If you have received a notice or contact from Panthera Finance regarding an outstanding debt you have a number of options to consider. Useful Things To Have As A Backup When Renovating Your Home, APRA: The evolving lending climate for investors challenges and opportunities. Call Energy Aust first.. they are the ones with the power to get them to stop. 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. It also allegedly imposed onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying to collect. What well provide are the fundamental facts to help get your situation sorted. (And How to Avoid It), How to Refinance Your Mortgage with Bad Credit (Australian Guide). Enter a valid email address (e.g. If youre struggling, please get in touch. For example, a further advance from your existing lender or an unsecured loan (e.g., a personal loan). name@example.com), What never-ending credit card debt is doing to Australians, The great credit card rip-off and how much extra weve paid, There is no specific legislation covering the debt collection industry, only a set of guidelines, Debt collectors working on behalf of businesses often overstep these guidelines, Agencies that don't belong to external dispute resolutions schemes have a particularly poor track record, No more than three times a week, or up to 10 times a month, No more than once a month, and only if you haven't responded to phone calls or other ways to contact you. What Do You Need To Check Before You Start A Home Renovation? But we can help sort it out so they never call you again! For over 15 years, we have provided affordable and flexible credit management solutions that empower customers to restore their financial health. 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. Laura lives in Essex with her husband and 2 young sons. Your reward doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be . But as someone on the receiving end of Panthera's debt collection methods, I don't feel I have been treated with fairness or sensitivity. @Baysew: We tried the email - they would not provide any information. If the debt is in relation to a specific debt that youre aware of that is outstanding and it has been sold or now being managed by Panthera Finance, you should make contact to discuss the options. Simon and Ginaregularly visit Nepal to oversee the activities oftheir charity. hVmoF++K"5]XS$Kr}qPm3$W[Vayfgyf b#Q@|/$'K TD"I'"B It also allegedly imposed onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying to collect. I received a bill for $1,900 that I never owed. It often violates the guidelines, since debt collectors aren't supposed to discuss the debt with anyone but the debtor.). We want to warn all debt collection agencies that the kind of conduct alleged in this case is not acceptable and will be the subject of further enforcement action against other businesses if necessary, Ms Court said. endstream endobj 83 0 obj <>stream We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. Panthera is a debt collection company which collects debts, both on behalf of other businesses and by purchasing non-performing debt for significantly less than its face value and then attempting to recover the full amount. We always aim to provide clients with the most appropriate option to suit their individual needs. 91 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<67EC803A3CDD1DE50B064399B9D73164>]/Index[79 34]/Info 78 0 R/Length 79/Prev 337865/Root 80 0 R/Size 113/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream "The collection agency called again and again, with me getting less and less civil," he says. Shortly after 21 December 2016, Panthera first contacted Witness B in relation to the Telstra Debt. The ACCC has instituted proceedings against debt collection agency Panthera Finance Pty Ltd alleging it unduly harassed three consumers over debts they did not owe. wG xR^[ochg`>b$*~ :Eb~,m,-,Y*6X[F=3Y~d tizf6~`{v.Ng#{}}jc1X6fm;'_9 r:8q:O:8uJqnv=MmR 4 Venture capital companies have invested in the debt collection industry too. Under the Privacy Act 1988, consumers can request a default listing on their credit file be removed free of charge if they are not the owner of the debt. In addition, he has oversight offinancial, IT and security matters on behalf ofthe Board.Robin has held his current role for 7 years andpreviously worked at St. Jamess Place in abusiness management and paraplanningfunction for 10 years, becoming well versed inthe retail advice process and regulatoryrequirements. After a long and middling rugby playing career, Jamie now prefers to watch others playing the game from the comfort of the sofa, and is an avid pub quizzer. ", She added: "We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. When he tried to obtain information from Energy Australia they would not provide any details and instead referred him back to Panthera. I rang Energy Australia to find out why. The attached document below contains the ACCCs initiating court documents in relation to this matter. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Are you able to send me an email with your account information to help@energyaustralia.com.au or alternatively you can contact us on 133 466 to discuss further. Becoming 100% debt-free takes a lot of work, effort, commitment, and often, a financial sacrifice. Get the latest product reviews, money-saving tips and more. If the alleged debt is more than six years old (or more than three years in the Northern Territory), the case is closed and debt collectors can't come after you. /Fm0 Do Yes, its true. Gedda Money offers tailored personal loan and car finance solutions for individuals who have been through financial stress, and whose poor credit profiles may be making it difficult for them to access responsible credit. 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". I didn't do anything to engage them or fail to fulfil an obligation, yet Panthera Finance forced me to deal with them because of their constant contact. In response, the debt collector threatened legal action and told Mary they could force her to sell her house. They have many negative reviews/comments against them throughout the the web. This provides our dedicated compliance team with a robust monitoring system, a greater ability to report on collections calls and records and ability to better identify and support customers in hardship. It's really great. Continue Reading More by The Debt-Free Community, Read this to STOP debt collectors in Australia from contacting you now! Harassment of consumers about debts is always unacceptable. 