Credit Cards and Unfair Collection Practices in the Philippines

There are a number of good reasons in favor of having and using a credit card. Still, we all know the possible adverse results in the unchecked use of “plastics” or credit cards, such as this one: “THERE’S a credit-card horror story that’s become some sort of an urban legend: A television personality, after losing his job in a top network, resorts to using his plastic money. By the time he finds employment in the rival network, he has wracked up P58,000 in credit card bills. But he figures he’s not yet ready to pay in full, so he pays just the minimum amount due. Yet after five years, he is shocked to realize that his credit card debt had ballooned more than 10 times to P700,000.”

Credit Cards and Unfair Collection Practices in the Philippines

Perhaps you’ve heard, or, most probably, experienced certain “innovative” strategies used by credit card companies and their collection agencies in “persuading” you to pay (they are, of course, entitled to payment). With the rising complaints against these strategies, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued a set of rules and regulations governing the credit card operations of banks and affiliate credit card companies.

As a rule, banks, subsidiary/affiliate credit card companies, collection agencies, counsels and other agents may resort to all reasonable and legally permissible means to collect amounts due them under the credit card agreement. However, in the exercise of their rights and performance of duties, they must observe good faith and reasonable conduct and refrain from engaging in unscrupulous or untoward acts. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following are considered unfair collection practices

  • a) the use or threat of violence or other criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person.
  • b) the use of obscenities, insults, or profane language which amount to a criminal act or offense under applicable laws.
  • c) disclosure of the names of credit cardholders who allegedly refuse to pay debts, with certain exceptions.
  • d) threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken.
  • e) communicating or threat to communicate to any person credit information which is known to be false, including failure to communicate that a debt is being disputed.
  • f) any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a cardholder.
  • g) making contact at unreasonable/inconvenient times or hours which shall be defined as contact before 6:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m., unless the account is past due for more than sixty (60) days or the cardholder has given express permission or said times are the only reasonable or convenient opportunities for contact.

As a rule, banks, subsidiary/affiliate credit card companies, collection agencies, counsels and other agents may resort to all reasonable and legally permissible means to collect amounts due them under the credit card agreement. However, in the exercise of their rights and performance of duties, they must observe good faith and reasonable conduct and refrain from engaging in unscrupulous or untoward acts, including those enumerated above.

Atty.Fred

166 thoughts on “Credit Cards and Unfair Collection Practices in the Philippines

  1. cyrel203

    hello, owned 4 credit cards and 1 loan in 1 bank. are they can force me to pay my dept knowing them that i am facing ovary failure? they force me to pay for it and ensuring me that i must pay the minimum due or else they will gave reports to pay the full amount, or actions will make, if i failed to pay. this thing cant sleep me at night, there words, their threat which makes me weak in my condition… i always answer their calls, explaining to them honestly but they told me that my health is not reasonable not to pay them… and this particular card is insured, credit protect plus and other insurances. Do i must worry? since i have no intent to hide them or not to pay them…

    Reply
  2. Josefina

    Hi,. i have 7 credit cards and i am in default payment for a month now. my credit card has an outstanding TOTAL credit balances as follows;
    1) Php300k
    2) Php300K
    3) Php194k
    4) Php105K
    5) Php55k
    6) Php45K
    7) Php27K
    I have a personal loan with a monthly payment of Php28,500.00 .

    I used all the money for my children school needs , tuition fees.
    My 2 children who already finishes college education gave me since Sept. 2014 amount of Php23K per month.

    Can I defend myself in court that I can’t pay my cards now? I would like to finish first my loans in which I issue a PDC.
    Kindly enlighten me.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Maria

      Importante po ung personal loan mabayaran… ung credit cards meron nmn cla na payment arrangement… pero before u pay, cguro mas mainam if u investigare or consult a lawyer kng legit ba clang firm. Kasi ive heard na may iba na ngbayad cla… tpos may naniningil pa rin. Cla na dw ung totoong law firm or collecting agaencies. Cguro hingi ka ng clearance kng mababyaran ka. I dont know… pero alam ko maraming manloloko din po. If mg sesettle po kayo kelangan po siguraduhin nyo muna.

