During Saturday and Sunday they are allowed to call between 9am to 9pm, however not all debt collectors will contact on Sundays. hl7z]6x87Q.7.bY5. Panthera issued a default credit listing against my name, even though they were aware the debt was disputed. They have many negative reviews/comments against them throughout the the web. Harassment of consumers about debts is always unacceptable. And when contacted Energy Australi refuses to assist by providing any information. Certain debt collection agencies will have specialised contracts with certain institutions to handle all of their debt collection requirements. Those letters, text messages and phone calls can be stopped within days. Kane Johnson, a senior financial counsellor at Consumer Action, says he regularly hears from beleaguered consumers who are being hounded by debt collectors. Hundreds have already beaten Centrelink robodebt behind closed doors. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. "Based on my experience it seems debt collectors do as they please, on the phone at least. This is bad news. "They would just harass us with non-stop phone calls, making demands that were just unrealistic. Enter a valid email address (e.g. ACM chose to fight all the way to the Federal Court before losing, and was fined $750,000. Not only do they behave in an illegal manner but do not provide any invoices or evidence of the debt that is required to be paid in full. This means we purchase debts from banks, phone and internet providers, power companies and other credit providers. They can only contact you between 7:30am and 9pm on weekdays. We got into a back and forth discussion for about a year. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. Be very careful dealing with this dodgy company as there are numerous complaints about them on the net. Panthera Finance has an exponential growth story and has established itself as the second largest PDL acquirer in the Australian market. 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. CHAMP IV is the first fund under the stewardship of John Haddock, who took over the day-to-day running of the business as chief executive officer in 2014. 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. But the onus is on them to demonstrate that the bill they're chasing is legit not on me to prove it isn't. They were relentless, unscrupulous. Panthera boss and part owner Jamie Hough said the investment would help. Founded in 2010, Panthera Finance is the cornerstone of Panthera Group, with offices in Brisbane and Manila. 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. But then again, its never too late for us to help you out. 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. 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. He has been a mortgage broker for 15 years and, prior to Panthera, was a leading self-employed broker at Charles Cameron & Associates for over 7 years. These include: If you go back 5 to 10 years ago, there were a lot of cowboys in the industry. Perhaps unpaid credit card repayments, loan arrears and bills which are well past their due dates. Energy Australia refuse to provide any information - they cannot even find someone to press a button and print out details of the supposed account. Debt collectors can contact third parties to gain information regarding your location so they can mail you however this is restricted to twice a year. ", (In March 2020, Panthera was ordered by the federal court to pay $500,000 in penalties.). "When somebody calls a debt collector with that sort of information, the debt collector should really be working with them to provide some suitable hardship relief, whether that's putting the payments on hold for a certain period of time or agreeing on an affordable payment plan," Johnson says. The Panthera case is just one example. Hi guys I'm a financial counsellor don't forget overdue accounts and amounts owing become statute barred after 6 years and only 3 years in the NT and ACT so be careful if its an old bill. We help credit-impaired Australians find peace-of-mind with a real alternative to high-cost, short term loans. There are no consequences for selling debt that remains in dispute. But if you know its your debt, then we can help. 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. @Baysew: We tried the email - they would not provide any information. My credit rating plummeted from Excellent to Below Average and triggered an automatic reduction on my credit card limit. Working in partnership with Equifax, CrediBot has three platform offerings created for unique business requirements CrediBot Express, CrediBot and CrediBot Enterprise. Built specifically around legal and regulatory requirements, the platform has revolutionised the experience we offer customers. Theft happens sometimes, so it might be your fault at all. Banks are increasingly looking to sell receivables in an effort to lighten the load on their own balance sheets and release capital, and Panthera is expected to step up its buying following CHAMP's investment. 79 0 obj <> endobj "But in this particular case, not only was no hardship relief offered, but they actually sent the man a letter a couple of weeks later, threatening to take legal action if he was unable to pay the debt in full. It turned out that when I moved into my new apartment six months earlier, the wrong address had been added to my account. In its most recent annual report filed with the regulator, Panthera's parent company PF Group posted $81.5 million in revenue for the 2018 financial year, up from $59.8 million the year prior. Fantastic culture with great office perks and incentives. the last one. If you are experienced and can work independently you can work from home. Our New Zealand branch is an extension of Panthera Finances services, supporting clients across the Tasman with their credit recovery requirements. Before this, he worked in wealth management in Singapore for a number of years. All rights reserved. Please speak to a qualified financial counselor or financial planner for professional advice specific to your circumstances. The ACCC alleges that Panthera 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. Don't forget to celebrate the small wins along the way. 