Answer See 1 answer. He speaks fluent Spanish and regularly returns to Mexico to visit family. Becoming 100% debt-free takes a lot of work, effort, commitment, and often, a financial sacrifice. They appear to be complicit in a scam. ACM chose to fight all the way to the Federal Court before losing, and was fined $750,000. When he tried to obtain information from Energy Australia they would not provide any details and instead referred him back to Panthera. To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum. hVmoF++K"5]XS$Kr}qPm3$W[Vayfgyf b#Q@|/$'K TD"I'"B ", Read more: 2y.-;!KZ ^i"L0- @8(r;q7Ly&Qq4j|9 In the end i raised a complaint with the Water and Electricity Ombudsman (or what ever its called) Our team talks to people like you every single day. I rang Energy Australia to find out why. 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. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. 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. By the end of this post, youll be well informed to make the right decision. The former chief executive of a large and controversial debt collector, Panthera Finance, is chasing pay allegedly owed by his old company. Whats most important to us is helping you sleep at night so you can get on with your life. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2006-2023 OzBargain ABN: 26 144 073 772, Mysterious Outstanding Bill Notification From Panthera Finance, numerous complaints about them on the net. Only communicate with them in writing (and only to tell them to fudge off and stop harassing you). 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 Or just a scam? 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. Youll discover how to avoid debt collections in Australia, using this guide and the very effective service that we recommend. I later emailed them with the same 'story'. This means we purchase debts from banks, phone and internet providers, power companies and other credit providers. The National Debt Helpline is always available on 1800 007 007. 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. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. It is also claimed in the alternative that Panthera breached the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act by engaging in the same conduct. Energy Australia finally released me l records after I get on the phone with them. You do realise this is an quite an old thread. 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. Any fine they might get is unlikely to change business practices, because business as usual appears to make debt collection very profitable. Tim has extensive experience working with high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Get the latest product reviews, money-saving tips and more. ", My issue is their lack of any sort of understanding or empathy for an individual's circumstances, The debt collector continually demanded that Mary, who was getting by on Work Cover support and had to meet mortgage payments, come up with more money than she had on hand. We will not be uploading further documents in the event these initial documents are subsequently amended. As youre being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldnt recommend any dodgy tactics. There are no consequences for selling debt that remains in dispute. ", Not a day goes by where our financial counsellors aren't speaking to people who have been impacted by debt collectors in some way. I can confirm that Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency. 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. 10 online scams you need to know about. But a few weeks later I received a bill for about $1,900. Called Energy Australia and we owe no money!! w(Wg8aFV4K bW@H3=|MmV(@ AZ Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. 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. Those letters, text messages and phone calls can be stopped within days. The ACCC first took court action against Panthera in July 2019. There are some smaller companies which are just rogues, but there are also some larger ones that financial counsellors continue to say are hard to deal with, for example, in not recognising family violence or not negotiating affordable hardship arrangements. Working in partnership with Equifax, CrediBot has three platform offerings created for unique business requirements CrediBot Express, CrediBot and CrediBot Enterprise. The Panthera case is just one example. 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. 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. Yes, its true. 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. Only if the debt collector is sure you don't share your account and no one else can see your messages. free barista coffees and office incentives. There are no promises of success nor is there a magic bullet that will instantly get you out of debt. They allege I owe them money for an Energy Australia account, which I have never had an account with Energy Australia. We can help, and we want to help! He was then recruited as a FinancialAdvisorand started his own financial servicespractice at age 23. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. Cant Pay My Debt: Heres the BEST solution! "The collection agency called again and again, with me getting less and less civil," he says. Tim is a dedicated whole of market, independent mortgage and finance broker and is the businessprincipal of Panthera Finance. Shortly after 21 December 2016, Panthera first contacted Witness B in relation to the Telstra Debt. staff are welcoming and inclusive. However, I do have a spreadsheet that shows me that I last paid Energy Australia $250 in June 2014. "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. 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. Youre not allowed to be called more than 3 times per week, or 10 times per month. We were very concerned about complaints of Pantheras behaviour, which we allege breaches the Australian Consumer Law and caused extreme distress to the three consumers involved, ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said. "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. We offer a comprehensive range of mortgage products from across the market. That same year, parent company, PF Australia Pty Ltd, reported a $22.4 million profit on revenues of $58.4 million. Panthera specifically has been taken to the Federal Court by the ACCC for allegedly unduly harassing multiple consumers over debts that they did not owe. Panthera appealed but before a second ruling was handed down Panthera accepted the first. 