At Panthera Finance Group, we integrate financial services with digital-first, data-driven solutions. But what if the debt was in dispute as mine was? 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. They were relentless, unscrupulous. 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. Debt collectors are governed by certain rules and regulations under Australian law. During weekdays, debt collectors can only contact you via the phone between 7:30am-9pm. See Panthera Finance salaries collected directly from employees and jobs on Indeed. Theres now greater consumer protection laws to protect the Aussie battler. In a Brisbane District Court case, Richard Kennerley. "Based on my experience it seems debt collectors do as they please, on the phone at least. 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. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. Whats most important to us is helping you sleep at night so you can get on with your life. The ACCC first took court action against Panthera in July 2019. It turned out that when I moved into my new apartment six months earlier, the wrong address had been added to my account. 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. They can only contact you between 7:30am and 9pm on weekdays. 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. @Baysew: We tried the email - they would not provide any information. 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 . Energy Australia refuse to provide any information - they cannot even find someone to press a button and print out details of the supposed account. Panthera Finance has purchased more than $5.5 billion in receivables from banks, telcos, utilities and the like. Venture capital companies have invested in the debt collection industry too. free barista coffees and office incentives. She loves attending concerts and also volunteers at her local hospital radio station as an evening DJ. 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. The Panthera case is just one example. Over the last two years around 100 people have complained to the ACCC about Pantheras debt collection activities. It's really great. I can confirm that Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency. For example, a further advance from your existing lender or an unsecured loan (e.g., a personal loan). Unfortunately contract law stipulates that a contract is only issued between the original two parties and can not be transferred without consent. 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. Q 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. 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. Heres how you can do it. staff are welcoming and inclusive. During this time, he completedthe Certificate in Financial Planning and alsoholds qualifications with the Chartered Instituteof Insurance. This is great news, however, debt collectors are still out to get you. If youve received a notice for a debt that you should have not received, you can alert Panthera Finance to this. Force them to prove that: 1. Panthera issued a default credit listing against my name, even though they were aware the debt was disputed. A starting point therefore would be to codify the guidelines.". All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. endstream endobj startxref 2021 Panthera Finance Group. 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's harmless scam mail if you don't fall for it. 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.. Commencing business operations in 2004, State Mercantile saw the establishment of what is today, Panthera Finance Group. But we can help sort it out so they never call you again! Cons. 79 0 obj <> endobj We care about accuracy. 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. Youll discover how to avoid debt collections in Australia, using this guide and the very effective service that we recommend. Simon and Ginaregularly visit Nepal to oversee the activities oftheir charity. . 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. Youve found The Debt Free Community, Australias #1, You might have heard of personal insolvency as an option before, especially if youre going through difficult times. ", Read more: Fiona Guthrie, chief executive of Financial Counselling Australia, says the debt collection industry "has some good players and, sadly, some not so good players". Read more here. 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. n3kGz=[==B0FX'+tG,}/Hh8mW2p[AiAN#8$X?AKHI{!7. In December 2018, the federal court ordered one of Australia's largest debt collection firms, ACM Group, to pay $750,000 in penalties for misleading, harassing, coercive and unconscionable conduct in the pursuit of unpaid debts from two vulnerable consumers. We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers.. They told him to contact Panthera. Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London EC4N 1TX+44 (0) 208 629 8170contact@panthera.co.uk. Is this debt collection real? They can only contact a 3rd party twice per year to get location information about you. We offer a comprehensive range of mortgage products from across the market. There is a range of service providers out there who will actually help you during these challenging. Panthera Finance LLP is fiercely independent and takes great pride in offering the mortgage that is best for you We operate with total clarity throughout the buying process to deliver a fast and totally reliable service Guiding you home through a personal relationship with one of our team of experienced pro-active brokers hVmoF++K"5]XS$Kr}qPm3$W[Vayfgyf b#Q@|/$'K TD"I'"B Our New Zealand branch is an extension of Panthera Finances services, supporting clients across the Tasman with their credit recovery requirements. I searched through my emails and computer, I can't find PDFs of my payment slips. Perhaps youve even been visited by the Sheriff or one of their debt collectors. Demand they communicate with you only in writing (on paper). There are no consequences for selling debt that remains in dispute. 