What Times Can A Debt Collector Call?
Contact is expected to happen at reasonable hours and to avoid times likely to cause unnecessary distress or inconvenience.
In this answer
- Explain the general expectation of contact at reasonable hours
- Describe how personal circumstances can affect what is reasonable
- Help you communicate times that do not suit you
- Outline what to do if contact happens at unreasonable times
4 min
Reasonable hours, not surprise calls
Australian debt-collection guidance frames the timing of contact around reasonableness. The general expectation is that collectors make contact during ordinary daytime and early-evening hours rather than very early in the morning or late at night.
Rather than relying on invented exact cut-off times, the practical principle is simple: contact should be at hours when a reasonable person would expect to deal with everyday business, and should avoid times likely to cause unnecessary distress.
At Merion we aim to keep calls within sensible business hours. Let us know if certain times do not suit you.
Your circumstances matter
What counts as a reasonable time can depend on your situation. Shift workers, carers, and people in different time zones may have particular needs, and a collector who is told about these should take them into account.
If a usual daytime call would land while you are asleep after a night shift, for example, it is reasonable to ask for a different window. Sharing this information helps a collector contact you considerately.
Telling a collector when suits you
You can nominate times that work for you and ask that contact be limited to those windows. A brief message such as "please call between 10am and 4pm on weekdays" is clear and easy to honour.
Putting your preferred times in writing gives both sides a record. Most reasonable collectors will adjust their calling pattern once they understand what suits you.
If contact happens at the wrong time
If a collector continues to contact you at clearly unreasonable hours after you have asked them not to, you can raise it. Begin with the collector's complaints process and consider an external ombudsman scheme if the issue is not resolved.
This is general information only and not legal advice. If debt is weighing on you, the free National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 offers confidential support. You can also explore the Merion Trust Centre for related topics.
Key takeaways
- Contact is expected at reasonable daytime and early-evening hours
- We avoid quoting invented exact cut-off times; reasonableness is the test
- Shift work, caring duties, and time zones can change what is reasonable
- You can nominate suitable windows and ask contact to stay within them
- Raise persistent out-of-hours contact through the complaints process
Frequently asked questions
Are there exact legal hours for calls?
Guidance centres on reasonableness rather than a single set of exact hours for every case, so we describe the principle rather than invent specific times.
Can I ask to be called only at certain times?
Yes. Nominate windows that suit you, ideally in writing, and reasonable collectors will adjust their calling pattern.
What if calls keep coming at unsociable hours?
Raise it with the collector's complaints process and consider an external ombudsman scheme. This is general information, not legal advice.
Fair, professional, compliant — always
Merion handles every account on the facts, with respect, and within the rules. Questions? We're happy to help.