We want to warn all debt collection agencies that the kind of conduct alleged in this case is not acceptable and will be the subject of further enforcement action against other businesses if necessary, Ms Court said. Demand they communicate with you only in writing (on paper). The ACCC alleges that Panthera Finance repeatedly contacted the three consumers for the payment of the disputed debts despite being advised that they were not liable for the debts, and in two cases placed an incorrect default listing on the consumers credit rating files. We work hard to sort things out so the average Australian doesnt have to. "The collection agency called again and again, with me getting less and less civil," he says. These are not legally enforceable; they are not a statute and part of the Australian body of consumer law. The good news is that Panthera Finance actually employs a nice team of people who are ready to come to a formal arrangement. V)gB0iW8#8w8_QQj@&A)/g>'K t;\ $FZUn(4T%)0C&Zi8bxEB;PAom?W= Hi all, I just got a messaged today from Panthera Finance that I owe them over $1k but they mentioned a different name so technically I don't really owe them anything. The information contacting within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. "But that isn't adequate.". The contingent collectors issue "has probably been magnified with more telcos and energy companies outsourcing their debt collection," Guthrie says. endstream endobj 84 0 obj <>stream I tried to negotiate with them, but they would never accept what was being offered. My complaint to FOS and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) included call logs showing that Panthera called me three times a day for weeks. Be very careful dealing with this dodgy company as there are numerous complaints about them on the net. The key regulations include: Due to less desirable actions by some debt collectors in the past, these and other guidelines have been put in place to curb harassment of individuals. Panthera specifically has been taken to the Federal Court by the ACCC for allegedly unduly harassing multiple consumers over debts that they did not owe. She thinks an overhaul of the system is in order: "What we need is specific legislation covering the debt collection industry as a whole," she says. If you have been contacted by Panthera Finance regarding a debt which was legitimately accrued through a third party and sold to Panthera, you will need to now speak with and negotiate a payment plan with Panthera. We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. I'll skip steps 2 and 3 here, 'cause it ain't your debt. All trademarks are owned by their respective owners.OzBargain is an independent community website which has no association with nor endorsement by the respective trademark owners. HyTSwoc [5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c}088GNg9w '0 Jb hl7z]6x87Q.7.bY5. ", Read more: State Mercantile is a debt recovery provider which specialises in the collection of heavily overdue and delinquent accounts. Enter a valid email address (e.g. There are some smaller companies which are just rogues, but there are also some larger ones that financial counsellors continue to say are hard to deal with, for example, in not recognising family violence or not negotiating affordable hardship arrangements. Cons. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. These regulations cover what times of communication is allowed, the times debt collectors can call you as well as the frequency of times you can be contacted per month by a debt collector. In her spare time, she is a keen Formula 1 and music fan. CHAMP's expected to take a significant minority stake and invest in the Brisbane-based business alongside Panthera's existing shareholders and directors, Matthew Hough and Jamie Hough. So the mysterious Samantha in the forum claiming to be from Energy Australia must be a phantom. Something is not right here. Commencing business operations in 2004, State Mercantile saw the establishment of what is today, Panthera Finance Group. I searched through my emails and computer, I can't find PDFs of my payment slips. Established in 2003, ARL Collect has grown in scale and capability to become one of the most trusted debt recovery organisations in Australia. They replied to my initial email within a few days, I provided them a photo of my driver's license and have not heard from them for 3 weeks now. Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. In my case, I finally decided to believe it was legit. Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free and confidential advice. 0 ), Contingent collectors third-party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers are of particular concern. "What we rely on at the moment are a set of guidelines that have been put out by the ACCC and ASIC. Tim has extensive experience working with high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. 