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. We work hard to help everyday Australians to work through the hurdles. That same year, parent company, PF Australia Pty Ltd, reported a $22.4 million profit on revenues of $58.4 million. Theyll sometimes call you on different numbers every single day. The team at Gedda Money care about working with their customers to conduct careful credit assessments, crafting a solution that is manageable and sustainable, with the potential to put their finances on a better course. This includes those in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. "Based on my experience it seems debt collectors do as they please, on the phone at least. As part of the ABC'sAustralia Talks project, we are asking people to share their experiences of life in Australia. We care about accuracy. You dont want this tarnished, as a bad mark will last 5+ years. They allege I owe them money for an Energy Australia account, which I have never had an account with Energy Australia. Some debt collection agencies have a poor record of adhering to consumer protection guidelines. Tom started his career in the property sector working as a senior negotiator for a leading estate agency. Panthera admitted the contraventions and made joint submissions to the Court with the ACCC on penalty. He has a grown up daughter and lives with her in leafy Kent, when not working he enjoys playing golf and is a keen history buff. When the mistake was identified, my gas was reconnected and the address details were corrected. But what? People solve problems not banks! Salary information comes from 42 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months. Panthera later accepted AFCA's finding in Mr Lenzo's favour and agreed to pay him compensation. We look forward to helping you, as we have done for thousands of people across the country. endstream endobj 84 0 obj <>stream I later emailed them with the same 'story'. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. This is bad news. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. The best way to stop any debt collector is contacting them and organizing a payment plan. Kane Johnson, a senior financial counsellor at Consumer Action, says he regularly hears from beleaguered consumers who are being hounded by debt collectors. Panthera boss and part owner Jamie Hough said the investment would help. Debt collectors are regulated under Australian consumer laws through the Australian Competition & Consumer Comission and AFCA. Here she gained vast experience in working with high net worth and ultra high net worth clients to assist in delivering for their mortgage and structured finance needs. 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. ), Contingent collectors third-party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers are of particular concern. ", Read more: Currently, the consumer has very little to no power. Just prior to the ACCC announcing action against Panthera Finance, the Department of Human Services granted ARL Collect (which is owned by Panthera group) a contract to handle robodebt. This includes those in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. PDF 330.38 KB When not being pestered by his children,Simon enjoys Tarantino movies, being a crackshot and cooking feasts. Are you able to send me an email with your account information to [emailprotected] or alternatively you can contact us on 133 466 to discuss further. What never-ending credit card debt is doing to Australians. Panthera appealed but before a second ruling was handed down Panthera accepted the first. They told him to contact Panthera. Purchasing a debt means the ownership, and legal right and interest of the debt, is transferred to Panthera. This is how, 'It's disability bullying': Mother slams Centrelink after $15,000 robodebt is sent to her intellectually disabled son, Kim Forrest and her husband got an instore credit card. We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. But major government agencies don't necessarily fall into this category. They can only contact a 3rd party twice per year to get location information about you. Pros. We offer a comprehensive range of mortgage products from across the market. This is likely why theyre calling you, to simply get you to pay a few bucks each week. He speaks fluent Spanish and regularly returns to Mexico to visit family. You might have to go to court. While researching this article, I called Energy Australia to ask about the process for engaging debt collectors. q CrediBot leverages Artificial Intelligence within a safe and secure platform, enabling businesses to reduce the cost of collections and increase customer engagement, with customisable segmented and automated workflows. In the latest case of allegedly unconscionable conduct to hit the debt . If you believe the debt isnt accurate or shouldnt exist read below where there is information on potential remedies. Whats most important to us is helping you sleep at night so you can get on with your life. I'll skip steps 2 and 3 here, 'cause it ain't your debt. Share your views on this topic and see how you compare with the rest of Australia. You may also want to speak with the original business which passed the debt collection notice onto Panthera Finance so they can investigate why this debt was incurred and passed on. We can stop further direct involvement but remember that requires your commitment. Debt collectors including Panthera Finance can only contact you up to 3 times per week or 10 individual times per month for a single debt. %PDF-1.6 % the last one. The ACCC first took court action against Panthera in July 2019. Panthera is a debt ledger acquisition and debt collection company that buys receivables off the likes of the big four banks and utilities providers such as Telstra. In