He is CeMAP qualified. 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 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. It is also claimed in the alternative that Panthera breached the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act by engaging in the same conduct. 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 been making headlines for a while now, but how does Centrelink's controversial debt-recovery system actually work? Heres how you can do it. It also allegedly imposed onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying to collect. Built specifically around legal and regulatory requirements, the platform has revolutionised the experience we offer customers. hbbd```b``"@$*0DHH ,"SDN6E$L@M``+-@ ! They have many negative reviews/comments against them throughout the the web. We care about accuracy. 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. q We're here to help you on this journey, so if you have any questions or can't pay, you can call us on 1300 722 974, live chat with us, or email us at manager@pantherafinance.com.au. ", (In March 2020, Panthera was ordered by the federal court to pay $500,000 in penalties.). Harassment of consumers about debts is always unacceptable. Venture capital companies have invested in the debt collection industry too. Copyright 2006-2023 OzBargain ABN: 26 144 073 772, Mysterious Outstanding Bill Notification From Panthera Finance, numerous complaints about them on the net. Report. Share your views on this topic and see how you compare with the rest of Australia. In my case, I finally decided to believe it was legit. To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum. ]!h!gF?!7fhg44H.$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 ?' The debt is yours (via a contract you had with the original company). ), Contingent collectors third-party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers are of particular concern. It is clear something needs to change. ", (The tactic is known as 'skip tracing', where debt collectors call anyone who might know the person they're after, including neighbours and employers or Facebook connections. Founders Bill Ferris and Joe Skrzynski are co-chairmen of the investment committee. In most cases debt collection agencies will be willing to discuss payment terms to manage your cash flow, or even provide a discount for upfront payment of debt. Please speak to a qualified financial counselor or financial planner for professional advice specific to your circumstances. Why has Panthera been in the news recently? I know this is an old post but would like to put my experience on here. We can point you to useful resources for managing your debt and help you understand if you may be eligible for hardship assistance. 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. We can help sort it out for you, so you dont have to pick up the phone. 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. 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. ARL Collect was acquired by PF Group Holdings Pty Ltd in 2018. Our team talks to people like you every single day. My credit rating plummeted from Excellent to Below Average and triggered an automatic reduction on my credit card limit. 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. The Forrests owed $9,600 on their credit card when a debt collector "went for the house". . This is great news, however, debt collectors are still out to get you. They called my husband at work. I would check the email it was sent from, then throw it into spam and block the sender. And when contacted Energy Australi refuses to assist by providing any information. Panthera Finance said the organisation was aware of Mr Lenzo's case and was investigating it with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. Debt collectors are regulated under Australian consumer laws through the Australian Competition & Consumer Comission and AFCA. See something that's not quite right in this article? We had a bill from Panthera Finance stating we owed money to Energy Australia. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_12',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_13',133,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-133{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. 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 . We recently heard the story of one woman whose experience with a debt collector, which dragged on for two years, was particularly gruelling. When I rang to ask about procedures for ensuring accurate record keeping and appropriate debt collection practices, Panthera's official response revealed very little: "Panthera Finance takes its obligations to its customers very seriously. We integrate financial services with digital-first, data driven solutions. "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. I found this forum with a Google search. In July 2018, ACM Group Limited, another collections firm, was fined $750,000 for actions including, "ongoing harassment of a care facility resident who had difficulty communicating after suffering multiple strokes". Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. Panthera Finance is a debt collection company which buys debts off other businesses who are owed money. I received a bill for $1,900 that I never owed. Panthera Finance has an exponential growth story and has established itself as the second largest PDL acquirer in the Australian market. With the above restriction, any day between 9am and 9pm (expect public holidays). Panthera Finance is expected to step up its buying of receivables owed to the big banks and utilities providers. That same year, parent company, PF Australia Pty Ltd, reported a $22.4 million profit on revenues of $58.4 million. 10 online scams you need to know about. 112 0 obj <>stream Read more here. What can Panthera Finance do to collect debts. 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. 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. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. When he tried to obtain information from Energy Australia they would not provide any details and instead referred him back to Panthera. Force them to prove that: 1. This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. 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. This was the first time we used a virtual . Once you've repaid the full amount. V)gB0iW8#8w8_QQj@&A)/g>'K t;\ $FZUn(4T%)0C&Zi8bxEB;PAom?W= I too have been receiving misc xero style invoices from various 'big name' companies (e.g Telstra, Energy Australia), that I know I have no association with. Why not get your son contact the email given by Energy Australia? You should try that. Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free and confidential advice. N')].uJr While researching this article, I called Energy Australia to ask about the process for engaging debt collectors. Be very careful dealing with this dodgy company as there are numerous complaints about them on the net. When not being pestered by his children,Simon enjoys Tarantino movies, being a crackshot and cooking feasts. Again, we dont charge anything upfront at all. The lack of a binding legal framework around debt collection means some don't belong to external dispute resolution (EDR) schemes such as the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. As part of the ABC'sAustralia Talks project, we are asking people to share their experiences of life in Australia. There are no promises of success nor is there a magic bullet that will instantly get you out of debt. 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. 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. hb```f``"Y@9> 9%)gd x Y^]#'x6]( X Y@ENcd0u No need to talk to them! The ACCC first took court action against Panthera in July 2019. Over the last two years around 100 people have complained to the ACCC about Pantheras debt collection activities. The attached document below contains the ACCCs initiating court documents in relation to this matter. Angela joined Panthera Finance after over 14 years working in Private Banking where she acquired her CeMAP qualification and was involved with all stages of lending requirements, from drafting bespoke offer letters to final release of funds. Something is not right here. We recommend that you address this, even if you think its not your debt. Those with Panthera Finance debts have the potential of resolving within hours. We will not be uploading further documents in the event these initial documents are subsequently amended. Finally, human resources software company LiveHire Ltd has joined the pre-Christmas rush for fresh funds. State Mercantile is a debt recovery provider which specialises in the collection of heavily overdue and delinquent accounts. You might have to go to court. AFCA ruled in my favour, awarding me 80 per cent of the maximum amount in compensation. How much does Panthera Finance in Australia pay? Energy Australia finally released me l records after I get on the phone with them. CHOICE supports the First Nations people's Uluru Statement from the Heart. Currently, the consumer has very little to no power. We offer a comprehensive range of mortgage products from across the market. Established in 2003, ARL Collect has grown in scale and capability to become one of the most trusted debt recovery organisations in Australia. They can only contact you between 7:30am and 9pm on weekdays. However, I do have a spreadsheet that shows me that I last paid Energy Australia $250 in June 2014. It's harmless scam mail if you don't fall for it. Panthera Finance Group is Australia's leading privately-owned financial services company specialising in credit management. free barista coffees and office incentives. When do debt collectors give up? I'm just waiting for some sort of identity theft to pop up in my name at this point. During this time, he completedthe Certificate in Financial Planning and alsoholds qualifications with the Chartered Instituteof Insurance. In one case in particular, the ACCC alleges that Panthera Finance used coercion, made false representations and engaged in unconscionable conduct when dealing with the consumer, even though it knew the consumer urgently needed an incorrect credit default listing removed to obtain finance for a new car. Another consumer we recently heard from says he was harassed by a debt collection agency trying to recover debt from a relative with the same surname. Recently I have received another letter about the same account, I rang them this time at first with some choice words and demanding that I never had this account. Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers and verifiers. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-box-3','ezslot_4',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-box-3','ezslot_5',125,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thedebtfreecommunity_com_au-box-3-0_1'); .box-3-multi-125{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}The debt collectors from Panthera Finance are chasing you! "I don't have that sort of money.". wG xR^[ochg`>b$*~ :Eb~,m,-,Y*6X[F=3Y~d tizf6~`{v.Ng#{}}jc1X6fm;'_9 r:8q:O:8uJqnv=MmR 4 "They would just harass us with non-stop phone calls, making demands that were just unrealistic. 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. Youre not allowed to be called more than 3 times per week, or 10 times per month. People solve problems not banks! 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. But I had no other debt. 0 Disclaimer: This a resource and referral website where we may earn a commission on each referral generated. 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. Panthera issued a default credit listing against my name, even though they were aware the debt was disputed. LiveHire was offering new shares at $1.05 each, with proceeds to accelerate growth. staff are welcoming and inclusive. 