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. Pros. "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 ", (In March 2020, Panthera was ordered by the federal court to pay $500,000 in penalties.). 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. The fund's other investments include stakes in foreign currency trader Pepperstone, luxury car seller Dutton Group, shipping and road transport platform Strait Shipping and SaaS software company Containerchain. Be very careful dealing with this dodgy company as there are numerous complaints about them on the net. This is bad news. Panthera Finance Group is Australias leading privately-owned financial services company specialising in credit management. For those seeking to increase their existing borrowing, alternative finance options may be available and more appropriate for your needs. 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. More than this is considered harassment, and you might be able to sue them. 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. As you're being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldn't recommend any dodgy tactics. 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. "In this case, we allege Panthera's conduct was particularly egregious as we understand they continued to harass these three consumers after they became aware that they didn't owe any money. This is a great extrinsic motivation. Continue Reading More by The Debt-Free Community, Read this to STOP debt collectors in Australia from contacting you now! Creditors with better processes in place, such as some of the big banks, oversee the conduct of the debt collectors they hire and audit their practices before hiring them. 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. Get the latest product reviews, money-saving tips and more. Thanks - I tried Energy Australia - they are no help. 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. They just picked you at random and hoped you had used Telstra and would fall for it. ", She added: "We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. 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. Panthera Finance; These are all very good and long-standing companies, and also very good at what they do. My wife's son has a similar problem that has arisen. $D ='D|)@pjB p+`A(@$qRad2$aB,DIP@6NkrNUO8.W( %Ef8*:'J8 Br$nLtz7^+ `- W56AMUnso zn&*3lAYuSYyo!eD^Mtup#6!2 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. It was started with the aim of helping everyone in dire straits. Our 100% FREE quick phone call can help you learn more about this. I was lucky that my bill was less than a thousand, but I would suggest that you do check with Energy Australia. CrediBot enables businesses to give their customers the digital experience they deserve. Ask us to step in! How to Avoid Debt Collectors in Australia [2021 Guide], What is Personal Insolvency? 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. No need to talk to them! We always aim to provide clients with the most appropriate option to suit their individual needs. Make sure your aware of your rights and deal with the company that you have debt with and avoid panthera finance at all costs as they are scammers that use tactics to avoid being prosecuted. The deal marks a busy period for CHAMP. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. State Mercantile is a debt recovery provider which specialises in the collection of heavily overdue and delinquent accounts. There are no promises of success nor is there a magic bullet that will instantly get you out of debt. Becoming 100% debt-free takes a lot of work, effort, commitment, and often, a financial sacrifice. If they come to your door, you can politely ask them to leave at any time. It often violates the guidelines, since debt collectors aren't supposed to discuss the debt with anyone but the debtor.). "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. Less than six months later, the company was sold for $40 million. Pros. There are many complaints about Panthera Finance and their debt recovery efforts through letters and threatening court action. Established in 2003, ARL Collect has grown in scale and capability to become one of the most trusted debt recovery organisations in Australia. The ACCC is seeking pecuniary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for a compliance program, publication orders and costs. 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. In the end i raised a complaint with the Water and Electricity Ombudsman (or what ever its called) 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. "But that isn't adequate.". Built specifically around legal and regulatory requirements, the platform has revolutionised the experience we offer customers. We offer both first and second charge mortgages, but not deals that you can only obtain by going direct to a lender. We can help, and we want to help! ACM chose to fight all the way to the Federal Court before losing, and was fined $750,000. "They simply accept at face value when the contingent collector tells them that they comply with the debt collection guidelines," says Guthrie. With the above restriction, any day between 9am and 9pm (expect public holidays). Panthera Finance has an exponential growth story and has established itself as the second largest PDL acquirer in the Australian market. ACCC v Panthera Finance Pty Ltd Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free and confidential advice. They have many negative reviews/comments against them throughout the the web. In October 2018, the Federal Court ordered Equifax Australia Information Services and Solutions Pty Ltd to pay $3.5m in penalties for misleading and deceptive conduct, and unconscionable conduct in relation to credit report services. Nepal to oversee the activities oftheir charity call the National debt Helpline on 1800 007... 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