Step-by-step guides
100 plain-English, step-by-step guides — paying a debt, your rights, hardship support, understanding the process, and referring debts as a business. Search or filter by topic.
- Paying a debt
How to Pay Your Account Online
Step-by-step guide to paying your Merion account online by card, in minutes.
4 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay by Bank Transfer
Step-by-step guide to paying your account by bank transfer with no surcharge.
4 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay by BPAY
Step-by-step guide to paying your account by BPAY through your own bank.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay by Credit Card
Step-by-step guide to paying your account by credit or debit card online.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Set Up a Payment Plan
Step-by-step guide to proposing and arranging a payment plan with Merion.
5 min read - Paying a debt
How to Make a Part Payment
Step-by-step guide to making a partial payment toward your account.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Find Your Reference Number
Step-by-step guide to locating the reference number on your Merion notice.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Get a Receipt
Step-by-step guide to getting and keeping a receipt for your payment.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Check Your Balance
Step-by-step guide to checking the current balance on your account.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Confirm a Payment Cleared
Step-by-step guide to confirming your payment has cleared and applied.
4 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay in Instalments
Step-by-step guide to paying your account in regular instalments.
4 min read - Paying a debt
How to Update Your Payment Details
Step-by-step guide to updating the payment details used for your account.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay if You Can't Afford the Full Amount
Step-by-step guide to your options when you can't pay the full amount.
5 min read - Paying a debt
How to Request More Time to Pay
Step-by-step guide to asking Merion for more time to pay your account.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Stop Contact Once Paid
Step-by-step guide to confirming contact stops after your account is paid.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Get a Statement of Your Account
Step-by-step guide to requesting a full statement of your account.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay Safely and Avoid Scams
Step-by-step guide to paying safely and spotting debt collection scams.
4 min read - Paying a debt
How to Choose the Right Payment Method
Step-by-step guide to choosing the best way to pay your account.
4 min read - Paying a debt
How to Pay on Behalf of Someone Else
Step-by-step guide to paying someone else's account on their behalf.
3 min read - Paying a debt
How to Get Help Paying
Step-by-step guide to finding help and support when paying is difficult.
4 min read - Disputes & your rights
How to Dispute a Debt
A clear, step-by-step guide to formally disputing a debt you believe is wrong or not yours.
6 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Ask for Proof of a Debt
Step-by-step help to request evidence and a breakdown so you can confirm a debt is genuine.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Check if a Debt Is Yours
A simple checklist to confirm whether a debt actually belongs to you before you act on it.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Respond to a Letter of Demand
Calm, practical steps for reading and responding to a letter of demand about a debt.
6 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Lodge a Complaint
Step-by-step guide to making a clear, effective complaint about how a debt was handled.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Request Contact in Writing Only
How to ask a collector to contact you only in writing, and what to expect afterwards.
4 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Ask a Collector to Stop Calling at Work
Steps to ask a collector to stop contacting you at work and agree a better channel.
4 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Verify a Debt Collector Is Genuine
A safety checklist to confirm a debt collector is legitimate before you share or pay anything.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Correct Your Personal Details
Steps to ask a collector to correct inaccurate personal details they hold about you.
4 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Escalate an Unresolved Dispute
How to escalate a dispute or complaint that has not been resolved to your satisfaction.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Respond if the Amount Is Wrong
Steps to query an incorrect balance and ask for the figures to be checked and corrected.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Handle a Debt You Already Paid
What to do if you are contacted about a debt you have already paid in full.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Deal With a Statute-Barred Debt
A plain-English overview of time limits on older debts and how to ask about them.
6 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Ask for a Payment Breakdown
How to request an itemised breakdown so you can see exactly how a balance is made up.
4 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Raise a Privacy Concern
Steps to raise a concern about how your personal information is collected or used.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Get Free Legal Help
Where to find free, confidential legal and financial help with a debt issue.