      Wala nmn nakulong sa cc debt pero mabubwisit ka lng habang buhay…

    2. Fred

      Must have copy of endorsement from bank to collecting agency
      RA 10870
      Section 21. Endorsement of Credit Card Debt Collection by the Credit Card Issuer to a Collection Agency.— A credit card issuer shall inform its cardholder in writing of the endorsement of the collection of the account to a collection agency, or the endorsement of the account from one collection agency to another, prior to the actual endorsement. The notification shall include the full name of the collection agency and its contact details. The requirement to notify a cardholder in writing about the endorsement of the account to the collection agency shall be included in the terms and conditions of the credit card agreement: Provided, That the credit card issuer shall refer the collection of an account to only one collection agency at any one time.

  3. sarah01

    Hi, i do have loan in AEON credit,mattapos na po aq at nsa last 3 months na po ang debt q sa knila, nag request po aq na i remove ung landline no.q sa details q kc everytime na tatawag cla dun hina highblood ung dalawang matanda, lolo at lola po ang andon,ni request q sa knila na sa mobile no.q nlng aq kntakin, pero thus january, na delay po aq paymt ng 5 days kc nsa bkasyon po aq, and then what they did us kinontact na nmn nila landline no.q at dinisclose ang utang q sa lola at di magabg term pa ang gnamit nila, respeto nmn po sa account holder ang hinihiling q.bakit cla nagdidisclose ng issue sa hndi acct holder, pde nmn cla snpleng mag leave nlng ng message or phone no. At since matatapos nq sa knila, which proved na di q cla tinatakbuhan, san po kya aq pde magreklamo sa gnawa nilang pamamahiya sa aken due to improper disclosure ng debt q sa knila? Thanks

    Reply
    1. Charisma

      Grabe ang aeon ..ok lang maningil..pero bastos sila maningil..san kaya pwede magsumbong..imbes na gusto mo bayaran ay nakakabwisit dahil sa mga txt nila ng kung ano anu..

    2. benjie

      ako nakpghulog nko ng 5mnths sknila tpos ngyon mag 3mnts nko walang hulog dahil may mas kailangan akong unahin na bayaran. di ko din nsasagot tawag nila kasi bc aq s work. then this week nag msg sila skin na. mag pa file dw sila ng kaso under republic act no. 9510 .

    3. sheshi

      i can feel you, nkakabwisit talaga sila. They had yor info na, tapos na tanungin mo sila kung anu pangalan, they dont tell. Tang ina mga yan.

    4. epi

      Same here. I had to delay my payment kasi may mas need akong unahin, hindi naman sila tatakbuhan, nadelay lang. Pero kung ano ano ang mga pinagsasasabi. Paano po ba magreklamo sa ganyan. I am planning to pay my missed payment naman. Tsktsk.

    5. madison

      im a month late in paying my loan with aeon. akala ko they will charge me higher pero they just charged with 300 on top of my monthly bill. same sa inyo, financially stressed din kasi ako pero i made a negotiation earlier that i will pay today pero yun lang ang kayang bayaran, they gave way naman kasi this is my last payment naman with them.

  4. John

    Hi,

    Ako po ay may utang sa credit card na hindi ko nabayaran sa dahilang sobrang gipit ako sa panahong eto. Ang problema ko po ay nakatanggap ako ng summon galing sa Pasig Regional Trial Court noong October 2014 at binalewala ko po eto at hindi po ako pumunta sa korte dahil na rin sa mga advice ng mga kaibigan at mga nababasa kong articles sa ibang site. Ngayon pong January 2015 ay may tumawag sa opisina na pinagtatrabahuhan ko na isang superintendent sa camp crame at hinahanap ako subalit ng mga panahong iyon ay wala ako kaya ang manager ko ang kanyang kinausap. Ayon sa manager ko ang napag-usapan nila ng superintendent na eto na kung sakaling hindi ako makikipag-cooperate at tatawag sa kanila ay nagbanta na ipa-NBI nya ako at ipapatanggal sa aking trabaho at pupuntahan pa sa opisina na pinagtatrabahuhan ko na kasama ang NBI na may dalang warrant of arrest. Hindi po ako nagreturn call sa pulis na eto. Sa ngayon po pakiramdam ko ay parang pang-haharass ang ginawa nila sa akin. Hindi na ako makatulog at nahihiya na rin akong pumasok sa opisina.

