About My Hardship Letter

My Hardship Letter is a free tool that helps Australians ask for help when they can't keep up with a loan, credit card or energy bill.

Money trouble can happen to anyone: a job loss, an illness, a relationship ending, a natural disaster, or simply living costs rising faster than pay. Many people don't know they have the right to ask their lender or energy retailer for hardship help, or they don't know what to say. This site exists to make that first step easier.

Who's behind this site

My name is Brant Nutting, and I'm based in Queensland, Australia. I created and run My Hardship Letter.

I built My Hardship Letter because I know how it feels to be chased for money, and I want to help people understand their rights and ask for the breathing space they need to get back on top of things.

I'm not a lawyer or a financial counsellor, and this site doesn't give personal advice. What I can do is put the official rules and the free help that already exists into plain English, in one place, and help you write the letter. For advice about your own situation, the free National Debt Helpline is the best place to start.

What the site does

• Helps you write a clear, polite hardship letter in about 3 minutes
• Explains your rights in plain English
• Gives you a simple plan for what happens next, including what to do if you're refused
• Points you to free, independent help such as the National Debt Helpline

What the site doesn't do

• It doesn't give legal or financial advice about your situation
• It doesn't contact your lender or retailer for you
• It doesn't collect or store your answers. The letter tool runs on your own device, and what you type is never sent to this site.
• It isn't a bank, lender, debt management company or government agency, and it isn't affiliated with any of them

How the guides are checked

Every guide is based on information published by official and independent sources, including Moneysmart (ASIC), the National Credit Code, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), the Australian Energy Regulator, the National Debt Helpline and the Financial Rights Legal Centre.

I use AI writing tools to help draft some guides, but every guide is checked against official sources and edited by me before it goes live.

Before a guide goes live, each rule, time limit and phone number in it is checked against the official source. Each guide lists its sources and shows the month it was last checked. Guides are reviewed when the rules change, and the information is reviewed regularly. Rules can change, so if you're unsure, check with your lender or a financial counsellor.

Spotted a mistake?

If something in a guide or letter is wrong or out of date, please let me know through the contact page. Corrections are made as quickly as possible.

How the site is funded

The tool and guides are free to use. To cover running costs, this site may display advertising. Ads never change the information or letters the site provides.

Page last reviewed: November 2026