Yes. Making a payment — or continuing to make payments — while a dispute is under investigation does not mean you are accepting the debt as correct, and it does not waive your right to dispute it. Payments and disputes are separate processes.
Why some people pay while disputing: You might make a payment while a dispute is being reviewed for several reasons — because you want to show good faith, because part of the debt is not in dispute even if another part is, or because you have a payment arrangement in place and wish to keep it running while a specific aspect of the account is under review.
Things to keep in mind:
- Be explicit about your position. If you are paying part of the account while disputing another part, tell us this clearly in writing so there is no ambiguity about what you are and are not accepting.
- Paying the full amount outstanding may make it harder to claim a refund later if the dispute is upheld — though it does not make it impossible. If you are likely to dispute the full amount, seek independent advice before paying in full.
- Where the ACCC and ASIC guideline specifically applies, paying a disputed amount does not generally constitute an admission of liability — but it is worth recording your position in writing regardless.
If you want to make payments while keeping a dispute open, contact us and we will note your position on the account to ensure it is recorded correctly.
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