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. This includes those in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. ACCC v Panthera Finance Pty Ltd We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. What if I am impacted by COVID- 19? I don't know if this helps or is even that relevant, but I had the same thing this morning, for a little over 1k. Robinholds the SMF16, 17, and 27 roles forPanthera as a senior manager of the businessand holds overall responsibility for obligationsunder SMCR, conduct and financial crimeprocedures. Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. 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. We work hard to help everyday Australians to work through the hurdles. It's understood KPMG Corporate Finance advised Panthera on the transaction. 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. "F$H:R!zFQd?r9\A&GrQhE]a4zBgE#H *B=0HIpp0MxJ$D1D, VKYdE"EI2EBGt4MzNr!YK ?%_&#(0J:EAiQ(()WT6U@P+!~mDe!hh/']B/?a0nhF!X8kc&5S6lIa2cKMA!E#dV(kel }}Cq9 Either way Energy Australia will not help. Call before you pay!! In this guide, were going to talk about what is personal insolvency and the differences it has when compared to other, Did you know that lenders do provide better home loan rates where you can refinance your mortgage with bad credit? Scammers are impersonating Panthera and are trying to trick you. staff are welcoming and inclusive. Panthera Finance is Australias largest privately-owned debt ledger acquisition and debt collection company. Laura lives in Essex with her husband and 2 young sons. 2022 Panthera Finance LLP. Force them to prove that: 1. 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. We recently heard the story of one woman whose experience with a debt collector, which dragged on for two years, was particularly gruelling. Bad news if you need to buy a car or house in the future. x- [ 0}y)7ta>jT7@t`q2&6ZL?_yxg)zLU*uSkSeO4?c. R -25 S>Vd`rn~Y&+`;A4 A9 =-tl`;~p Gp| [`L` "AYA+Cb(R, *T2B- But major government agencies don't necessarily fall into this category. 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. Pros. 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. We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. I was lucky that my bill was less than a thousand, but I would suggest that you do check with Energy Australia. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. PDF 330.38 KB The issue of 'contingent collectors' third-party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers is of particular concern. How has Panthera Finance responded to the COVID-19 outbreak? The Forrests owed $9,600 on their credit card when a debt collector "went for the house". 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. Get the inside story on our investigations into consumer rip-offs and bad business practices. Did your identity get stolen? This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. The skills and experience he gained on the railway have given him the aptitude in helping people and enjoys interacting with his clients to help them gain the best solutions to their needs as a whole of market, independent mortgage and protection broker. It is of concern as it looks like it is either a scam or identity theft. He lives with his wife, two children and dog in Leigh-on-Sea. We recommend that you address this, even if you think its not your debt. What can Panthera Finance do to collect debts. It is clear something needs to change. As you're being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldn't recommend any dodgy tactics. I feel like I have been harassed and coerced into paying whether I owe anything or not and I am not the first one to feel like this. You do realise this is an quite an old thread. Then again, we understand that you dont want to pick up the phone as youll likely get some harassment. nQt}MA0alSx k&^>0|>_',G! 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. To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. Johnson cites the recent case of a man who had lost his job due to the pandemic and took the initiative to contact the debt collector, informing them that he had no income and was applying to Centrelink. 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. Over the last two years around 100 people have complained to the ACCC about Panthera's debt collection activities. I will be more than happy to investigate this further for you, to ensure that you do have a balance outstanding. When do debt collectors give up? Since 2014 the ACCC has had a standing delegation of certain of ASIC powers and functions for the purposes of investigation and commencement and conduct of any proceedings in relation to matters involving financial products and services provided as part of, or in connection with credit repair and debt collection. 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. Ask us to step in! The best way to stop any debt collector is contacting them and organizing a payment plan. The ACCC is seeking pecuniary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for a compliance program, publication orders and costs. Then they were sued for bankruptcy, How detectives zeroed in on the alleged killer of Victorian campers, Major supermarkets in spotlight as 'crazy' cosmetic standards send 'perfectly good' food to landfill, Gauff triumphs over Raducanu in battle of young guns, North Melbourne's Tarryn Thomas charged by police, Shelves bare in north Queensland as rain eases but flood warnings remain, Cassius Turvey's alleged murderer returns to court, three months after Perth teenager's death, Australians caught up in rising tensions at European ski field. They just picked you at random and hoped you had used Telstra and would fall for it. For context, ASX-listed factoring company Scottish Pacific had $100.4 million net revenue and $25.3 million net profit in the 2017 financial year. Cons. But what? 