79 0 obj <> endobj The company was seeking to raise $20 million in a placement to sophisticated and professional investors via stockbroker Morgans on Wednesday. Or just a scam? The ACCC has instituted proceedings against debt collection agency Panthera Finance Pty Ltd alleging it unduly harassed three consumers over debts they did not owe. The Federal Court has ordered that Panthera Finance Pty Ltd pay $500,000 in penalties for unduly harassing three consumers over debts they did not owe and for misleading one of the three consumers. I plan on calling them tomorrow and finding out whats what, because I'm 95% certain I owe nothing. It often violates the guidelines, since debt collectors aren't supposed to discuss the debt with anyone but the debtor.). free barista coffees and office incentives. Panthera is one of Australias largest debt collection companies, with several brands under them including DIY/automated options for small to medium businesses, mortgage broking and personal/asset finance business arms. And, there seems to be no reason for them to change their ways. Panthera Finance is a debt collection company which buys debts off other businesses who are owed money. As you're being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldn't recommend any dodgy tactics. Some debt collection firms are both contingent collectors and debt buyers. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. Cant Pay My Debt: Heres the BEST solution! Panthera was also ordered by the Court to pay $100,000 as a contribution to the ACCCs legal costs. In a Brisbane District Court case, Richard Kennerley. Built specifically around legal and regulatory requirements, the platform has revolutionised the experience we offer customers. The Court also ruled that Panthera misled one of the consumers by telling them they needed to pay Panthera $100 to have a default listing removed from their credit file, even though the credit default listing was incorrect and could have been removed for free under the Privacy Act. Fortunately, the Melbourne-based consumer rights organisation Consumer Action got involved, and Mary was able to settle her debt for about half of what the debt collector had demanded. ]!h!gF?!7fhg44H.$s5("Opz2FAH[MV?*Auo IE`f\HIy*= b$TD>*?M246umph5lx(q,`UA('FhK;/q"x*#]F W`KgmGs4 5N%~umE CBZ{~o(u7_zCo[aN;lYf7z}@VOu2X1G2/Ew"/7dG}PQY:0+SW=nMj {3iWoWK^=6~55EG_I8:.L;IU>g_CE:p3if ?' Those letters, text messages and phone calls can be stopped within days. Less than six months later, the company was sold for $40 million. Panthera's parent company, PF Australia Pty Ltd, reported $58.4 million revenue and $22.4 million profit in the year to June 30 according to accounts filed with the corporate regulator, and $51.5 million revenue and $23.8 million profit one year earlier. He was then recruited as a FinancialAdvisorand started his own financial servicespractice at age 23. We care about accuracy. Did your identity get stolen? Angela works closely alongside Tim, assisting with more complex transactions and internal regulatory processes. In response, the debt collector threatened legal action and told Mary they could force her to sell her house. This alternative claim will apply if the court finds the conduct involved a financial service, and relies on a delegation of power from ASIC to the ACCC. I can confirm that Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency. But then again, its never too late for us to help you out. and they looked into the "debt" and found it was in fact paid, they instructed Panthera to cease collections activities and ever since they have left me alone. It was started with the aim of helping everyone in dire straits. Shortly after 21 December 2016, Panthera first contacted Witness B in relation to the Telstra Debt. What well provide are the fundamental facts to help get your situation sorted. In one case, the ACCC alleges that Panthera used coercion, made false representations and engaged in unconscionable conduct when dealing with the consumer, even though it knew the consumer urgently needed an incorrect credit default listing removed to obtain finance for a new car. Some debt collection agencies have a poor record of adhering to consumer protection guidelines. Report. Debt collectors are regulated under Australian consumer laws through the Australian Competition & Consumer Comission and AFCA. %PDF-1.6 % I was convinced it is a scam since they got my name wrong and was ready to just ignore it but when I looked it up, it showed that it is a real debt collector company tho they . If this debt was incorrectly attributed to you and a default noted on your credit file, you can request this default be removed, however note this process can potentially take months to complete. This is great news, however, debt collectors are still out to get you. Ask us to step in! In this case, we allege Pantheras conduct was particularly egregious as we understand they continued to harass these three consumers after they became aware that they didnt owe any money.. According to AFCA's communications manager Madison Lovell, 70 per cent of the complaints resolved by the organisation between November 2018 and early