    Ang mga tanong ko po ay:
    1. Tama po ba ang ginawa ng pulis?
    2. Sa hindi ko po ba pagsagot sa summon, tama po bang ang CIDG ang maghabol sa akin?
    2. Ano po ang dapat kong gawin ngayong hindi ako pumunta sa korte?
    3. Ano pong kaso ang maari nilang i-file sa akin sa hindi ko pagsipot sa summon? May mairerekomenda po ba kayong attorney para sa akin na bihasa sa mga ganetong kaso sa hindi pagbabayad ng credit card.

    Maraming salamat po at sana masagot po ang mga tanong ko.

    Reply
    1. shy

      kung pulis tlga sila ay aarestohin ka dapat pinuntahan ka na nila personal at inaresto ka na.. indi yung tumatawag sila sayo.. indi ganun ang pag aresto.. ang pag-aresto at paghahanap ng mga pulis personal hindi tawag.. pede mo ireport mga iyan kasi malai giangawa nila.. once na pumunta sila sa hauz nyo o sa office at ang sabing police sila videohan mo sila habang sinasabi nilang mga police tpos hingan mo ng ID..
      or kpag tumwag at kaw nkasagot hingan mo ng ID no. nila tpos kung saan sila na police..

    2. Myles

      Pag civil case po.
      Hindi po warrant summons po at ang nagsserve p num process server

      Pag amg amount mg utang wala pa po 200 mtc lang po for small claims

    3. Maria

      Kalokohan po yang police. Ako nga person of interest. Ganun cla mg threat pra mapilitan at ma pressure ka… kalma lng po. Pambubwisit lng po cla. Un lng ang price to pay natin sa pagiging delinquent. Ung summon.. usually fake.. pero alam ko po ung totoo un mismo ung employee ng court mgpapadala. Or dapat ang letter head sa supreme court.. kng pangalan ng law firm tpoa ang ending ng letter if u want to settle call this number… aba fake malamang yan.ksi una pg may kaso ka na tlga d ka na mgsesettle yan. You can search din po sa net sa mga forums din po..

      Pg totoo ang summon mas pabor ata sayo un.. kaai tatanungin ka kng paano ka makakabayad at kng mgkano..kng sabihin isang libo o 500 , walang magagawa mga yan. Kaya ayaw nila ng kaso din. Lugi cla. Vla pa mgbabayad ng pg file ng kaso.

      I hope po na sana hindi ka ma depress… malalampasan mo po ito. Huwag po kayog matakot. If you want you can ask the court if may kaso nga na file sa inyo. You could check din pgkuha nyo ng nbi clearance..

      Malalampasan nyo rin po ito.

    4. Jose

      Hi Maria,

      Grabe sila saken mag papa BRGY pa nga daw. Tapos nag txt at hihinge daw sila ng tulong sa kap sa BRGY ni porvide din nial ang name ni Kap which is pwede naman i google.

      Nakaka stress sila

      Eastwest Bank

    5. LU

      EASTWEST COLLECTION AGENCY IS ALSO HARASSING ME…THEY’VE BEEN CALLING OUR BRGY OFFICE , TAPOS DITO SA OFFICE SPO3 AND MAJORS ANG PAKILALA! NAKAKA STRESS ! hindi ako nakikipag usap pa sa kanila kasi wala pa akong pang settle..once na kinausap ko sila ipipilit lang nila na mag settle ako .

    6. johnny

      the first thing to do if you receive a summon or any document na nagsasabing may kaso kayo sa ganitong korte, is to verify the veracity and authenticity of the CASE NO.

  5. Igy

    Hello po. Magtatanong lang po ako kasi yung friend ko ay nascam. Yung pera pong nagamit at nabigay nya sa scammer ay nangggaling sa cash advance sa credit card. Umabot na po ng 2 million pesos.

    Ngayon po ay araw araw na syang tinatawagan ng collectors/banks. Di na po sya makatulog. Gusto na raw po nyang magpakamatay. Inaawat lang po sya ng pamilya at mga kaibigan. Hindi naman po nya kaya pang bayaran ang 3M, kasi maski ang sweldo nya ngayon ay napupunta agad sa pambayad bills at utang. Halos wala nang natitira sa kanya. Nakakaawa po sya talaga. Sobrang nagsisisi na po sya kung baket sya naloko. Huli na po nang malaman nya na may mga naloko rin palang iba ang tao na iyon.