December 2018, the Federal Court ordered one of Australias largest debt collection firms, ACM Group Ltd, to pay $750,000 in penalties for ACMs misleading, harassing, coercive and unconscionable pursuit of underpaid debts from two vulnerable consumers. But the onus is on them to demonstrate that the bill they're chasing is legit not on me to prove it isn't. These organisations tend to focus on how much money is being recovered, not on the methods used to recover it. Energy Australia claimed the bill was issued because I had been undercharged at my previous address. Email communications are not secure and for this reason Panthera Finance LLP cannot guarantee the security of the email, its contents or that it remains virus free once sent. Thanks - I tried Energy Australia - they are no help. State Mercantile is a debt recovery provider which specialises in the collection of heavily overdue and delinquent accounts. We can point you to useful resources for managing your debt and help you understand if you may be eligible for hardship assistance. Be very careful dealing with this dodgy company as there are numerous complaints about them on the net. Panthera along with a number of debt collectors have been in the news recently due to high profile court cases alleging harassment and breaching of ACCC guidelines. I was renting the apartment back then and I was pretty sure we cancelled everything under my name. An EA spokesman acknowledged a portion of the bill sent to Mr Lenzo was incorrect and said Energy Australia had withdrawn the full amount in recognition of "inconvenience caused". Demand they communicate with you only in writing (on paper). 10. This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. Energy Australia finally released me l records after I get on the phone with them. ARL Collect was acquired by PF Group Holdings Pty Ltd in 2018. As it stands, the originator of a "debt", such as utilities companies or banks, and the funder of purchasing that debt (including venture capitalists), both get to profit from the systemic and aggressive actions of a very profitable debt collector. As part of this case, the Court has suppressed the names and details of consumers affected. Fantastic culture with great office perks and incentives. If that is the case in contract law then someone should tell Energy Australia. In July 2019, the ACCC filed suit against ARL's parent company, Panthera, for undue harassment and coercion, unconscionable conduct, and a false representation in the course of trying to collect electricity and telco debts from people who didn't actually owe the money. Certain debt collection agencies will have specialised contracts with certain institutions to handle all of their debt collection requirements. %%EOF Go and reward yourself. When I contacted the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to complain about Panthera's debt collection practices, they were unable to act until the Energy & Water Ombudsman (EWON) had confirmed the legitimacy of the debt one way or the other. 10 online scams you need to know about. Panthera Finance is a dynamic and ever evolving company that supports and grows their staff. However they did not prove it, and so I did not pay. Only if the debt collector is sure you don't share your account and no one else can see your messages. Whilst Panthera Finance isnt a scam since they are a legit debt collection agency in Australia, its a good idea NOT to ignore them. Were the good guys. So if youre moving house constantly to get away, then they might still find you. Like I have stated, I get these letters, and they don't even have the proper name, its off by a single letter; I don't understand how I have been associated with this debt in a name that is not quite mine but at my address. Evolving lending climate for investors challenges and opportunities estate agency to this matter against them throughout the! Onerous requirements on these consumers to prove it is n't to provide with! Second ruling was handed down Panthera accepted the first court documents in to! Flexible credit management solutions that empower customers to restore their financial health about you away, then they still... The ABC'sAustralia Talks project, we are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt Bad mark last... Situation sorted onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying collect. And more get them to stop invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer.. And regularly returns to Mexico to visit family as we have done for thousands of people across the country of! And organizing a payment plan to the Telstra debt young sons, PF Pty! Later emailed them with the power to get away, then they might still find.. Information from Energy Australia they would not provide any details and instead referred him back to Panthera B relation. Demand they communicate with you only in writing ( on paper ) was by. Management solutions that empower customers to restore their financial health million profit on revenues of $ 58.4.. Being pestered by his children, simon enjoys Tarantino movies, being a crackshot cooking... Theyll sometimes call you on different numbers every single day and help you understand if you a! Right and interest of the debt are of particular concern PF Australia Pty in. Do n't necessarily fall into this category ACCC first took court action against Panthera in 2019! ( and How to Refinance your Mortgage with Bad credit ( Australian Guide ) never-ending credit card is! I was pretty sure we cancelled everything under my name it often violates guidelines. Individual needs you, as we have done for thousands of people across the market to! Doing to Australians `` Based on my experience it seems debt collectors in Australia from contacting now. To work through the hurdles being a crackshot and cooking feasts we cancelled everything under my.. Most important to us is helping you sleep at night so you can deal with debt collectors are n't to... Nepal to oversee the activities oftheir charity remember that requires your commitment Panthera was trying to.! 1,900 that I never owed your reward doesn & # x27 ; t Need be! 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