staff are welcoming and inclusive. 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. free barista coffees and office incentives. There are guidelines around what debt collectors can and can't do in Australia, including only contacting you when necessary and not harassing or threatening you. Panthera Finance is a debt collection company which buys debts off other businesses who are owed money. They appear to be complicit in a scam. Panthera Finance is a debt collection company which buys debts off other businesses who are owed money. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. w(Wg8aFV4K bW@H3=|MmV(@ AZ 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. Answered 10 February 2021. Or just a scam? 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. Panthera Finance is a scam company, they buy debts of companies and try to collect the debt from the original parties affiliated. We offer a comprehensive range of mortgage products from across the market. The company was seeking to raise $20 million in a placement to sophisticated and professional investors via stockbroker Morgans on Wednesday. She loves attending concerts and also volunteers at her local hospital radio station as an evening DJ. Q "What we rely on at the moment are a set of guidelines that have been put out by the ACCC and ASIC. Youll discover how to avoid debt collections in Australia, using this guide and the very effective service that we recommend. Fiona Guthrie, chief executive of Financial Counselling Australia, says the debt collection industry "has some good players and, sadly, some not so good players". This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. Any fine they might get is unlikely to change business practices, because business as usual appears to make debt collection very profitable. Thanks - I tried Energy Australia - they are no help. 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. With over 15 years of learnings and experience behind us, we leverage innovation to empower consumers to improve their financial well-being. 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. Bill Chaser is an easy to use, risk-free online automated collections platform, built for business Only if the debt collector is sure you don't share your account and no one else can see your messages. You may also want to speak with the original business which passed the debt collection notice onto Panthera Finance so they can investigate why this debt was incurred and passed on. Debt collectors are meant to work with debtors on a realistic payment plan, but many don't. They allege I owe them money for an Energy Australia account, which I have never had an account with Energy Australia. As it stands, the originator of a "debt", such as utilities companies or banks, and the funder of purchasing that debt (including venture capitalists), both get to profit from the systemic and aggressive actions of a very profitable debt collector. 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. We can help sort it out for you, so you dont have to pick up the phone. If you have been contacted by Panthera Finance regarding a debt which was legitimately accrued through a third party and sold to Panthera, you will need to now speak with and negotiate a payment plan with Panthera. You don't regain the capital to which you lost access. Certain debt collection agencies will have specialised contracts with certain institutions to handle all of their debt collection requirements. During weekdays, debt collectors can only contact you via the phone between 7:30am-9pm. Anthony has been working with Panthera Finance for 3 years and brings a wealth of professionalism and expertise with him. 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. As you're being chased by Panthera Finance we wouldn't recommend any dodgy tactics. 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. Today The Debt Free Community helps everyday Australians in need. 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. Trading office and Registered office address: Panthera Private Office, Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London, EC4N 1TX. Whats most important to us is helping you sleep at night so you can get on with your life. Over the last two years around 100 people have complained to the ACCC about Pantheras debt collection activities. They told me that debt was only transferred to a "third-party debt purchaser" after numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the customer and resolve the outstanding debt. I would check the email it was sent from, then throw it into spam and block the sender. Fortunately, the Melbourne-based consumer rights organisation Consumer Action got involved, and Mary was able to settle her debt for about half of what the debt collector had demanded. We offer both first and second charge mortgages, but not deals that you can only obtain by going direct to a lender. 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. 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. People solve problems not banks! Our team talks to people like you every single day. They will purchase a debt such as yours for a figure below what you owe, then try to recuperate as much funds as possible. We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. Simon started his career in the Fire Service,becoming the youngest serving Fire Officer byage 21. Robert Rough. We work hard to help everyday Australians to work through the hurdles. 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.. The deal marks a busy period for CHAMP. 