    Hindi na po namin sya sinisi at baka tuluyan syang magpakamatay. Ang kelangan po nya ngayon ay suporta, maski sa salita at pagmamahal lamang. Pinapalakas na lang po namin ang loob nya at sinasabihang manalangin sa Dyos.

    Ang tanong ko po ay tungkol sa Writ of Attachment. Meron po kasi syang bahay na nakapangalan sa kanya. Natatakot po sya at ang pamilya nya na baka kunin ng credit card company ang bahay nya. Yun daw po ang talagang ikakamatay nya.

    Maari po ba talagang gawin ng credit card company na kunin ang bahay nya sa bisa ng Writ of Attachment? Papano po ba ang proseso ng Writ na ito?

    Maraming maraming salamat po. At sana po ay masagot nyo po ito agad. Napakalaking tulong po ng magiging advise nyo.

    Reply
  6. Jeff

    First , under sa batas ng Pilipinas , walang nakukulong sa utang. Civil Case lang ang pinaka mabigat na pwedeng i file ng Bakk , yan eh kung mag file sila.. What collectors do is to exaggerate yung situation. I strongly suggest that he write a letter sa bank and and offer installment na kaya nya every month until mtapos yung balance. As long as nandyan yung intention to pay, no need to worry!

    Reply
  7. marc

    What happen to outstanding, delinquent balance, of Deceased Primary Sole Card Holder?

    Primary cardholder was robbed, and killed. Parents, is living only on daily life support..with no inheritance left. Will the account obligation be terminated? since, nobody in the family can take such responsibility, since the deceased was the main breadwinner of the house.

    Reply
  8. Ma Fe

    I have the same experienced with them.I already settled one card fr metro and this time my other card fr eastwest will.be.the next.I just want to ask where to settle for this since i have a trauma fr all these collecting agency giving me harassment and pananskot.Can i ask settlement fr the card collection of the bank?What should i tell if somebody harassing me to pay asap?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. mia

      Hi same as akin I have past unpaid credit card we back 2009 indi ko na nabayaran .un kc nga indi na sapat ung kita ko sa ngaun mas priority ko ang basic needs ko, pinagsisihan ko talaga kumg bakit nagpadla kmi noun sa mga agents,ang nagyari kc ngpdla ng letter sa brgy namin na may kaso nga raw ako pinafile sa korte ng pasig and a certain CIDG officer pakilala niya nagsasabing mag e iisue ng warrant of arrest, nag iwan ng number Para contakin q daw siya, in parang nagduda naku kc gusto niya kausapin ko raw sir Atty.Hernandez na may hawak ng kaso. In sinasagot q siya to the point may sinabi ko may magsumbong aq sa bangko sentral for this kc its a violation agianst our right

    2. Em

      Hi ask ko lang ano na nangyari nung sinabi mo na magsumbong ka sa bangko sentral? I’ve been experiencing this for few days na. This guy, keep on sending email sa company naman using distribution list na nababasa ng mga big bosses. Sobrang nakakawala ng moral na napapahiya na ako ng husto sa mga ka-officemates ko.

    3. shaye

      Pag minura ka or pinahiya ka thru web sabihin mo kakasuhan mo sla ng grave slander at libel tulad ng gnawa ko pra manahimik dahil wla slang krapatan gawin un..legal assistance sla ng wowork dba?so alam nla ang rights natin

  9. chan

    Good pm may tanong lang ako may credit card na may due na 97000,nag babayad ako monthly, dalawang collection agents na nakausap ko, ung 2 agent nakausap ko she ask me a settlement ok namn ako pero narequest if pwede 2 yrs to pay,sabi wait kasi medyo busy daw siya , pero wala ng reply , now may collection agent naman tumawag sakin offer for settlement ok namn skin kaso ayaw niya ibawas ang previous payment ko gusto niya ang original ng utang ko bayaran ko,tama po ba un?anon dapat kong Gawin salamat po.

    Reply

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