5 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Respond to a Court Document
Calm, urgent steps to take if you receive a court document about a debt.
6 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Keep Records of Your Communications
A simple system for keeping clear records of every communication about a debt.
4 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Know Your Rights With Debt Collectors
A plain-English overview of what you can generally expect when dealing with debt collectors.
6 min - Disputes & your rights
How to Make a Formal Dispute in Writing
How to structure a clear, formal written dispute that is easy to act on.
5 min - Hardship & support
How to Apply for Financial Hardship
A clear, step-by-step way to ask Merion for financial hardship help on a commercial debt.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Write a Hardship Letter
A simple template and steps for writing a hardship letter that explains your situation clearly.
5 min read - Hardship & support
How to Pause Payments During Hardship
How to request a short, temporary pause on payments while you get back on your feet.
5 min read - Hardship & support
How to Access Free Financial Counselling
How to reach a free, independent financial counsellor and what they can do to help you.
5 min read - Hardship & support
How to Prepare for a Hardship Assessment
A practical checklist to help you prepare for a hardship assessment with confidence.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Explain Your Situation
How to explain your financial situation clearly and honestly so you get the right help.
5 min read - Hardship & support
How to Budget to Clear a Debt
Build a simple budget that frees up money to steadily clear your debt without going without.
7 min read - Hardship & support
How to Get Help if You're on Centrelink
Options for managing a debt on a Centrelink income, including extra supports you can use.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Deal With Multiple Debts
A calm, organised approach to juggling several debts at once without feeling overwhelmed.
7 min read - Hardship & support
How to Ask for a Reduced Settlement
How to ask whether you can settle a debt for a reduced lump sum, and what to expect.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Cope With Debt Stress
Practical steps and free support to help you cope with the stress that debt can bring.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Find a Financial Counsellor
Simple ways to find a free, independent financial counsellor near you and get started.
5 min read - Hardship & support
How to Support Someone With Debt
How to support a friend or family member through debt without taking it on yourself.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Handle Debt After Job Loss
Steps to keep debt manageable after losing your job while you get back on your feet.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Handle Debt After Illness
How to manage debt when illness or injury affects your income, with your health first.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Request a Temporary Payment Reduction
How to ask to lower your payments for a set period while staying on track with your debt.
5 min read - Hardship & support
How to Set a Realistic Payment Plan
How to set a payment plan that fits your real budget so you can keep it up to the end.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Prioritise Which Debts to Pay
How to work out which debts to pay first when money is tight, protecting your essentials.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Rebuild After Clearing a Debt
Positive steps to rebuild your finances and confidence after you have cleared a debt.
6 min read - Hardship & support
How to Get Emergency Financial Help
Where to find urgent help for food, bills and essentials when you are in a financial crisis.
6 min read - For businesses
How to Refer a Debt to Merion
Step-by-step guide to referring an unpaid commercial debt to Merion for recovery.
6 min - For businesses
How to Prepare a Debt for Referral
How to organise the right details and documents before you refer a debt to Merion.
7 min - For businesses
How to Get a Free Debt Appraisal
How to request a free, no-obligation appraisal of an unpaid debt from Merion.
5 min - For businesses
How to Refer Multiple Debts at Once
How to refer several unpaid debts to Merion in one batch instead of one at a time.
6 min - For businesses
How to Track a Referred Debt
How to follow the progress of a debt you have referred to Merion for recovery.
5 min - For businesses
How to Provide the Right Documentation
A practical checklist of the documents that support a debt referred to Merion.
7 min - For businesses
How to Set Up a Business Account
How to set up a Merion business account so referring and tracking debts is quicker.
5 min - For businesses
How to Add a Team Member
How to add a colleague to your Merion business account so they can refer and track debts.
4 min - For businesses
How to Decide if a Debt Is Worth Pursuing
A practical framework for deciding whether an unpaid debt is worth pursuing.
