Interested in entering the industry in the Northern Territory as a:

• Collector?
• Investigator?
• Process Server?
• Repossession Agent?
• Private Bailiff?

Persons in the Northern Territory involved in those occupations must be licensed under the Commercial and Private Agents Licensing Act 1979. Under such Act:

Commercial Agent means a person who, for monetary or other consideration, performs any of the following functions:

• ascertaining the whereabouts of, or repossessing any goods or chattels that are the subject of a hire purchase agreement or bill of sale;
• collecting, or requesting the payment of debts;
• executing any legal process for the enforcement of any judgment or order of a court;
• executing any distress for the recovery of rates, taxes or monies;
• obtaining evidence for the purpose of any legal proceedings; or
• searching for missing persons on behalf of any other person.

Inquiry Agent means a person who, for monetary or other consideration, performs any of the following functions:

• Obtaining or providing information as to the personal character or actions of any person, or as to the business or occupation of any person;
• Obtaining evidence for the purposed of any legal proceedings; or
• Searching for missing persons on behalf of any other person.

Private Bailiff means a person who holds a licence as a private bailiff under this Act - a private bailiff can execute warrants and processes and make arrests.

Process Server means a person who, for monetary or other consideration, performs the function of serving any writ, summons or other legal process on behalf of any other person.

The legislation sets out the requirements for applicants for licences at Part 2 Division 2 Section 7 of the Commercial and Private Agents Licensing Act:

"Section 7 Application for Licences"

Application for licence

1. A person may apply to the Commissioner for a licence to carry on business as a commercial agent, inquiry agent, private bailiff or process server.
2. An applicant may be -
   1. an agent applying for a category of licence other than the category the agent holds; or
   2. a person who is employed by an agent; or
   3. any other person.
3. An applicant may apply for one licence or a number of licences of different categories.
4. An application is to -
   1. be in a form approved by the Commissioner; and
   2. specify a licence period of 3 or 5 years; and
   3. contain the information that is indicated by the form or otherwise prescribed; and
   4. be accompanied by the prescribed processing fee. 

Click here for more information and to access application forms for an NT licence.