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. Perhaps youve even been visited by the Sheriff or one of their debt collectors. "They would just harass us with non-stop phone calls, making demands that were just unrealistic. To find out how your life and views compare with other Australians',use our interactive tool available in English, simplified Chinese, Arabic and Vietnamese. See something that's not quite right in this article? All three consumers were subjected to repeated and intrusive calls from Panthera, and had to take multiple steps to prove they did not owe the alleged debt.. Robert Rough. 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. ( Anthony has been working with Panthera Finance for 3 years and brings a wealth of professionalism and expertise with him. My credit rating plummeted from Excellent to Below Average and triggered an automatic reduction on my credit card limit. Debt collector Panthera Finance will face Federal Court over claims it harassed customers for debts they never had. 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. Over the last two years around 100 people have complained to the ACCC about Pantheras debt collection activities. 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. (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.). Reward yourself. Panthera did not issue you with an outstanding amount. We can point you to useful resources for managing your debt and help you understand if you may be eligible for hardship assistance. Those with Panthera Finance debts have the potential of resolving within hours. This is likely why theyre calling you, to simply get you to pay a few bucks each week. Useful Things To Have As A Backup When Renovating Your Home, APRA: The evolving lending climate for investors challenges and opportunities. 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. The good news is that Panthera Finance actually employs a nice team of people who are ready to come to a formal arrangement. How to Avoid Debt Collectors in Australia [2021 Guide], What is Personal Insolvency? You should try that. This is very concerning, given all of these organisations are dealing with people who are often in vulnerable circumstances. Panthera Finance is Australias largest privately-owned debt ledger acquisition and debt collection company. So whilst you may not have originally incurred a debt with a debt collector such as Panthera Finance, they have your existing debt from another party assigned to them and youre legally obliged to now pay the debt to their company. This includes those in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. The ACCC is seeking pecuniary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for a compliance program, publication orders and costs. We care about accuracy. ", Read more: How much does Panthera Finance in Australia pay? Your reward doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be . 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. A starting point therefore would be to codify the guidelines.". "But that isn't adequate.". 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. *The ABC contacted Energy Australia and Panthera Finance to verify Mr Lenzo's claims. 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. 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. There are many complaints about Panthera Finance and their debt recovery efforts through letters and threatening court action. In an embarrassing twist to the ongoing Robodebt controversy, iTnews can reveal ARL Collect (Pty Ltd), which is wholly owned by Queensland based Panthera Finance, snared a plum debt recovery deal from DHS just weeks before its parent company was hit by landmark legal action from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Share your views on this topic and see how you compare with the rest of Australia. 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. At Panthera Finance Group, we integrate financial services with digital-first, data-driven solutions. 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. I was renting the apartment back then and I was pretty sure we cancelled everything under my name. We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. 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 . 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. Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London EC4N 1TX+44 (0) 208 629 8170contact@panthera.co.uk. We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. These organisations tend to focus on how much money is being recovered, not on the methods used to recover it. Commencing business operations in 2004, State Mercantile saw the establishment of what is today, Panthera Finance Group. AFCA ruled in my favour, awarding me 80 per cent of the maximum amount in compensation. I'd say your first plan of attack should be to discuss this with Energy Australia - find out if you really do owe them anything, and the details thereof. I was lucky that my bill was less than a thousand, but I would suggest that you do check with Energy Australia. But what if the debt was in dispute as mine was? I believe this company to be a scam operation. 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. The Court also ruled that Panthera misled one of the consumers by telling them they needed to pay Panthera $100 to have a default listing removed from their credit file, even though the credit default listing was incorrect and could have been removed for free under the Privacy Act. ", (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. I received a bill for $1,900 that I never owed. We recommend that you address this, even if you think its not your debt. But if not you can still work in the office. (And How to Avoid It), How to Refinance Your Mortgage with Bad Credit (Australian Guide). The issue of 'contingent collectors' third-party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers is of particular concern. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. Now we know its not ideal to have a bad credit rating. 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. If you want additional piece of mind, call them up. Q In 2017, Champ Private Equity bought into Panthera Finance, valuing the company at $300 million. It turned out that when I moved into my new apartment six months earlier, the wrong address had been added to my account. And three years later, my fight with Energy Australia and with Panthera was finally over. Laura lives in Essex with her husband and 2 young sons. Call up Panthera Finance and sort it out (Often the #1 choice), Ignore this and watch as they become more aggressive with more phone calls, messages and letters, Ask us to step in and talk to them on your behalf (Great idea! Continue Reading More by The Debt-Free Community, Read this to STOP debt collectors in Australia from contacting you now! 