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. We dont ask you for money upfront, and were very nice too. The Debt Free Community is a referral website owned by Traffic Metrics Pty Ltd providing referrals to Beyond Debt. they are a real company , had to deal with them before ( someone opened a telstra home line under my name fraudulently ) , they made things super difficult, if i was you i would find out from agl whats going on , and deal with panthera via email/written form only, when i dealt with them , they lied , made things up , failed to deliver any evidence of what was owed and refused to contact telstra after i called telstra and cleared it up with them and provided panthera with reference numbers to interactions with telstra, this was over a 4 month period where i was told multiple times it was sorted. Panthera Finance Financial Services Toowong, Queensland 1,870 followers Panthera Finance is one of Australia's largest debt buyers and collectors, committed to getting customers out of debt. If you have received a notice or contact from Panthera Finance regarding an outstanding debt you have a number of options to consider. They hope that youll pick up the phone. We can help sort it out for you, so you dont have to pick up the phone. Fiona Guthrie, chief executive of Financial Counselling Australia, says the debt collection industry "has some good players and, sadly, some not so good players". The debt is yours (via a contract you had with the original company). They appear to be complicit in a scam. 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 . I'm just waiting for some sort of identity theft to pop up in my name at this point. Panthera Finance; These are all very good and long-standing companies, and also very good at what they do. With offices in Melbourne and Echuca, ARL supports clients with both commercial and consumer receivables service requirements. Cant Pay My Debt: Heres the BEST solution! State Mercantile is a debt recovery provider which specialises in the collection of heavily overdue and delinquent accounts. Read more: Witness B and his financial advisor, informed Panthera on at least three occasions in the period 20 January 2017 to 4 April 2017 that Witness B was not liable for the Telstra Debt, and that Witness B believed the Telstra account was created 2021 Panthera Finance Group. Skipadee2 3 yr. ago. "Some contingent collectors seem to be a law unto themselves. Trading office and Registered office address: Panthera Private Office, Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London, EC4N 1TX. 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. Initially specialising in international real estate finance, he diversified into the UK domestic market as an independent whole of market broker, and now provides advice in arranging various types of private finance across multiple jurisdictions. Energy Australia claimed the bill was issued because I had been undercharged at my previous address. 112 0 obj <>stream When they reverse a default listing, they don't let those same organisations that have an alert on you for a negative ding know that the default has been reversed. It often violates the guidelines, since debt collectors aren't supposed to discuss the debt with anyone but the debtor.). There have been many cases of incorrect debts being assigned due to clerical errors, failed procedures or even fraud so finding out how this debt came into existence is incredibly important. If youve received a letter in the mail or SMS about some old debt with Panthera Finance, its probably from Optus, Simply Energy, AGL or Energy Australia. Your reward doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be . I can confirm that Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency. Born and raised in Scotland, Jamie studied Spanish and Politics at Newcastle University and spent time living in Mexico before moving to London to embark on a career in mortgages in 2007. I am now searching for information on the relevant ombudsman. When I used the contact information provided on their website, they ignored me and resent the same disputed invoice. 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. 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. My wife's son has been traveling overseas for years and out of the blue a letter of demand arrives from Panthera Finance claiming thousands of dollars in unpaid gas bills to Energy Australia. wG xR^[ochg`>b$*~ :Eb~,m,-,Y*6X[F=3Y~d tizf6~`{v.Ng#{}}jc1X6fm;'_9 r:8q:O:8uJqnv=MmR 4 Share your views on this topic and see how you compare with the rest of Australia. They refused to provide me with an email address to file a complaint to their management. Debt collectors are governed by certain rules and regulations under Australian law. "But that isn't adequate.". In 2017, Champ Private Equity bought into Panthera Finance, valuing the company at $300 million. I found this forum with a Google search. 0 V)gB0iW8#8w8_QQj@&A)/g>'K t;\ $FZUn(4T%)0C&Zi8bxEB;PAom?W= We took this case because of the concerning way Panthera dealt with these consumers who did not owe any money, ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said. The information contacting within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK. 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. %%EOF Whilst Panthera Finance isnt a scam since they are a legit debt collection agency in Australia, its a good idea NOT to ignore them. Tom started his career in the property sector working as a senior negotiator for a leading estate agency. But these guidelines, set by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), are just that they're not legally enforceable laws. ). 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. It looks like after I disconnected the service, they sent me a bill to the property instead of to my email, and since I've had left the apartment, I couldn't have known that I got the bill. ", Not a day goes by where our financial counsellors aren't speaking to people who have been impacted by debt collectors in some way. If youve received a notice for a debt that you should have not received, you can alert Panthera Finance to this. As youre being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldnt recommend any dodgy tactics. By the end of this post, youll be well informed to make the right decision. We at CHOICE acknowledge the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians of this land on which we work, and pay our respects to the First Nations people of this country. Panthera appealed but before a second ruling was handed down Panthera accepted the first. What Do You Need To Check Before You Start A Home Renovation? Only communicate with them in writing (and only to tell them to fudge off and stop harassing you). I believe this company to be a scam operation. Again, we dont charge anything upfront at all. We understand the issues that youre going through. Asked 10 February 2021. 10 online scams you need to know about. "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. 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