Receiving a court document about a debt is a serious matter. Court documents come with deadlines that are enforced — missing them can result in a judgment being entered against you without a hearing, which then carries full enforcement powers.
First steps to take immediately:
- Read the document carefully. Identify what type of document it is — a claim, a statement of claim, a default notice, a statutory demand — and what the response deadline is. Deadlines in court documents are counted from the date of service, not the date you received it.
- Do not ignore it. Failing to respond within the required time can result in a default judgment being entered against you automatically, giving the creditor immediate access to enforcement mechanisms.
- Check the amount and basis of the claim. Does it match what you know about the debt? Is the amount correct? Do you recognise the original creditor?
- Get advice quickly. A community legal centre or the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) can provide free initial guidance. If the document relates to a Merion account, contact us and quote your reference number.
If the document relates to an account managed by Merion, contacting us promptly is the right first step. We can explain what the document means in the context of your account and what options are still available to you.
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