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. And when contacted Energy Australi refuses to assist by providing any information. You can also report rogue debt collectors to ASIC and the ACCC. "What we rely on at the moment are a set of guidelines that have been put out by the ACCC and ASIC. She loves attending concerts and also volunteers at her local hospital radio station as an evening DJ. 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. Enter a valid email address (e.g. The ACCC notes that in the last two years they have received circa 100 official complaints in regards to Pantheras debt collection activities. Get the inside story on our investigations into consumer rip-offs and bad business practices. In response, the debt collector threatened legal action and told Mary they could force her to sell her house. 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. Instead they sold my "debt" to Panthera Finance. endstream endobj startxref 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. CrediBot enables businesses to give their customers the digital experience they deserve. 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. We work hard to help everyday Australians to work through the hurdles. Designed specifically for the needs of SMEs who cant afford a collections or finance team, the Bill Chaser online platform enables businesses to load the debts they are owed in a simple, intuitive way. 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. 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. 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. Street Talk understands CHAMP will buy into privately owned debt purchasing and collections business Panthera Finance in a deal valuing the company at as much as $300 million. But I had no other debt. Answered 10 February 2021. Then when youre at home, youll find letters in the mail. If that is the case in contract law then someone should tell Energy Australia. I plan on calling them tomorrow and finding out whats what, because I'm 95% certain I owe nothing. 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. 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. In October 2018, the Federal Court ordered Equifax Australia Information Services and Solutions Pty Ltd to pay $3.5m in penalties for misleading and deceptive conduct, and unconscionable conduct in relation to credit report services. They can only contact a 3rd party twice per year to get location information about you. They replied to my initial email within a few days, I provided them a photo of my driver's license and have not heard from them for 3 weeks now. But these guidelines, set by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), are just that they're not legally enforceable laws. ]!h!gF?!7fhg44H.$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 ?' Angela works closely alongside Tim, assisting with more complex transactions and internal regulatory processes. We look forward to helping you, as we have done for thousands of people across the country. That Samantha could also be sockpuppeting, don't believe that account. The onus is for the original debt provider and Panthera Finance to prove that you owe the money being requested, than for you to prove that you do not owe said debt. The deal marks a busy period for CHAMP. Demand they communicate with you only in writing (on paper). This was the first time we used a virtual . 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;}. Why not get your son contact the email given by Energy Australia? 2021 Panthera Finance Group. All rights reserved. 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 "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. Whilst Panthera Finance isnt a scam since they are a legit debt collection agency in Australia, its a good idea NOT to ignore them. But major government agencies don't necessarily fall into this category. One day in 2016 I came home to discover my gas had been disconnected. Fantastic culture with great office perks and incentives. 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. Suddenly, I had become one of thousands of Australians each year who are faced with a disputed debt. 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. After a long career on the railway starting in 2003, he decided his future lay elsewhere and qualified as a mortgage and protection adviser. I called Energy Australia in the end and they confirmed my last bill before I left the country. ", (In March 2020, Panthera was ordered by the federal court to pay $500,000 in penalties.). Or is someone using my name under my old apartment? Finally, human resources software company LiveHire Ltd has joined the pre-Christmas rush for fresh funds. As you're being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldn't recommend any dodgy tactics. But then again, its never too late for us to help you out. 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. V)gB0iW8#8w8_QQj@&A)/g>'K t;\ $FZUn(4T%)0C&Zi8bxEB;PAom?W= Currently, the consumer has very little to no power. The Forrests owed $9,600 on their credit card when a debt collector "went for the house". 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. In July, Panthera was sued by the ACCC for its debt collection practices. But if you know its your debt, then we can help. ACCC v Panthera Finance Pty Ltd They hope that youll pick up the phone. Pros. Energy Australia refuse to provide any information - they cannot even find someone to press a button and print out details of the supposed account. 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Fiona Guthrie, chief executive of Financial Counselling Australia, says the debt collection industry "has some good players and, sadly, some not so good players". Scammers are impersonating Panthera and are trying to trick you. staff are welcoming and inclusive. 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. Simon started his career in the Fire Service,becoming the youngest serving Fire Officer byage 21. 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 . But we can help sort it out so they never call you again! So, this morning a mail has come to me from Panthera Finance asking me to pay $570 on to them for Energy Australia. This website provides general financial advice only and this advice does not take into account your particular personal or family circumstances, such as your situation, objectives and current needs. Bad news if you need to buy a car or house in the future. Panthera Finance is a debt collection company which buys debts off other businesses who are owed money. 