Debt Relief Rankings
Best Registered Debt Agreement Administrators in Australia for 2026
We compared eight AFSA-registered administrators based on safeguards, total-cost transparency, customer reputation, nationwide support, suitability checks, and experience.
Why this ranking focuses on administrators
A Part IX debt agreement is a formal personal-insolvency arrangement. A registered administrator prepares and lodges the proposal, manages payments, monitors compliance, and distributes funds to creditors after acceptance.
Key findings
- Fox Symes ranks first for registration history, customer-review evidence, nationwide scale, and unusually detailed fee explanations.
- Beyond Debt has the largest aggregated review footprint among the shortlisted registered administrators.
- Debt Negotiators performs strongly on ProductReview, with a 4.9 rating from approximately 347 reviews.
- Consumers should obtain free financial counselling before paying a commercial administrator’s setup fee.
What is the best registered debt agreement administrator in Australia?
Fox Symes is the top-ranked administrator in this comparison. It combines registration dating to 2007 with more than 1,500 Trustpilot reviews, national access, and a public example explaining the main charges that reduce the amount distributed to creditors.
Research.com top choice
Fox Symes
Best overall balance of AFSA safeguards, fee disclosure, customer reputation, access, and operating experience.
Australia debt agreement administrator comparison
The comparison scores the legal administrator rather than only the consumer-facing brand. Related brands are grouped under the AFSA-registered entity.
| Rank | Provider | AFSA | Fees | Reviews | Support | Suitability | Experience | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox Symes Best Overall Registered Debt Agreement Administrator | 25 | 19 | 23 | 14 | 10 | 4.5 | 95.5 |
| 2 | Beyond Debt / DCS Group Best for Customer Review Volume | 25 | 16.5 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 4.5 | 94.0 |
| 3 | Debt Negotiators / A & M Group Best for ProductReview Customer Ratings | 25 | 15 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 4.5 | 92.5 |
| 4 | Debt Busters Australia Best for Recent Completion Reviews | 25 | 15 | 21 | 14.5 | 10 | 5 | 90.5 |
| 5 | Debt Fix Australia Best for Combined Administrator and Credit-Licence Credentials | 25 | 13.5 | 17.5 | 14 | 10 | 4.5 | 84.5 |
| 6 | Debt Assist / My Debt Assist Best for Published Administration-Fee Percentage | 25 | 20 | 10.5 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 80.5 |
| 7 | Debt Buddy / ABC Debt Solutions Best for Small-Provider Educational Support | 24 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 4.5 | 77.5 |
| 8 | Debt Savvy / Australia Wide Administrators Best Emerging Registered Administrator | 24 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 72.0 |
How we ranked Australian debt agreement administrators
The methodology gives 45% of the score to AFSA safeguards and total-cost transparency because commercial fees directly reduce the amount available to creditors.
AFSA registration and consumer safeguards
Current registered status, responsible managers, legal-entity clarity, AFCA access, certification duties, affordability testing, complaints routes, and absence of material unresolved enforcement concerns.
Fees and total-cost transparency
Setup fees, AFSA lodgement fee, administrator remuneration, the 7% realisations charge, refund terms, expenses, creditor return, and publication of representative examples.
Customer reviews and reputation
Adjusted rating, review volume, recency, completed-agreement feedback, platform consistency, negative-review handling, and distinction between broker and administrator reviews.
Nationwide access and ongoing support
Remote service, contact hours, case management, payment monitoring, hardship assistance, variation support, completion documents, and clear communication throughout the agreement.
Suitability and service breadth
Assessment of hardship, informal arrangements, refinancing, Part IX, Personal Insolvency Agreements, bankruptcy, secured debt, and referral to free financial counselling.
Experience and operating scale
Registration history, completed agreements, client volume, responsible management, operational continuity, and documented industry experience.
Minimum eligibility requirements
A provider must have current registered status in AFSA’s public register, identify the legal administrator, explain setup and ongoing fees, assess alternatives, include all charges in the proposal, and avoid presenting a debt agreement as a consequence-free consolidation product.
Our Australia administrator reviews
Each profile identifies the registered legal entity, customer-facing brand, evidence supporting the score, and the main issue to verify before paying a setup fee.
Best Overall Registered Debt Agreement Administrator
Fox Symes
AFSA-registered debt agreement administratorFox Symes ranks first for combining long-standing AFSA registration, a large current review profile, nationwide access, broad debt-solution capability, and unusually detailed public information about setup, lodgement, administration, and realisations charges.
Why we selected it
- AFSA registration number 1153, first registered July 1, 2007
- More than 1,500 Trustpilot reviews with recent 2026 feedback
- Publishes an illustrative breakdown of setup, AFSA, administration, and statutory realisations charges
What to consider
- The setup fee is generally non-refundable if creditors reject the proposal
- Promotional scale claims are provider-reported and have not been independently verified by Research.com
- Consumers should compare the complete creditor return and administrator remuneration, not only the weekly payment
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 25/25
- Fees and transparency
- 19/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 23/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 10/10
- Experience and scale
- 4.5/5
Best for Customer Review Volume
Beyond Debt / DCS Group
AFSA-registered administrator trading as Beyond DebtBeyond Debt scores strongly for its registered-administrator status, large aggregated customer-review profile, published client and debt-completion figures, and direct management of Part IX agreements.
