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Debt Collection in Australia Industry Data and Analysis
Australian debt collection agencies have faced persistent challenges in the past few years, as the supply of debt ledgers remains weak, limiting revenue expansion. Banks have delayed selling charge-offs and ramped up internal collections, while government-backed hardship measures have shrunk the volume of debt portfolios available in the market. The resulting competition among agencies has driven up purchase prices and squeezed margins. Meanwhile, smaller and less profitable agencies have exited or been acquired by larger agencies like Credit Corp Group, which strengthened its market position by acquiring Collection House Limited in 2022, lifting industry-wide profitability. Regulatory pressure has intensified, with ASIC and the ACCC introducing reforms under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act and Debt Collection Guidelines (RG 96). From July 2021, debt collectors must hold an Australian credit licence and be members of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, raising compliance costs. The decision by Services Australia to bring welfare debt recovery in-house in June 2023 has prompted agencies to diversify their markets. In response, many agencies are investing heavily in digitalisation, improving operational efficiency and implementing customer-centric approaches. These strategic shifts have accelerated market concentration and reshaped agencies' competitive landscape. Revenue is expected to fall at an annualised 8.8% to an estimated $1.0 billion over the five years through 2025-26. This trend includes an expected drop of 2.2% in 2025-26, as debt ledger supply remains subdued.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Debt Collection industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released August 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Debt Collection industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code N7293a. Debt collection firms retrieve debt payments from individuals and businesses that have failed to meet the terms and conditions outlined by their loan agreements. A firm can act as an agent on behalf of a creditor, for which the firm receives a fee or percentage of the total amount collected. Alternatively, firms can purchase bad debt from the original creditors at a discount on its face value. Related terms covered in the Debt Collection industry in Australia include mercantile agents, ledger, contingent collection and purchased debt ledger (pdl).
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Debt Collection industry in Australia include Contingent fee services, Portfolio acquisition services and Other debt collection services.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Debt Collection industry in Australia include Credit Corp, Pioneer Credit and Recoveries Corporation Pty Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Debt Collection industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Debt Collection industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Debt Collection industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Debt Collection industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Debt Collection industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Debt Collection industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Debt Collection industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Debt Collection industry in Australia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Debt Collection industry in Australia in 2026?
The market size of the Debt Collection industry in Australia is $1.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Debt Collection industry in Australia in 2025?
There are 507 businesses in the Debt Collection industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Debt Collection industry in Australia?
The Debt Collection industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Debt Collection industry in Australia?
The Debt Collection industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Debt Collection industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Debt Collection industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 8.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Debt Collection industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Debt Collection industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Debt Collection industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Debt Collection industry in Australia are Credit Corp, Pioneer Credit and Recoveries Corporation Pty Ltd
What does the Debt Collection industry in Australia include?
Contingent fee services and Portfolio acquisition services are part of the Debt Collection industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Debt Collection industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Debt Collection industry in Australia is Credit Corp.
How competitive is the Debt Collection industry in Australia?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Debt Collection industry in Australia.
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