READ: Online loan agents blackmailing, sending threats to borrowers –victims
Some borrowers of a loan mobile application on Thursday expressed their concerns against the service after receiving death threats and experiencing harassment from agents when they failed to repay their debt.
Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, one of the victims “Erika†said she received a death threat from the agent of the lending mobile application as early as 5 a.m.
“Pagbukas ko ng Messenger ko ang nakalagay doon is may mura pa siya e. Unang bungad, “PI ka. Magbayad ka kung hindi ipo-post kita sa Facebook.†And then, “Ipapatay kita,†said Erika.
Aside from threats, Erika also claimed that the money she received is lesser than the actual loan amount that has been granted to her. For instance, the loan amount is P4,500 but she received only P2,600.
Erika also borrowed P2,500 to be repaid in seven days and returned the money two days earlier than the due date to avail an offer of P30,000 calamity loan.
However, Erika said the agent who assisted her suddenly cannot be reached anymore to discuss the calamity loan.
When she cannot repay, Erika said she offered to return the money through installment. But, the company insisted on giving the money in full.
“Ang sabi niya sa akin hindi kami tumatanggap at hindi kami 5-6 para sa partial- partial so kailangan 5 p.m. bayad mo siya ng full payment kung hindi viral ka mamaya,†she added.
The agent also warned of contacting her Facebook friends to humiliate her.
Upon registration, another victim “May†said the loan mobile application asked permission to have access to her contacts.
May said she also experienced the same harassment with a lending mobile application. When she returned the money through partial payments, she said they were not reflected as paid.
“Araw-araw yun kahit madaling araw iti-text ka nila tatawagan ka nila. Ganito, pagkatapos, kapag hindi ka nagbayad ganitong oras ala una, ipo-post namin, iba-blocklist ka namin sa NBI,†May said.
“May binabanggit silang attorney, may law firm sila. Kung ano-ano na lang, makapanakot lang sila. Grabe, sa sarili ko sobrang depressed ko. Wala akong mapagsabihan,†she added.
National Privacy Commission (NPC) chairperson Raymund Enriquez Liboro advised victims to keep the messages of harassment and threats that will serve as evidence against the lending service.
“Kung anuman ang mayroon silang ebidensya nito ay i-preserve kaagad,†Liboro said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
According to him, the NPC already identified three companies who also committed the same violations against the lenders. NPC is already preparing the cases to be filed against them.
Liboro said the number of these cases already dropped but emerged again amid the COVID-19 pandemic when many Filipinos affected by its impact are looking for resources for their needs.
“Sa hirap po ng buhay ngayon, sabi nga kapit sa patalim,†Liboro said.
Liboro discouraged lending companies from harassing their clients. He noted that the violation of the Data Privacy Act could lead to six year of imprisonment and P4 million fine.
For those who have the same concerns like Erika and May, Liboro advised them to visit
https://www.privacy.gov.ph/ and submit a complaint.
Liboro also recommended availing loan offers from legitimate banks and companies under the FinTech Alliance, which also campaigns against questionable loan practices. —LBG, GMA News
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