7 min - For businesses
How to Send a Letter of Demand First
How to write and send a letter of demand before escalating an unpaid debt.
8 min - For businesses
How to Calculate What You're Owed
How to work out the exact amount a debtor owes, including the principal balance.
6 min - For businesses
How to Add Interest and Costs
How to add interest and recovery costs to an overdue debt where your terms allow.
7 min - For businesses
How to Recover an Unpaid Invoice
A step-by-step path for recovering an unpaid invoice, from reminder to referral.
8 min - For businesses
How to Handle a Debtor Who Disputes
How to respond when a debtor disputes part or all of an unpaid debt.
7 min - For businesses
How to Withdraw a Referred Debt
How to withdraw a debt you have referred to Merion when it no longer needs recovery.
5 min - For businesses
How to Place a Debt on Hold
How to pause recovery on a referred debt and resume it when you are ready.
5 min - For businesses
How to Understand the Commission Model
A plain-English explanation of how Merion's commission-only recovery model works.
7 min - For businesses
How to Get Paid Faster Next Time
Practical habits that help your business get paid faster and reduce overdue accounts.
8 min - For businesses
How to Protect Your Business From Bad Debt
Practical steps to reduce the risk of bad debt before extending credit to customers.
8 min - For businesses
How to Report a Payment Received Directly
How to report a direct payment from a debtor on a debt you have referred to Merion.
5 min - Understanding the process
How the Debt Recovery Process Works
Step-by-step overview of how a commercial debt recovery matter moves from first contact to resolution.
6 min - Understanding the process
What to Do When You First Hear From Merion
A simple checklist for what to read, check and do when Merion first contacts you about an account.
5 min - Understanding the process
How to Verify a Merion Letter Is Real
Practical steps to confirm that a letter, email or call about a debt is genuinely from Merion.
5 min - Understanding the process
How to Respond to Your First Notice
How to choose and send the right response to your first notice, and keep a clear record of it.
5 min - Understanding the process
What Happens After You Pay
What to expect after you make a payment, from processing and receipts to closing your account.
4 min - Understanding the process
What Happens if You Do Nothing
What an unresolved account leads to over time, and why responding early keeps more options open.
5 min - Understanding the process
How Recovery Can Escalate
The stages an unresolved account can escalate through, and how to step in at any point.
5 min - Understanding the process
How to Avoid Court Action
Practical steps you can take to resolve an account and keep it out of formal legal recovery.
5 min - Understanding the process
What a Letter of Demand Means
What a letter of demand is, what it asks of you, and how to respond before any escalation.
5 min - Understanding the process
How Long You Have to Respond
How to find and read the response timeframe on a notice, and what to do if you need more time.
4 min - Understanding the process
How Merion Contacts You
The channels Merion uses to contact you, what to expect, and how to verify any message.
5 min - Understanding the process
How to Update Your Contact Details
How to update the phone, email and address we hold so you do not miss important contact.
4 min - Understanding the process
How to Get Everything in Writing
How to keep a clear written record of agreements, confirmations and correspondence on your account.
4 min - Understanding the process
What to Expect on a Call
What happens on a call with Merion, why we verify identity, and how to get the outcome in writing.
5 min - Understanding the process
How a Payment Plan Works
How to propose a payment plan, what we consider, and how instalments lead to a resolved account.
6 min - Understanding the process
How Disputes Are Handled
How to raise a dispute about an amount, what we do with it, and what to expect in response.
5 min - Understanding the process
How to Close Out Your Account
The final steps to confirm an account is settled, closed, and resolved with a clear record.
4 min - Understanding the process
How Your Information Is Protected
How Merion handles your personal information, why identity checks matter, and your privacy rights.
5 min - Understanding the process
How to Get Support in Your Language
How to arrange support in a language other than English so you can resolve your account clearly.
4 min - Understanding the process
What to Do if You Receive a Notice in Error
What to do if a notice reaches the wrong person or relates to an account you have already settled.
5 min
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