Lending company facing raps for humiliating clients with unpaid debt

A lending company is in hot water after allegedly harassing its clients who have yet to settle their payments.

In Chino Gaston's report for GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday, a client said he resigned from his job out of humiliation after the loan company reportedly informed his colleagues about his debt.

The client, who was only identified as "Darwin," reportedly entrusted his documents, including his ID, photo and payslips, with the company but failed to pay a P3,000-loan with a 30 percent interest rate. 

"Kasi yung mga contacts ko, especially my supervisor sa work, nag-text na po sakin, 'Ang taong ito ay may utang na malaking halaga sa aming kumpanya at siya ay nagtatago rin sa iba't ibang lending company. Mag-ingat nang hindi maloko ng taong ito," he said.

The company allegedly also used social media to "threaten" another client who borrowed P5,000 for her sick child.

"Ipo-post daw nila mukha ko sa social media," the client identified as "Nina" said.

"Sabi ko 'maam/sir, 'di ba bawal 'yun sa batas natin na nagte-threaten kayo?' Sabi nila, 'walang bawal-bawal pag gusto naming mag text blast kahit magsumbong ka pa sa NPC (National Privacy Commission)," she added.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it has ordered the investigation of more than 1,600 complaints against lending companies making use of "loan apps." 

The SEC said the harassment alleged by the complainants could possibly be considered as "unfair debt collection practices."

Meanwhile, the NPC said the lending company may have also violated privacy laws.

"Doon sa nakita namin, eh labos doon sa purpose ng negosyo na magpautang at makasingil," NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro said.

"Of course, 'yung contact list pero pati yung live location mo, pati 'yung camera, remote camera control, pati yung social media access or access to social media account, SMS messaging and even calls."

The NPC, along with the SEC and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, are reportedly working on regulations for the increasing number of financial services. — MDM, GMA News