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- Pushback: Russians are increasingly complaining about persistent calls from debt collectors
Pushback: Russians are increasingly complaining about persistent calls from debt collectors
Persistent calls from unscrupulous collectors are still the main cause of complaints from Russians when paying back debts, despite the restrictions laid down in Russian law. In the first quarter of 2025, 8.5 thousand citizens Once they complained about illegal methods of repayment of overdue debts, the Federal Bailiff Service told Izvestia. This is 10% more than in the same period last year. At the same time, for the whole of 2024, about 33 thousand such complaints were received. About what else Russians complain about and how to act when their rights are violated, see the Izvestia article.
What complaints are received about the recoverers
In the first quarter of 2025, Russians were 10% more likely to complain about illegal actions by debt collectors than in the same period last year, the FSSP press service told Izvestia. A total of 8.5 thousand requests were received during this period.
"The number of complaints about illegal actions during the repayment of overdue debts remains high," they said. — In 2024, more than 33 thousand requests were received. At the same time, it should be noted that only 15% of the total number of appeals concerned the activities of professional collectors."
Most of the appeals were received in relation to microfinance and credit institutions. The press service of the department added that most often applicants complain of violations related to the "frequency of interaction."
"This is the implementation of contacts with third parties without consent, who have no debts, but whose phone numbers are indicated in the loan agreement as contact numbers," the FSSP said. "It also involves exerting psychological pressure on the debtor and others, using expressions and committing other acts that degrade the honor and dignity of the debtor."
Microfinance organizations most often resort to the services of unscrupulous claimants, a law enforcement source confirmed to Izvestia. In addition to regular calls to debtors, they often use various bots to "break through" the victim's personal data and begin attacking her loved ones.
"After finding out the data, they start calling relatives, friends, and writing to everyone on messengers and social networks," he said. — They can intimidate or use fake accounts posing as another person. For example, writing to men on behalf of a beautiful girl.
According to the interlocutor, sometimes "black seekers" can use radical methods, especially this practice is widespread in the regions. They may hire people to intimidate and carry out illegal activities. For example, one debtor girl was splashed in the face with water, promising that next time it would be acid. Another debtor's door was set on fire.
— They use the full range of elements of criminal pressure on the debtor. These are threats, surveillance. In addition, lawyers are allegedly calling and threatening to sue, deprive of real estate," the source stressed.
In another case, unscrupulous claimants photographed the debtor's child every day and sent it to him, exerting strong psychological pressure on him, said Kantemir Keshokov, CEO of the Keshokov, Bitueva and Partners law firm.
— In addition, there was a situation when collectors sent to relatives and friends of the debtor discrediting her honor and dignity "announcements" that she was allegedly engaged in escorting, — he said. — Or they put up flyers near the entrances of debtors with information about them, including the amount of debt or even personal data.
How to protect yourself from "black seekers"
The increase in the number of appeals is due, in particular, to the growing awareness of citizens about ways to report their problem, the press service of the National Association of Professional Collection Agencies (NAPCA) told Izvestia.
"At the same time, it is important to look at such an indicator as the percentage of confirmed requests. As practice shows, not all received appeals have a basis," they said. — According to the FSSP statistics, just over 5% of appeals in connection with the actions of professional collection organizations from the register are justified."
The statistics of the FSSP, emphasized in the NAPCA, takes into account applicants of all levels. Collectors include only those specialists who work in professional collection organizations. They have separate requirements defining their status, and they are separated into a separate group because they are included in a separate register of the FSSP.
— More and more often we hear that companies have embarked on a "soft", "environmentally friendly" pre-trial penalty, which involves a range of special conditions. — the press service reported. — For example, discounting, reducing the monthly payment.
NAPCA operates through its own service for receiving citizens' appeals "Welcome to Complain". In 2024, an increase in the number of complaints was recorded by more than 12%.
"According to the results of the first quarter, there is a slight decrease. Historically, the leading positions of complaints have remained unchanged: violation of the rules of interaction, psychological pressure and disclosure of personal data," the press service of the association said.
Currently, the sphere of debt collection is regulated by Federal Law No. 230 "On the protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Individuals when carrying out activities to repay overdue debts."
— It defines the procedure for the interaction of collectors with the borrower in case of overdue debts, — Kantemir Keshokov explained. — They must notify the citizen of the debt, clarify the reasons for its occurrence, the deadlines for voluntary repayment, and also propose options for its settlement. The law also clearly specifies the types of debts that collectors can work on, the requirements for collection organizations, as well as the permitted ways of interacting with the debtor.
According to the legislation, the recoverers are prohibited from threatening, psychologically pressuring, harming the debtor, and breaking his property.
— There are restrictions on the time of collectors' calls to debtors — from 8:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 20:00 on weekends, — said the expert. — In addition, collectors cannot call more than twice a week and eight times a month. Collectors have no right to enter residential premises or communicate with relatives of debtors.
Also, a citizen, upon application to a collection organization, can prohibit the recoverers from conducting telephone conversations with him, organizing personal meetings, the lawyer emphasized. In this case, the only way to interact with the debtor will be by registered mail to the registration address.
Psychological pressure from unscrupulous claimants can relate to several articles of the Criminal Code at once, said Anton Sonichev, partner at Sonichev, Kazus and Partners Law Firm. For example, under articles on arbitrariness, extortion, violation of privacy and home, secrecy of correspondence, telephone conversations, postal and telegraphic messages.
—On July 21, 2023, an article was introduced into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation providing for liability for illegal activities to repay overdue debts of individuals," he said. — In particular, the commission of actions aimed at repayment of overdue debts involving the threat of violence is considered a crime.
According to him, citizens have the right to collect evidence of violations of their rights and apply to law enforcement agencies with a crime report.
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