Independent Australian credit journal · General information only
Plenty Valley · Melbourne
Plenty CreditPlain-English guides to credit, loans and household money in Australia.
Topic hub
What to do when repayments will not fit: hardship arrangements, small amount credit contracts, defaults, debt consolidation, and the AFCA complaints process.
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AFCA is the free external dispute body for most licensed lenders, card issuers and BNPL providers. You usually complain to the firm first, then lodge online with documents and dates. This is general information, not legal advice.
9 min read · 12 July 2026
A missed payment is not automatically a default listing. Here is the usual path from a late repayment through collections, credit-file listings, court, and why hardship and AFCA can still matter. General information, not advice.
9 min read · 30 May 2026
Australian payday loans are regulated as small amount credit contracts, with fee caps, a 10 per cent income test from June 2023, and comparison rates that look alarming because the term is short. General information only.
9 min read · 21 April 2026
Rolling several debts into one loan can lower the monthly figure and raise the total interest. Here is how consolidation actually works, including secured loans against a car or house, without treating it as advice.
9 min read · 8 March 2026
If repayments no longer fit, Australian credit law lets you ask for a hardship variation. Do it in writing, before a default, and keep a copy. This is general information, not personal advice.
9 min read · 28 January 2026