10. Theres a reason for this: YOUR CREDIT FILE. The Court held that Panthera harassed three consumers to pay disputed debts despite being advised that they were not liable for the debts and, in the case of two of these consumers, placed an incorrect default listing on their credit rating files. In a Brisbane District Court case, Richard Kennerley. /Fm0 Do We integrate financial services with digital-first, data driven solutions. Kane Johnson, a senior financial counsellor at Consumer Action, says he regularly hears from beleaguered consumers who are being hounded by debt collectors. Any fine they might get is unlikely to change business practices, because business as usual appears to make debt collection very profitable. 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. Certain debt collection agencies will have specialised contracts with certain institutions to handle all of their debt collection requirements. ", Read more: For example, a further advance from your existing lender or an unsecured loan (e.g., a personal loan). Consumer advocates say the case highlights an alarming trend. Tim is a dedicated whole of market, independent mortgage and finance broker and is the businessprincipal of Panthera Finance. Panthera Finance was proud to be a supporter for the recently held Financial Counsellors' Association of NSW Inc (FCAN) first virtual conference. The great credit card rip-off and how much extra weve paid. w(Wg8aFV4K bW@H3=|MmV(@ AZ For those seeking to increase their existing borrowing, alternative finance options may be available and more appropriate for your needs. Then when youre at home, youll find letters in the mail. The information contacting within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK. As a non-advising principal of PantheraFinance, he provides operational support to themanagement of the firm. Skipadee2 3 yr. ago. Q Same finance company and Energy Australia, I'm not sure if I've ever been with them, if I were it would have been yeah around 2014. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. We dont ask you for money upfront, and were very nice too. We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. 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- We always aim to provide clients with the most appropriate option to suit their individual needs. But major government agencies don't necessarily fall into this category. 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. 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. See Panthera Finance salaries collected directly from employees and jobs on Indeed. The ACCC is seeking pecuniary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for a compliance program, publication orders and costs. 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. We work hard to help everyday Australians to work through the hurdles. ", Read more: owners whose time is much better spent finding and completing the next job, rather than chasing up Debt collectors can come to your residence regarding debts, however you can request they leave at any time and they will have to comply. And three years later, my fight with Energy Australia and with Panthera was finally over. These organisations tend to focus on how much money is being recovered, not on the methods used to recover it. 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. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. 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. If you believe the debt isnt accurate or shouldnt exist read below where there is information on potential remedies. At Panthera Finance Group, we integrate financial services with digital-first, data-driven solutions. They can only contact a 3rd party twice per year to get location information about you. "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. 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. Working in partnership with Equifax, CrediBot has three platform offerings created for unique business requirements CrediBot Express, CrediBot and CrediBot Enterprise. Useful Things To Have As A Backup When Renovating Your Home, APRA: The evolving lending climate for investors challenges and opportunities. %PDF-1.6 % In this review, well examine how to deal with Panthera Finance in Australia. Guthrie says there's a lack of oversight of contingent collectors by some of the organisations that hire them, all the more troubling because the debt collectors are often going after vulnerable people. 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 parent company is the Queensland-based debt acquisition and collection agency Panthera, which since July has been facing court proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer. Asked 10 February 2021. 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. 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.. My wife's son has a similar problem that has arisen. This action is part of our continuing joint efforts with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to crack down on shady debt collection practices, Ms Court said. 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. Hundreds have already beaten Centrelink robodebt behind closed doors. Or is someone using my name under my old apartment? Go and reward yourself. 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. the debt was incurred in 2010 i had to deal with them in 2015 ( hence me requiring evidence of what was owed which they promised but never supplied), When Phil Anselmo comes to collect, youd better pay up. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. Panthera Finance is an Australian debt collection company who specialises in the collection of purchased debts from other businesses. Panthera Finance LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register (www.fca.org.uk/register) under reference 951603. 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. nQt}MA0alSx k&^>0|>_',G! "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. The issue of 'contingent collectors' third-party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers is of particular concern. In July, Panthera was sued by the ACCC for its debt collection practices. Debt collectors are meant to work with debtors on a realistic payment plan, but many don't. The National Debt Helpline is always available on 1800 007 007. I plan on calling them tomorrow and finding out whats what, because I'm 95% certain I owe nothing.