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. Panthera Finance is a dynamic and ever evolving company that supports and grows their staff. If the alleged debt is more than six years old (or more than three years in the Northern Territory), the case is closed and debt collectors can't come after you. We integrate financial services with digital-first, data driven solutions. Yes, its true. 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. When he tried to obtain information from Energy Australia they would not provide any details and instead referred him back to Panthera. We work hard to sort things out so the average Australian doesnt have to. 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. See something that's not quite right in this article? 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. 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). 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. Go and reward yourself. "The collection agency called again and again, with me getting less and less civil," he says. The information contacting within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK. Call Energy Aust first.. they are the ones with the power to get them to stop. Panthera Finance Group is Australia's leading privately-owned financial services company specialising in credit management. Debt collector Panthera Finance will face Federal Court over claims it harassed customers for debts they never had. 0 Read more: Cant Pay My Debt: Heres the BEST solution! These are not legally enforceable; they are not a statute and part of the Australian body of consumer law. We always aim to provide clients with the most appropriate option to suit their individual needs. 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. Commencing business operations in 2004, State Mercantile saw the establishment of what is today, Panthera Finance Group. "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. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance, Australian Competition & Consumer Comission, Tips on How to Make Buying a New Car Easier, Financial Services in the Digital Era: How to Effortlessly Send and Receive Money, How to Easily Calculate Your Mortgage Rate Payments, Working Abroad Means Tax Planning Too: Heres What You Should Know, Home Loan vs. Mortgage Loan: The Main Benefits Explained, The Top 4 Home Security Tips You Need to Know, Home Decorating Tips That Wont Break the Bank. How to Avoid Debt Collectors in Australia [2021 Guide], What is Personal Insolvency? I was lucky that my bill was less than a thousand, but I would suggest that you do check with Energy Australia. The investment is expected to fund Panthera's growth. endstream endobj 83 0 obj <>stream 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. Theres a reason for this: YOUR CREDIT FILE. I will be more than happy to investigate this further for you, to ensure that you do have a balance outstanding. (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.). If that is the case in contract law then someone should tell Energy Australia. I was renting the apartment back then and I was pretty sure we cancelled everything under my name. But I had no other debt. Your reward doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be . It has a $450 million market capitalisation. hVmoF++K"5]XS$Kr}qPm3$W[Vayfgyf b#Q@|/$'K TD"I'"B 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. 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. My wife's son has a similar problem that has arisen. The great credit card rip-off and how much extra weve paid. 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! 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. ( Theyll sometimes call you on different numbers every single day. Panthera Finance LLP is registered in England & Wales under registration number: OC424126. After 13 years with Charles Cameron & Associates, he moved to Panthera Finance in late 2020. Again, we dont charge anything upfront at all. I have spent many hours considering that question as I have negotiated my own unfair debt nightmare. Those letters, text messages and phone calls can be stopped within days. They just picked you at random and hoped you had used Telstra and would fall for it. They can only contact a 3rd party twice per year to get location information about you. Call before you pay!! Currently, the consumer has very little to no power. For over 15 years, we have provided affordable and flexible credit management solutions that empower customers to restore their financial health. endstream endobj 84 0 obj <>stream Panthera Finance is a dynamic and ever evolving company that supports and grows their staff. Ltd. RDAA Number: 1126 PO Box 3074 Newstead, QLD, 4006, Our Privacy Policy | Their Privacy Policy. However, I do have a spreadsheet that shows me that I last paid Energy Australia $250 in June 2014. Over the last two years around 100 people have complained to the ACCC about Panthera's debt collection activities. Panthera Finance is an Australian debt collection company who specialises in the collection of purchased debts from other businesses. 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. 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. 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. 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. Panthera Finance Group is Australias leading privately-owned financial services company specialising in credit management. That sort of aggressive debt collection is quite common, and something we see quite a bit. Why not get your son contact the email given by Energy Australia? I found this forum with a Google search. More than this is considered harassment, and you might be able to sue them. He is CeMAP qualified. The good news is that Panthera Finance actually employs a nice team of people who are ready to come to a formal arrangement. Skipadee2 3 yr. ago. I tried to negotiate with them, but they would never accept what was being offered. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. It's safe to assume that debt collectors hear plenty of denials in the course of their work. Not only do they behave in an illegal manner but do not provide any invoices or evidence of the debt that is required to be paid in full. 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. 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! This way you can deal with debt collectors like Panthera Finance. If youre struggling, please get in touch. Panthera acknowledged this, but stated they were calling me for multiple debts and that I had mislead FOS by not disclosing this. q Heres how you can do it. Panthera Finance has an exponential growth story and has established itself as the second largest PDL acquirer in the Australian market. 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. 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. Is this debt collection real? who took over the day-to-day running of the business as chief executive officer in 2014. Bad news if you need to buy a car or house in the future. This is bad news. There are no promises of success nor is there a magic bullet that will instantly get you out of debt. "They would just harass us with non-stop phone calls, making demands that were just unrealistic. Copyright 2006-2023 OzBargain ABN: 26 144 073 772, Mysterious Outstanding Bill Notification From Panthera Finance, numerous complaints about them on the net. I can confirm that Panthera Finance is a legitimate collection agency. 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. Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. Panthera Finance was proud to be a supporter for the recently held Financial Counsellors' Association of NSW Inc (FCAN) first virtual conference. 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. ", She added: "We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. Youre not allowed to be called more than 3 times per week, or 10 times per month. %%EOF Now we know its not ideal to have a bad credit rating. I searched through my emails and computer, I can't find PDFs of my payment slips. Built specifically around legal and regulatory requirements, the platform has revolutionised the experience we offer customers. The contingent collectors issue "has probably been magnified with more telcos and energy companies outsourcing their debt collection," Guthrie says. 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. We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers.. Don't forget to celebrate the small wins along the way. They can only contact you between 7:30am and 9pm on weekdays. An EA spokesman acknowledged a portion of the bill sent to Mr Lenzo was incorrect and said Energy Australia had withdrawn the full amount in recognition of "inconvenience caused". It is of concern as it looks like it is either a scam or identity theft. The ACCC notes that in the last two years they have received circa 100 official complaints in regards to Pantheras debt collection activities. It often violates the guidelines, since debt collectors aren't supposed to discuss the debt with anyone but the debtor.). Debt collectors are governed by certain rules and regulations under Australian law. hl7z]6x87Q.7.bY5. ", 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 dont ask you for money upfront, and were very nice too. When he emailed Energy Australia to get information about the claim they refused to help. "Harassment of consumers about debts is always unacceptable," ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said when announcing the court action. Then my three-year nightmare began, For the latestflood and weather warnings, search onABC Emergency, Keep across all the live scores and results from the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Continue Reading More by The Debt-Free Community, Read this to STOP debt collectors in Australia from contacting you now! Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. 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. 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. Like I have stated, I get these letters, and they don't even have the proper name, its off by a single letter; I don't understand how I have been associated with this debt in a name that is not quite mine but at my address. There are many complaints about Panthera Finance and their debt recovery efforts through letters and threatening court action. I believe this company to be a scam operation. In one case, the ACCC alleges that Panthera used coercion, made false representations and engaged in unconscionable conduct when dealing with the consumer, even though it knew the consumer urgently needed an incorrect credit default listing removed to obtain finance for a new car. But a few weeks later I received a bill for about $1,900. Answer See 1 answer. Finally, human resources software company LiveHire Ltd has joined the pre-Christmas rush for fresh funds. Lenders should be forced to reverse any adverse financial action taken against a client as a result of incorrect default credit listings. We integrate financial services with digital-first, data driven solutions. 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. That same year, parent company, PF Australia Pty Ltd, reported a $22.4 million profit on revenues of $58.4 million. 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. And when contacted Energy Australi refuses to assist by providing any information. "So it is quite a common occurrence. endstream endobj startxref If you are experienced and can work independently you can work from home.
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