Debt Recovery

A debt is a sum of money owed by a debtor to a creditor which is legally enforceable. Debt recovery is the legal process and procedure which a creditor can initiate to get back the money which is owed by the debtor.

What is and what is not a debt

Strictly speaking, a debt arises in situations where the legal liability on the debtor to pay or repay the money is clear, and the debtor has failed to meet his, her, or its obligation to pay the creditor. Common situations where a debt may arise include: • where one person loans money to another on the condition that it is paid back and it is not repaid • when an account is rendered for goods and services and it is not paid by the due date • where the money is due and owing under a tenancy agreement. If the liability to pay is questionable, then debt recovery may not be the appropriate procedure for the person who is seeking to be paid. For example, a contract may specify that a sum is payable upon completion of a project. However, the person who was to have paid queries on whether the project has been completed to the required level of skill and care. In this situation, the legal issue may be whether there is a breach of contract or negligence, and debt recovery proceedings may not be suitable. We recommend you speak to a lawyer prior to commencing debt recovery proceedings on your own so that you can get the right advice regarding whether this is the appropriate course of action for your situation.

Letters of demand

In every jurisdiction, creditors are expected to have issued a letter of demand to a debtor prior to commencing proceedings in Court. A letter of demand must always: • be addressed to the debtor and specify that it is a letter of demand • detail the amount of the debt and under what circumstances the debt became due and payable • give a deadline for payment of the debt, and • advise the debtor that, unless payment is made by the due date, the creditor will commence proceedings in the appropriate Court or Tribunal.

Where debt recovery proceedings are initiated

Once a letter of demand has been sent, if a debtor either ignores the letter or refuses to pay, then the creditor may commence proceedings to recover the debt. The appropriate Court or Tribunal for the commencement of proceedings will depend on: • where the debt arose (which state or territory) • the amount of the debt, and • whether the debt is of a particular nature, such as a consumer-trader claim or a residential tenancies claim. For example, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) has jurisdiction to hear debt disputes for amounts under $25,000, provided that the matter is related to certain kinds of disputes such as money lent and not repaid, unpaid invoices, and IOUs. It also has jurisdiction to send to a hearing those disputes which relate to a sum of money less than $3,000. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), on the other hand, has jurisdiction to hear disputes in relation to goods or services where payment for the goods or services has not been made. It does not have jurisdiction to hear general debt recovery matters like QCAT. Each of the Courts in the individual states and territories has a different jurisdictional limit, which you should check prior to initiating proceedings. The Supreme Court of Western Australia, for example, hears civil matters where the amount in dispute is over $750,000, whereas in South Australia either the District Court or the Supreme Court may hear civil disputes of $100,000 or above.

The procedure for debt recovery

The procedure for debt recovery depends on the Court or Tribunal in which the creditor commences proceedings to recover the debt. We recommend you seek advice from a lawyer prior to commencing your claim to ensure you follow the correct procedure. Call JCL Legal now to speak with our senior debt recovery lawyers in Sydney. We are a law firm that understands.
source: gotocourt