Debt

A debt is when you owe money to another person or another person owes money to you. The other person can be an individual like your neighbour, a business like a store or government like the local council.

Carol bought a mobile telephone from her local store to help her keep in touch with her children who live away. When Carol bought the telephone at the store she was told the telephone was on a plan of $50 a month. Carol thought this plan meant this was what she had to pay each month for the telephone.

When Carol got her first telephone bill it was $300. She was confused because she thought her plan was for $50 a month. When she went back to the store, the person told her that the $50 was only for the cost of service and telephone and that it did not include calls. Carol cannot pay the $300 in one month.

Who can Carol contact for help?

Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN)
http://www.ican.org.au
Phone: 1300 369 878
(local call cost from a landline)

Office of Fair Trading (Queensland)
http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au
Phone: 13 13 04
(local call cost from a landline)