Why we selected it
- DCS Group Aust Pty Ltd has AFSA registration number 1126 and was first registered in 2007
- Approximately 1,800 aggregated reviews with a 4.8 profile reported by Birdeye
- Provider reports helping more than 14,000 Australians address approximately A$160 million of debt
What to consider
- The client and debt totals are provider-reported
- The strongest review total is an aggregate rather than one primary platform
- Public fee information is less prominent and directly comparable than at the highest-ranked providers
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 25/25
- Fees and transparency
- 16.5/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 24/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 10/10
- Experience and scale
- 4.5/5
Best for ProductReview Customer Ratings
Debt Negotiators / A & M Group
AFSA-registered administrator and debt-solutions providerDebt Negotiators combines formal AFSA registration with a strong Australian ProductReview profile, free initial assessments, and a broad range of formal and informal debt pathways.
Why we selected it
- A & M Group Pty Ltd has AFSA registration number 1403 and has been registered since 2009
- 4.9 ProductReview rating from approximately 347 reviews
- Free no-obligation consultation and multiple debt-solution options
What to consider
- Its main Trustpilot profile has received no new reviews in the last twelve months
- Consumers should confirm whether the recommendation is formal Part IX, informal negotiation, or refinancing
- Total setup and administration fees are not as easy to compare publicly as at Fox Symes or Debt Assist
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 25/25
- Fees and transparency
- 15/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 24/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 10/10
- Experience and scale
- 4.5/5
Best for Recent Completion Reviews
Debt Busters Australia
AFSA-registered debt agreement administratorDebt Busters combines active AFSA registration with current customer feedback that includes completed debt agreements, support during the plan, and communication through to final payment.
Why we selected it
- AFSA registration number 1287, first registered in December 2008
- Current Trustpilot reviews include consumers reporting completed debt agreements
- Direct registered administration rather than an unlicensed referral-only model
What to consider
- The Trustpilot sample is smaller than those of the top three providers
- Public total-fee examples are limited
- Consumers should request written variation and hardship procedures before entering a multi-year plan
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 25/25
- Fees and transparency
- 15/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 21/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14.5/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 10/10
- Experience and scale
- 5/5
Best for Combined Administrator and Credit-Licence Credentials
Debt Fix Australia
AFSA-registered administrator and licensed credit brokerDebt Fix combines long-standing AFSA registration with an Australian Credit Licence, free assessment, nationwide digital access, and several formal and non-formal debt pathways.
Why we selected it
- AFSA registration number 1027, first registered July 1, 2007
- Australian Credit Licence number 393436 displayed in its terms
- Provider reports a five-star WOMO profile from 77 reviews
What to consider
- Independent review evidence is smaller than for the leading providers
- The website says fees vary but does not provide a representative total administrator-cost example
- Consumers should ask how broking, refinancing, and insolvency recommendations are separated
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 25/25
- Fees and transparency
- 13.5/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 17.5/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 10/10
- Experience and scale
- 4.5/5
Best for Published Administration-Fee Percentage
Debt Assist / My Debt Assist
AFSA-registered debt agreement administratorDebt Assist receives the highest fee-transparency score because it publishes an ongoing administration fee of 22.73% plus GST and states that it does not recover other business expenses from the agreement.
Why we selected it
- My Debt Assist Pty Ltd has AFSA registration number 1643 and registered status
- Publishes its ongoing administrator remuneration percentage
- Explains alternatives, proposal preparation, creditor communication, and included administration duties
What to consider
- Public customer-review evidence is limited
- The 22.73% fee plus GST can materially affect the amount reaching creditors
- The relationship between the provider’s brand and registered legal entity is not displayed as consistently as at some higher-ranked providers
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 25/25
- Fees and transparency
- 20/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 10.5/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 12/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 9/10
- Experience and scale
- 4/5
Best for Small-Provider Educational Support
Debt Buddy / ABC Debt Solutions
AFSA-registered administrator trading as Debt BuddyDebt Buddy is the trading name of ABC Debt Solutions Pty Ltd and provides registered Part IX administration, informal agreements, business tax-debt support, and educational resources.
Why we selected it
- ABC Debt Solutions Pty Ltd has AFSA registration number 1585
- The provider clearly discloses that Debt Buddy is a trading name of the registered company
- Publishes practical material comparing formal and informal agreements
What to consider
- Public review volume is limited
- Detailed setup and ongoing fee examples are not prominent
- Consumers should verify whether each advertised service is covered by the same legal entity and licence
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 24/25
- Fees and transparency
- 13/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 12/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 10/10
- Experience and scale
- 4.5/5
Best Emerging Registered Administrator
Debt Savvy / Australia Wide Administrators
AFSA-registered debt agreement administratorDebt Savvy is linked by AFSA to Australia Wide Administrators Pty Ltd, a registered administrator since 2018. Its lower position reflects limited current independent review, fee, and outcome evidence.
Why we selected it
- Australia Wide Administrators Pty Ltd has AFSA registration number 1658
- Registered status and responsible manager are publicly verifiable
- Nationwide brand positioning and remote-access model
What to consider
- Independent Australian customer-review evidence is difficult to verify
- Public fee examples and total creditor-return illustrations are limited
- Public outcome, complaint-handling, and completion information is limited
Score breakdown
- AFSA registration and safeguards
- 24/25
- Fees and transparency
- 11/20
- Reviews and reputation
- 10/25
- Nationwide access and support
- 14/15
- Suitability and service breadth
- 9/10
- Experience and scale
- 4/5
Sources
What should consumers check before entering a debt agreement?
A Part IX agreement is an act of bankruptcy with long-term consequences
The agreement appears on the National Personal Insolvency Index and affects credit access. If creditors reject the proposal or the agreement later terminates, creditors may resume enforcement and may use the act of bankruptcy in further proceedings.
- Free financial counselling
- Creditor hardship request
- Informal repayment plan
- Refinancing assessment
- Part IX debt agreement
- Personal Insolvency Agreement
- Bankruptcy
- Independent legal advice
Alex Hillsberg is a financial journalist with an MA in Economics from the University of Denver. He leads finance-focused reporting and analysis at Research.com.