In performing debt collection, debt collectors must not commit actions that can cause legal and social issues, including making threats, committing acts of violence, and exerting physical or verbal pressure.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Debt collectors appointed by financial institutions or creditors must not act in a way that causes legal issues or violates social propriety, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has emphasized.

"In performing debt collection, debt collectors must not commit actions that can cause legal and social issues, including making threats, committing acts of violence, and exerting physical or verbal pressure," OJK's deputy commissioner for education and consumer protection, Sardjito, told ANTARA here on Monday.

The official made the remarks in response to a report about debt collectors forcefully seizing a vehicle owned by Instagram celebrity Clara Shinta, who said that she was not aware her ex-husband had pawned her car and the payment was in arrears.

On February 20, 2023, Shinta lodged a complaint over the seizure of the vehicle with Jakarta Police. However, the debt collector, who was summoned together with Shinta by police, reportedly abused police officers verbally.

Article 7 of OJK Regulation No. 6/POJK.07/2022 requires financial services providers to prevent company directors, employees, and any third party employed by a company from abusing their position and facility in a way that harms consumers, Sardjito said.

"An example of behavior that harms consumers is committing violence while collecting the consumer's debt," he added.

Meanwhile, Constitutional Court Decision No. 18//PUU-XVII/2019 bars creditors from unilaterally confiscating fiduciary collateral without a court order.

The deputy commissioner said that debt collectors committing the prohibited act can be sanctioned in accordance with criminal law, and the financial services provider responsible for the debt collector can be sanctioned by the OJK.

"The sanction will start from administrative sanction in the form of a written warning, fines, restriction of business activities, and revocation of business permit," Sardjito remarked.


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Translator: Suci Nurhaliza, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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