.
Need someone local? Our debt collectors in Melbourne and debt collectors in Sydney are ready to help.
Our Process
From Lodgement to Recovery in Four Steps
Lodge the debt
Load the details through our online portal in a few minutes. You get 24/7 visibility on every action from that point on
Final Demand
We issue a formal Final Demand letter to the debtor. Most people take a phone call from a family member lightly. A letter from a licensed agency, less so
Negotiation and payment plans
We contact the debtor, work out what's realistic, and structure a plan or a lump-sum settlement. All within the ACCC/ASIC contact rules
Legal review
If they won't engage, our in-house law firm E C Legal steps in for legal letters or litigation. You approve any escalation before it happens.
Every step is tracked in the portal, so you're never chasing us for updates. There's more on the broader debt recovery workflow if you want the detail.
Personal Debt Collection Australia
We help individuals recover money owed under private agreements, unpaid services, rental issues, personal loans and other non-business debts competitors may decline.
Private agreements
Unpaid invoices from sole traders
Services rendered but not paid
Rental arrears and bond-related tenancy debts
Personal loans and informal lending
If your matter actually involves a registered business rather than an individual, our small business debt collection or commercial debt collection services may be a better fit.
We usually require personal debts to be over $1,000 for commercial viability and value protection.
Is Personal Debt Collection Legal in Australia?
Yes, and it's tightly regulated. We work strictly within the ACCC/ASIC Debt Collection Guideline, which sets out what a collector can and can't do. Contact hours, frequency, tone, disclosure. No harassment, no threats, no theatre.
Our credentials:
Commercial Agent licences in every state that requires one
Australian Credit Licence
AFCA membership (for purchased debts)
ISO9001 certified
Dedicated trust account for client funds
Professional Indemnity and fidelity insurance
If you want the full picture, our legal and compliance page lays it out. Short version: the debtor gets contacted properly, and you get paid without any legal blowback landing on you.
What Does It Cost?
If the matter escalates to legal action through E C Legal, we discuss any costs with you before proceeding. Nothing happens without your sign-off.
How We Work With You
Many individuals struggle to collect personal debts due to lack of time, uncertainty or reluctance to pursue payment. We manage the full process so you can focus on your life or business.
A dedicated account manager
Full handling of strategy, communication and follow-up
Regular updates on your matter
Clear guidance and next steps
A no-recovery, no-charge structure
Seamless escalation to our legal escalation team when required
There are no joining fees, no administration fees and no upfront costs.
Smart platforms - Real results
From live progress tracking to intelligent debt analysis, our in-house platforms make collection transparent, data-driven and effortless.
Debt Terminator
Start now, pay only when recovery succeeds.
Powered by decades of industry experience and backed by E C Legal, the Debt Terminator analyses your debt details and provides a personalised recovery plan — including recommended actions, key contacts, and estimated costs.
Real-Time Recovery Dashboard
Track your recovery process with full transparency.
Our client portal gives you 24/7 access to live updates, progress metrics, and payment insights — empowering you to see exactly how your debts are being managed at every stage.
What we offer
Customer-First Approach
You’ll work with a real person, not a portal. Our team treats your debts like their own.
Real-Time Cloud Tracking
Monitor progress 24/7 from your dashboard — no chasing, no waiting.
Expert Recovery Team
Our in-house specialists are trained to act fast, negotiate smart, and collect more.
Recover Corporate Debts with Confidence
We deliver structured, scalable and compliant recovery solutions for large organisations. Upload your files, track progress in real time and only pay when we recover.
Frequently asked questions
Nothing. No collection, no fee. There's no upfront charge, no membership, no monthly minimum. If we don't get the money back, you don't pay us. That's the whole point of lodging with us instead of chasing it yourself.
Often, yes. We take single smaller debts that many agencies won't touch, because they don't have the upfront-fee model to justify it. A Final Demand letter from a licensed agency shifts the dynamic quickly. Debtors who ignore personal texts frequently pay when a formal process starts.
Generally six years from when the debt became due, though it varies by state and by the type of debt. Acknowledgement or part-payment can reset the clock. Don't sit on it. More on the [time limits for debt collection](https://www.ecollect.com.au/blog/is-there-a-time-limit-for-debt-collection-in-australia) in Australia.
We follow the ACCC/ASIC guideline on hardship. That usually means a realistic payment plan, not pressure. Something back is better than nothing, and a structured plan is often the fastest way to recover in full.
Yes. We operate across all Australian states and New Zealand, with licences and processes to match each jurisdiction.
Trusted in Australia, New Zealand & Beyond
Melbourne
03 8611 2600
Level 9, 461 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Sydney
02 9191 9699
Level 6, 115 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000
Brisbane
07 3123 4031
Level 38/71 Eagle Street Brisbane QLD 4000
Auckland
+64 9 951 8000
27E/16 Gore Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010
UK - eRecoveries
erecoveries.co.uk
Our eRecoveries service based in UK applying high-end technology to cover the full receivables management process for you
Your Partners in Recovery
eCollect
Our core debt recovery and collection service, operating across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland.
E C Legal
Specialist legal support for debt and credit matters, based in Australia.
eclegal.com.aueReceivables
Designed for Australian receivables management and credit operations, uniting intelligent software with real operational expertise.
ereceivables.com.aueRecoveries
Expanding our debt recovery expertise across the United Kingdom market, supported by advanced systems, industry trained specialists and a proven no-recovery, no-charge model.
erecoveries.co.uk