Fifteen missed calls in a single afternoon, all from the same number — it’s a scenario we hear about constantly at MyCRA Lawyers. If a debt collector harassment campaign like this is happening to you, you need to know that it’s not just aggressive. Under Australian guidelines, it may well be illegal.

What the ACCC/ASIC Guideline Actually Says

The ACCC/ASIC Debt Collection Guideline specifically addresses excessive phone contact. Unreasonably frequent attempted contact — even if you never answer — can constitute undue harassment or coercion. The guideline calls out automated dialler systems that put your number back in the queue within minutes of the last attempt as a particular concern.

Making “a number of phone calls in rapid succession” is specifically identified as being particularly likely to constitute harassment. This applies whether or not you pick up. Every unanswered call still counts as attempted contact, and every one of those attempts is documented in your phone’s call log.

Even One Follow-Up Call Can Cross the Line

Here’s something that surprises most people: even if you did speak to the collector and told them you needed a few days to sort things out, calling you the very next day is considered unreasonable. The guideline requires collectors to leave a “reasonable interval” between contacts — giving you time to respond, seek advice, or organise payments.

This means the behaviour many collectors treat as standard practice is actually a breach. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) accepts complaints about debt collector conduct, and your phone records serve as powerful evidence.

Your Call Logs Are Worth More Than You Think

Every missed call from a debt collector is a piece of evidence. Screenshot your call history. Save voicemails. Note dates, times, and the numbers that called. This documentation can be critical if you decide to challenge a default listing or lodge a formal complaint about collector misconduct.

At MyCRA Lawyers, we’ve spent 16 years fighting collector overreach. When a collector has been harassing you AND has listed a default on your credit file, the default itself may be challengeable — especially if the collector didn’t follow proper process under the Privacy Act. Our 91.6% audited success rate speaks to how often creditors and collectors cut corners.

Excessive calls from debt collectors aren’t just annoying — they may breach Australian guidelines and could strengthen your case for default removal. Save those call logs and get expert legal advice on your options.