Robert Rough. They can only contact you between 7:30am and 9pm on weekdays. /Fm0 Do 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. Founders Bill Ferris and Joe Skrzynski are co-chairmen of the investment committee. 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. It is of concern as it looks like it is either a scam or identity theft. As a non-advising principal of PantheraFinance, he provides operational support to themanagement of the firm. This is bad news. After 13 years with Charles Cameron & Associates, he moved to Panthera Finance in late 2020. Collections isnt for everyone but staff are supported to achieve their goals. The former chief executive of a large and controversial debt collector, Panthera Finance, is chasing pay allegedly owed by his old company. "Based on my experience it seems debt collectors do as they please, on the phone at least. (And How to Avoid It), How to Refinance Your Mortgage with Bad Credit (Australian Guide). Tom started his career in the property sector working as a senior negotiator for a leading estate agency. 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. 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". "So it is quite a common occurrence. "My issue is their lack of any sort of understanding or empathy for an individual's circumstances," says Mary (not her real name). Our 100% FREE quick phone call can help you learn more about this. We are extremely disappointed that parts of the debt collection industry continue to disrespect consumers. This includes those in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Panthera Finance is a debt collection company which buys debts off other businesses who are owed money. We understand the issues that youre going through. 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. 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. "What we rely on at the moment are a set of guidelines that have been put out by the ACCC and ASIC. Purchasing a debt means the ownership, and legal right and interest of the debt, is transferred to Panthera. HyTSwoc [5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c}088GNg9w '0 Jb If you want additional piece of mind, call them up. 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. 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. Stay informed. A mortgage is a loan secured against your home. 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. 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. Businesses, particularly in the debt collection industry, are warned that harassing consumers is unacceptable under any circumstances and can result in significant penalties, Ms Court said. use our interactive tool available in English, simplified Chinese, Arabic and Vietnamese. 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. My wife's son has received a claim from Panthera. 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. Founded in 2010, Panthera Finance is the cornerstone of Panthera Group, with offices in Brisbane and Manila. %%EOF See something that's not quite right in this article? In my case, I finally decided to believe it was legit. "I can't give you what you're asking," Mary told them. While researching this article, I called Energy Australia to ask about the process for engaging debt collectors. In 2017, Champ Private Equity bought into Panthera Finance, valuing the company at $300 million. The contingent collectors issue "has probably been magnified with more telcos and energy companies outsourcing their debt collection," Guthrie says. Get the inside story on our investigations into consumer rip-offs and bad business practices. 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. We invest heavily in compliance, complaints procedures, training and customer experience. 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. q 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. To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum. Is this debt collection real? 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. Or just a scam? 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. We work hard to sort things out so the average Australian doesnt have to. My wife's son has a similar problem that has arisen. One day in 2016 I came home to discover my gas had been disconnected. w(Wg8aFV4K bW@H3=|MmV(@ AZ 2y.-;!KZ ^i"L0- @8(r;q7Ly&Qq4j|9 It's safe to assume that debt collectors hear plenty of denials in the course of their work. Every payment is a win and guiding you to a debt-free life. . staff are welcoming and inclusive. I rang Energy Australia to find out why. As a case in point, the Department of Human Services hired the debt collection firm ARL Group to recover money from welfare recipients in 201920. It also allegedly imposed onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying to collect. Panthera Finance has purchased more than $5.5 billion in receivables from banks, telcos, utilities and the like. It also allegedly imposed onerous requirements on these consumers to prove they didnt owe the debts which Panthera was trying to collect. Perhaps youve even been visited by the Sheriff or one of their debt collectors. So are you actually own them $570 or this amount including a admin fee? Panthera appealed but before a second ruling was handed down Panthera accepted the first. Report. Yes, its true. "They simply accept at face value when the contingent collector tells them that they comply with the debt collection guidelines," says Guthrie. Answered 10 February 2021. Q The ACCC is seeking pecuniary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for a compliance program, publication orders and costs. We care about accuracy. Now we know its not ideal to have a bad credit rating. For example, a further advance from your existing lender or an unsecured loan (e.g., a personal loan). Debt collector Panthera Finance will face Federal Court over claims it harassed customers for debts they never had. The company's shares last closed at $1.11. 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. Youll discover how to avoid debt collections in Australia, using this guide and the very effective service that we recommend. Instead they sold my "debt" to Panthera Finance. When not being pestered by his children,Simon enjoys Tarantino movies, being a crackshot and cooking feasts. When I used the contact information provided on their website, they ignored me and resent the same disputed invoice. We offer both first and second charge mortgages, but not deals that you can only obtain by going direct to a lender. As part of the ABC'sAustralia Talks project, we are asking people to share their experiences of life in Australia. 79 0 obj <> endobj Panthera issued a default credit listing against my name, even though they were aware the debt was disputed. Cons. Tim has extensive experience working with high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. staff are welcoming and inclusive. Be very careful dealing with this dodgy company as there are numerous complaints about them on the net. 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. 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. Bad news if you need to buy a car or house in the future. Did your identity get stolen? who took over the day-to-day running of the business as chief executive officer in 2014. Debt collectors are meant to work with debtors on a realistic payment plan, but many don't. Skipadee2 3 yr. ago. Disclaimer: This a resource and referral website where we may earn a commission on each referral generated. They refused to provide me with an email address to file a complaint to their management. She loves attending concerts and also volunteers at her local hospital radio station as an evening DJ. Should I call those Panthera Finance company tomorrow and explain this? 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. That same year, parent company, PF Australia Pty Ltd, reported a $22.4 million profit on revenues of $58.4 million. Fiona Guthrie, chief executive of Financial Counselling Australia, says the debt collection industry "has some good players and, sadly, some not so good players". "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. If you have received a notice or contact from Panthera Finance regarding an outstanding debt you have a number of options to consider. 10 online scams you need to know about. 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 Today The Debt Free Community helps everyday Australians in need. hb```f``"Y@9> 9%)gd x Y^]#'x6]( X Y@ENcd0u Established in 2003, ARL Collect has grown in scale and capability to become one of the most trusted debt recovery organisations in Australia. Once you've repaid the full amount. 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.. You should try that. 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. 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. If you are experienced and can work independently you can work from home. What never-ending credit card debt is doing to Australians. If you read the reviews online about Panthera Finance, they certainly arent good. 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". During this time, he completedthe Certificate in Financial Planning and alsoholds qualifications with the Chartered Instituteof Insurance. 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. AFCA ruled in my favour, awarding me 80 per cent of the maximum amount in compensation. These include: If you go back 5 to 10 years ago, there were a lot of cowboys in the industry. Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London EC4N 1TX+44 (0) 208 629 8170contact@panthera.co.uk. Read more here. Were the good guys. Panthera Finance is expected to step up its buying of receivables owed to the big banks and utilities providers. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. Those letters, text messages and phone calls can be stopped within days. 3. 91 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<67EC803A3CDD1DE50B064399B9D73164>]/Index[79 34]/Info 78 0 R/Length 79/Prev 337865/Root 80 0 R/Size 113/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream More than this is considered harassment, and you might be able to sue them. ARL Collect is a credit recovery solutions provider, offering a range of collections options for organisations and government agencies. 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. Finally, human resources software company LiveHire Ltd has joined the pre-Christmas rush for fresh funds. It's been making headlines for a while now, but how does Centrelink's controversial debt-recovery system actually work? Some of the nicer ones wont call you on Sundays. Why would you have a debt with Panthera Finance? 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. How to Avoid Debt Collectors in Australia [2021 Guide], What is Personal Insolvency? 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. 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