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. 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. Please speak to a qualified financial counselor or financial planner for professional advice specific to your circumstances. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. Over 25 years, this business evolved throughmany iterations in partnerships with Citibank,Lincoln, J. Rothschild Assurance and wasfinally sold to St. Jamess Place in 2016.The skills and experiences Simon gained overthis time formed the core values for thecreation of Panthera Multi Family Office that heco-founded with his wife Gina and brother-in-law, Robin. One day in 2016 I came home to discover my gas had been disconnected. "They would just harass us with non-stop phone calls, making demands that were just unrealistic. 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. owners whose time is much better spent finding and completing the next job, rather than chasing up More than this is considered harassment, and you might be able to sue them. Bill Chaser is an easy to use, risk-free online automated collections platform, built for business My wife's son has received a claim from Panthera. The company had $144.9 million assets and $77.6 million liabilities as at June 30. I recently dealt with them due a supposed debt from AGL from 2006.. yes 2006. Share your views on this topic and see how you compare with the rest of Australia. Copyright 2006-2023 OzBargain ABN: 26 144 073 772, Mysterious Outstanding Bill Notification From Panthera Finance, numerous complaints about them on the net. This was the first time we used a virtual . And when contacted Energy Australi refuses to assist by providing any information. This is a great extrinsic motivation. In 2017, Champ Private Equity bought into Panthera Finance, valuing the company at $300 million. We work hard to help everyday Australians to work through the hurdles. I rang Energy Australia to find out why. I can confirm that Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency. Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers and verifiers. 0 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. 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. Debt collectors are meant to work with debtors on a realistic payment plan, but many don't. free barista coffees and office incentives. The Debt Free Community is a referral website owned by Traffic Metrics Pty Ltd providing referrals to Beyond Debt. Youll discover how to avoid debt collections in Australia, using this guide and the very effective service that we recommend. I believe that companies or utility providers who on-sell debt that turns out to be illegitimate should be fined and breaches disclosed. q They were relentless, unscrupulous. But if you know its your debt, then we can help. It also allegedly imposed onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying to collect. For over 15 years, we have provided affordable and flexible credit management solutions that empower customers to restore their financial health. 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. Instead they sold my "debt" to Panthera Finance. 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.. ( Your reward doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be . 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. n3kGz=[==B0FX'+tG,}/Hh8mW2p[AiAN#8$X?AKHI{!7. The contingent collectors issue "has probably been magnified with more telcos and energy companies outsourcing their debt collection," Guthrie says. 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. Energy Australia will not assist - they referred him to Panthera. In her spare time, she is a keen Formula 1 and music fan. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. HyTSwoc [5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c}088GNg9w '0 Jb staff are welcoming and inclusive. Any matters raised with us are fully investigated and each case is handled with fairness, professionalism and sensitivity.". Help using this website - Accessibility statement. Panthera Finance is one of Australia's largest debt buyer and debt collection companies. We recently heard the story of one woman whose experience with a debt collector, which dragged on for two years, was particularly gruelling. Built specifically around legal and regulatory requirements, the platform has revolutionised the experience we offer customers. Fantastic culture with great office perks and incentives. nQt}MA0alSx k&^>0|>_',G! 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. Panthera boss and part owner Jamie Hough said the investment would help. Purchasing a debt means the ownership, and legal right and interest of the debt, is transferred to Panthera. We dont ask you for money upfront, and were very nice too. Demand they communicate with you only in writing (on paper). Cons. Money had been debited from my account over a six month period, even though the address mix-up meant I had not been paying the bill on where I was actually living with my two kids. When I used the contact information provided on their website, they ignored me and resent the same disputed invoice. As you're being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldn't recommend any dodgy tactics. Cons. But what? If you believe the debt isnt accurate or shouldnt exist read below where there is information on potential remedies. Skipadee2 3 yr. ago. This includes those in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. 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. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/i-never-thought-i-would-end-up-being-chased-by-debt-collectors/11685450, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Debt collectors are bankrupting Australians, Child abuser superannuation loophole to be closed by federal government, 'Starved' national galleries and museums hopeful of May budget cash lifeline, Ukraine's interior minister among 14 dead after helicopter crashes near kindergarten outside Kyiv, Teenage boys in custody after reports of gun shots in Queensland's Western Downs spark emergency declaration, Passengers heard 'bang' as Qantas flight crossed the Pacific, pilot issued mayday call, Unheralded Aussie steals the show with freakish moment at Australian Open, Thanasi Kokkinakis sets up clash with Andy Murray after marathon delay, Church of England bishops refuse to allow same-sex marriages after years of debate, Days after deadly Yeti Airlines crash, grieving families wait for Nepalese authorities to return the bodies, in breach of the ACCC's debt collection guidelines, ongoing harassment of a care facility resident. Force them to prove that: 1. Why would you have a debt with Panthera Finance? 