Field agent / debt collector or process server licence - Queensland

Description

You must have a licence to work as a field agent if you intend to:

  • find and recover goods (repossession)
  • collect debts face-to-face
  • serve documents (process serving).

Alternatively, you can work as a collection agent and do not require a licence if you only:

    • collect debts (and do not repossess goods or do process serving)
    • contact debtors over the phone or in writing.
    • perform evictions or vacant repossessions of real property.

    In most cases, a corporation that works in the debt collection industry must have a corporate licence. This is as a separate licence that individual field agents / debt collectors must have.

    Service type

    Licence

    A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

    Eligibility requirements

    To be eligible, you must:

    • be at least 18 years of age
    • be a suitable person.

    There are no educational requirements for applicants for a field agent. You must undergo a criminal history check to confirm their suitability. The criminal history check applies to each person for whom a date and place of birth are requested on the application form.

    Duration

    One or three years

    Fees

    Fees Details for this service in table format.

    Task Type Business Structure Description
    Apply Application All

    You can find the current fees here.

    Application process

    Apply

    Your application must be accompanied by:

    • an application fee
    • a licence issue fee
    • a criminal history check fee for each person whose date and place of birth appear on the application
    • a certified copy of either your birth certificate, birth certificate extract, passport, Certificate of Australian citizenship or driver's licence. Proof of identity can be certified by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, barrister/solicitor or notary public (please note that none of the above required to be provided upon renewal on the proviso that the name the licence was issued in has not changed or unless otherwise requested)
    • two recent colour photographs - Each photograph must be at least 35 mm x 45 mm and not more than 40 mm x 50 mm in size, and certified by a person who is at least 18 years of age, has known you for not less than 12 months immediately before the application, and is not related to you by birth or marriage
    • evidence of eligibility to hold the licence.

    Approval time

    The processing time is between four and six weeks

    Transfer

    You cannot transfer this licence to another entity.

    Administering agency

    Department of Justice and Attorney-General

    Office of Fair Trading

    Industry Licensing Unit

    Contact details

    Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.

    Please use these contact details for help or more information:

    Industry Licensing Unit

    Office of Fair Trading

    Department of Justice and Attorney-General
    Mailing address: GPO Box 3111
    Brisbane, Queensland 4001
    Phone: 13 74 68
    Fax: 07 3738 8784
    Email: IndustryLicensing@justice.qld.gov.au