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ARTICLE · 16 MAY 2011

Five ways to make them pay their debts

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When people tell me that they are owed money and ask me what they can do to recover that debt, I can only tell them half the story. The other half of the story only they can tell me.

AustraliaFinance and Banking
Terry Sperber
Terry Sperber
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When people tell me that they are owed money and ask me what they can do to recover that debt, I can only tell them half the story. The other half of the story only they can tell me.

My half of the story

The legal system provides a number of measures to enable you to try to recover a debt owed to you once it has fallen due.

Generally speaking, if you have exhausted all attempts to recover the debt by begging, cajoling and sending threatening letters, you will need the assistance of the court.

You will have heard terms such as statement of claim, statutory demands, winding up applications, writs, garnishees, bankruptcy notices and so on. Each of these primary debt recovery tools has its own pros and cons and chances of succeeding. Which is the best one for you will depend on the circumstances of your case.

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