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". Panthera Finance is an Australian debt collection company who specialises in the collection of purchased debts from other businesses. Common companies which will onsell bad debts owed by customers include Telcos (such as Telstra, Vodafone, Optus etc) and utilities providers (such as Origin, Energy Australia and AGL). 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. For example, a further advance from your existing lender or an unsecured loan (e.g., a personal loan). 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. q Harassment of consumers about debts is always unacceptable. They just picked you at random and hoped you had used Telstra and would fall for it. No need to talk to them! Heres how you can do it. 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. Call before you pay!! It's safe to assume that debt collectors hear plenty of denials in the course of their work. 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. 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. You dont want this tarnished, as a bad mark will last 5+ years. "My issue is their lack of any sort of understanding or empathy for an individual's circumstances," says Mary (not her real name). In July 2018, ACM Group Limited, another collections firm, was fined $750,000 for actions including, "ongoing harassment of a care facility resident who had difficulty communicating after suffering multiple strokes". Something is not right here. ", She added: "We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. Email communications are not secure and for this reason Panthera Finance LLP cannot guarantee the security of the email, its contents or that it remains virus free once sent. Today The Debt Free Community helps everyday Australians in need. It is clear something needs to change. This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. When not being pestered by his children,Simon enjoys Tarantino movies, being a crackshot and cooking feasts. HyTSwoc [5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c}088GNg9w '0 Jb They can only contact you between 7:30am and 9pm on weekdays. Pty. (Debt buyers, on the other hand, buy debt from creditors at a significant discount and attempt to recover the full amount. "F$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 ARL Collect is a credit recovery solutions provider, offering a range of collections options for organisations and government agencies. Theres a reason for this: YOUR CREDIT FILE. He did and Energy Australia will not assist him. $D ='D|)@pjB p+`A(@$qRad2$aB,DIP@6NkrNUO8.W( %Ef8*:'J8 Br$nLtz7^+ `- W56AMUnso zn&*3lAYuSYyo!eD^Mtup#6!2 With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. 112 0 obj <>stream They refused to provide me with an email address to file a complaint to their management. Purchasing a debt means the ownership, and legal right and interest of the debt, is transferred to Panthera. Energy Australia will not assist - they referred him to Panthera. In her spare time, she is a keen Formula 1 and music fan. 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. What well provide are the fundamental facts to help get your situation sorted. 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 found this forum with a Google search. the last one. 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. Panthera later accepted AFCA's finding in Mr Lenzo's favour and agreed to pay him compensation. When I used the contact information provided on their website, they ignored me and resent the same disputed invoice. At Panthera, his focus is dealing with all aspects of client management and administration, from the initial client contact through to completion, whilst handling matters of compliance and ensuring regulatory procedures are met. What can Panthera Finance do to collect debts. I know this is an old post but would like to put my experience on here. "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. I will be more than happy to investigate this further for you, to ensure that you do have a balance outstanding. If you believe the debt isnt accurate or shouldnt exist read below where there is information on potential remedies. Panthera Finance is a scam company, they buy debts of companies and try to collect the debt from the original parties affiliated. If youve received a notice for a debt that you should have not received, you can alert Panthera Finance to this. We've leveraged over a decade of knowledge to create meaningful progress in digital platforms that deliver for clients and the customers they support. Took them two weeks to get back to me. 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. I'm not sure why this is relevant, as even if the debt had been legit, Panthera were in breach of the ACCC's debt collection guidelines which state clearly that they can call no more than three times a week. Stock images:Getty, unless otherwise stated. Read more here. 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. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. But what? n3kGz=[==B0FX'+tG,}/Hh8mW2p[AiAN#8$X?AKHI{!7. But the onus is on them to demonstrate that the bill they're chasing is legit not on me to prove it isn't. . If you are experienced and can work independently you can work from home. And, there seems to be no reason for them to change their ways. I am now searching for information on the relevant ombudsman. "Some contingent collectors seem to be a law unto themselves. 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. 10. Pros. 79 0 obj <> endobj We can stop further direct involvement but remember that requires your commitment. 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. Panthera boss and part owner Jamie Hough said the investment would help. Less than six months later, the company was sold for $40 million. Again, we dont charge anything upfront at all. Why has Panthera been in the news recently? 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. 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. 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. We can help sort it out for you, so you dont have to pick up the phone. The investment is expected to fund Panthera's growth. I'll skip steps 2 and 3 here, 'cause it ain't your debt. In other words Energy Australia refused to assist. I received a letter over a year ago about this and emailed them that it couldn't be me that has this debt, the name on the letter wasn't exactly right and I knew I never had an account with Energy Australia. 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. Third-Party agencies that are hired by creditors to go after non-paying customers of. In 2016 I came home to discover my gas had been disconnected with getting! 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