as you said Collection Agent "Most of if is Law" not all buddy how rude are you to tell people to pay their debts when most dont owe money these people harass for

You're full of sh*t "Collection Agent" - most of what they do is NOT THE LAW. Even if you keep up payments, they continue to harass you for more payments. Ringing neighbours or family and getting them to do your dirty work is not ethical and as most people don't even know their neighbours anymore, it can't be very successful. As for ringing the wrong person, it is not just recycled phone numbers. Anyone with the same or similar name they find on the internet or in the phone book or the electoral roll is rung constantly. If someone else answers the phone and you give them a 1300 number with a reference number, 99% of those that answer the phone will guess correctly it is a debt collector anyway.

As for confirming personal details such as full name, address and date of birth over the phone, NO WAY IN HELL. How do I know you are who you say you are - you could be anyone saying "Hi I am from XYZ Debt Collector" and in fact be some scammer trying to either steal your identity or take your money. You bottom dwellers hide behind your sanctimonious clap trap and what you perceive to be the law. Company policies do not always equal the law.

I refuse to answer any phone number not on my caller list - if genuine, they will leave a message - debt collectors won't. Also, ringing from "Unknown" or "private" forget about it - no chance of being answered.

So you can ring away and you will never be answered - write me a letter and I will answer it. The reason debt collection agencies don't write letters is that they would be sending thousands of letters every week to the wrong people and they know it, so they harass lots of people for one little measly debt they probably paid less than $1,000 for.

just had a call for the wife, they left message and ref number, wife called back spoke to a woman and was told about the account outstanding, wanted our statement, told her to shove it, called back again, this time got a male who wouldn't speak until we gave a DOB, the first one didn't ask for that, told him to shove the account

I received a call a few nights ago after 8.30pm (NSW time). They were looking for my neighbour and said it was regarding her daughter. Gave the impression it was urgent and asked me if I could pass on the 1300 number and a reference #. My neighbour is 87yrs old!! How bloody dare they call me and involve me in chasing up someone's debt!!

Reply to Anonymous. I too used to work for this company and I honestly despised working there so much. I'm sorry that you got fired.

Joe, all you need to do is be prepared to pay for an ASIC search - it lists all directors and their home addresses. Costs about $30. Quite frankly, these people aren't worth the money or the effort. If it was a public company, you would be able to garner names from their annual reports.

Derr We all know that, but illegal behaviour is illegal behaviour

I know how you feel. I too previously worked for this company and I empathise with what you're saying. Unfortunately I was "fired" just short of coming out of my probation period as I was deemed "too nice" for debt collection, as well as not reaching expected targets. My argument to that is "you can't get money from an answering machine". Apparently that wasn't acceptable when asked why I wasn't reaching targets. Also people can refuse to answer their phones and what am I going to do about that choice?? I will admit that debtors genuinely s***ted me off when they refused to pay their debts and gave all the excuses known to man, including "I'm on centrelink." Frankly that's no excuse. The compliance staff listening to every word said on the phone were the ultimate puppets, of which if you didn't stick to the script, look out!
Lastly, to any debtors or people with a gripe reading this post, the phonecalls were never a personal attack. We were/are just people trying to hold a job and make an income for ourselves. I can understand the outrage and abuse, but please, the people on the phone are reading a script and generally do not like calling you to discuss a debt. Have a bit of compassion for the next person that rings you from this company because chances are, they are not taking pleasure in contacting you, it's just something they have to do to stay afloat.

Why are they ringing people saying you went reference for (joe blow) but dont even know the person they talking about. But won't give details of matter.. WRONG

Received a call from a woman Claudine asking for (my husbands name) claiming that he gave my number as his own. (wtf?) I kept asking what is this regarding all she said is "its a business matter". I took down their number (the 1300 one) & said "unless you tell me what business you're calling from, i wont pass on the message". She then told me it was Pantha like the big cat but with an A. Then hung up. Will be interesting when hubby gets home & calls asking for Claudine who works for Pantha.

no we dont and you are a piece of sh*t

Just got a phone message from them telling me to call (Neil) back as soon as possible and quote a reference number. No info as to who they were or what it was about.
Not calling them back thanks to the info provided above by other posters.
Cheers

These a**holes are trying to extract $4200 from my son for a Telstra bill . Telstra has no record of my son ever having any unpaid bill . WTF

hi ive been harrassed by these c*nts for months haventracked their office address to swuite 113/1b 192 ann street brisbane

I ring these people on a daily basis and annoy the chap out of them. They are a plague. I will be releasing footage soon to YouTube which you will all find entertaining. Thank you Pantharassment for the inspiration :)

The post from Fred is really inappropriate.

Its actually Panthera

Had a missed call from State Mercantile on this number, looking for my son. The lady was lovely and very polite, just trying to do her job.

Yep, sick and tired of These people calling claiming to be from Panthera Finance, Rood asshats! Have already refused in writing to pay the so called debt. And will continue to refuse. My credit rating is completely clean still after the last 6 months have gone by and threats from them.

this number 1300 722 974 has a letterhead name Panther Finance. Who the bloody hell are they when this is supposed to be State Mercantile? Anyone got an answer?