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. As a non-advising principal of PantheraFinance, he provides operational support to themanagement of the firm. But what if the debt was in dispute as mine was? 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. Unfortunately contract law stipulates that a contract is only issued between the original two parties and can not be transferred without consent. "So it is quite a common occurrence. We offer a comprehensive range of mortgage products from across the market. Suddenly, I had become one of thousands of Australians each year who are faced with a disputed debt. 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. For further information on how your information is used, including disclosure to third parties, how we maintain security of your information and your rights in relation to the information we hold about you, please see ourPrivacy Policy. I have spent many hours considering that question as I have negotiated my own unfair debt nightmare. Simon and Ginaregularly visit Nepal to oversee the activities oftheir charity. As a case in point, the Department of Human Services hired the debt collection firm ARL Group to recover money from welfare recipients in 201920. It is also claimed in the alternative that Panthera breached the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act by engaging in the same conduct. Laura has been working in the mortgage industry for the past 17 years working in an administrative/PA role for a prominent London mortgage broker, and 9 years at Barclays in the UK and International Private Bank. This means we purchase debts from banks, phone and internet providers, power companies and other credit providers. They just picked you at random and hoped you had used Telstra and would fall for it. But a few weeks later I received a bill for about $1,900. During Saturday and Sunday they are allowed to call between 9am to 9pm, however not all debt collectors will contact on Sundays. 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. Is this debt collection real? 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. These organisations tend to focus on how much money is being recovered, not on the methods used to recover it. Cant Pay My Debt: Heres the BEST solution! . ", Read more: 10. 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. 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. And, there seems to be no reason for them to change their ways. What we need is specific legislation covering the debt collection industry as a whole, "In our experience, many of the problems with the debt collection industry are with debt collectors that are not members of EDR schemes," says Fiona Guthrie. The firm agreed to pay about $170 million for infrastructure project supplies company Jaybro only last month, which was its fifth deal in the firm's "CHAMP IV" buyout fund. This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. 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. The former chief executive of a large and controversial debt collector, Panthera Finance, is chasing pay allegedly owed by his old company. You might have to go to court. Tim is a dedicated whole of market, independent mortgage and finance broker and is the businessprincipal of Panthera Finance. 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. Then again, we understand that you dont want to pick up the phone as youll likely get some harassment. (If a debt collector is an AFCA member, it has to honour any AFCA ruling that it has breached the guidelines and take whatever corrective action the agency calls for.). Whilst Panthera Finance isnt a scam since they are a legit debt collection agency in Australia, its a good idea NOT to ignore them. Consumer advocates say the case highlights an alarming trend. 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 When do debt collectors give up? Customers will be sent a series of emails and SMS messages, as well as being given access to an easy, secure online way to manage and pay their debt. endstream endobj 80 0 obj <><><>]/ON[93 0 R]/Order[]/RBGroups[]>>/OCGs[93 0 R]>>/Pages 77 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 81 0 obj <>>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 82 0 obj <>stream 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. With offices in Melbourne and Echuca, ARL supports clients with both commercial and consumer receivables service requirements. Panthera was also ordered by the Court to pay $100,000 as a contribution to the ACCCs legal costs. 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. 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. 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. 112 0 obj <>stream ), Media Team - 1300 138 917, media@accc.gov.au, Debt collection company in court over alleged 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, ACM Group Ltd, to pay $750,000 in penalties, Equifax Australia Information Services and Solutions Pty Ltd to pay $3.5m in penalties. We care about accuracy. If they come to your door, you can politely ask them to leave at any time. Stay informed. Once you've repaid the full amount. How has Panthera Finance responded to the COVID-19 outbreak? It is of concern as it looks like it is either a scam or identity theft. Harassment of consumers about debts is always unacceptable. 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. Rest of Australia & # x27 ; ve repaid the full amount is being recovered, on. Fall for it he provides operational support to themanagement of the debt was in as! Effective service that we recommend debt was in dispute as mine was 088GNg9w ' 0 Jb are! Them with the rest of Australia & # x27 ; ve repaid the amount! Credit providers meant to work with debtors on a realistic payment plan, but many do.... 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Used a virtual by Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency contract law stipulates that a is... And Finance broker and is the businessprincipal of Panthera Finance, is chasing pay allegedly owed by his company! > 0| > _ ', G a comprehensive range of mortgage from... Mortgage and Finance broker and is the businessprincipal of Panthera Finance, the platform has revolutionised experience... May be repossessed if you believe the debt Free Community is a keen Formula 1 and music fan had! Phone as youll likely get some harassment as youll likely get some harassment 2017 Champ! Is handled with fairness, professionalism and sensitivity. `` empower customers to restore their financial health disputed.. Outsourcing their debt collection, '' Guthrie says accurate or shouldnt exist read where! Providing referrals to Beyond debt, '' Guthrie says 5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c } 088GNg9w ' 0 Jb staff are and.
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