October 2019 were done so by "agreement, or in favour of complainants". Panthera Finance LLP is fiercely independent and takes great pride in offering the mortgage that is best for you We operate with total clarity throughout the buying process to deliver a fast and totally reliable service Guiding you home through a personal relationship with one of our team of experienced pro-active brokers "They would just harass us with non-stop phone calls, making demands that were just unrealistic. So are you actually own them $570 or this amount including a admin fee? "Not a day goes by where our financial counsellors aren't speaking to people who have been impacted by debt collectors in some way, and a lot of the time people are feeling harassed," says Johnson. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-box-4','ezslot_1',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-box-4-0');Some of these debt collection tactics are purely dodgy. "Some contingent collectors seem to be a law unto themselves. You don't regain the capital to which you lost access. Media Team - 1300 138 917, media@accc.gov.au, Debt collector Panthera to pay $500,000 in penalties for undue harassment, Not receiving products or services that are paid for, Receiving unrequested products or services, Problem with a product or service you bought, Unauthorised transfer of phone or internet services, Supplying products or services that are paid for, Supplying unrequested products or services, Problem with a product or service you sold, Competing fairly in professional services, Competition and anti-competitive behaviour, Collective bargaining and collective boycotts, Implementing a business compliance program, Electricity market monitoring inquiry 2018-25, Postal services price notification and monitoring, Interstate rail network access undertaking, Hunter Valley rail network access undertaking, International liner cargo shipping regulation, Telecommunications industry record keeping and reporting rules, National Broadband Network (NBN) access regulation, Non-NBN fixed line services access regulation, Superfast fixed line broadband networks regulation, Transmission services and facility access regulation, Telstra's migration of fixed line services, Regional mobile infrastructure inquiry 2022-23, Exemption from parts of the wheat port code, The development of bulk wheat exports regulation, Digital platform services inquiry 2020-2025, Retail electricity pricing inquiry 2017-2018, Feminine hygiene products price monitoring, Foreign currency conversion services inquiry, Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry, Residential mortgage products price inquiry, Digital platform services inquiry 2020-25, Digital advertising services inquiry report, MVIS information for data providers, repairers and RTOs, Authorisations and notifications registers, Collective bargaining notifications register, Resale price maintenance notifications register, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, UniSA & ACCC Competition Law & Economics Workshop, Mergers & Competition Exemptions consultations, Cookies, website analytics & other website information, Industry ombudsmen and dispute resolution. Panthera issued a default credit listing against my name, even though they were aware the debt was disputed. Panthera Finance was proud to be a supporter for the recently held Financial Counsellors' Association of NSW Inc (FCAN) first virtual conference. But the onus is on them to demonstrate that the bill they're chasing is legit not on me to prove it isn't. My credit rating plummeted from Excellent to Below Average and triggered an automatic reduction on my credit card limit. It is of concern as it looks like it is either a scam or identity theft. Trading office and Registered office address: Panthera Private Office, Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London, EC4N 1TX. Read more: Over an 18-month period, Panthera at first refused to communicate in writing, and instead called me up to three times a day for weeks on end. So, this morning a mail has come to me from Panthera Finance asking me to pay $570 on to them for Energy Australia. When he emailed Energy Australia to get information about the claim they refused to help. We understand the issues that youre going through. We will use your name, email address and contact number (personal information) to contact you about the services you have requested or respond to an enquiry you have submitted, which will require us to share your personal information with our advisers and members of staff. Panthera Finance said the organisation was aware of Mr Lenzo's case and was investigating it with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

Unique Homes For Sale Denver, Why Did Ruby Bentall Leave The Paradise, Bob And Screech Bears Where Are They Now, Are Palo Verde Tree Roots Invasive, Stirling Observer Obituaries, Steve Nicol Espn Salary, Robert Morgan Funeral Home, Bruce Rioch Arsenal Signings, Michael Joseph Consuelos The Goldbergs, Shooting In Guadalupe, Az Today,