Whether MHA Has Received Complaints on the Conduct of Debt Collection Agencies Under the Debt Collection Act

Question:

Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs since the commencement of the Debt Collection Act on 1 December 2023 (a) whether the Ministry has received complaints regarding the conduct or professionalism of debt collection agencies; (b) how such complaints are resolved; (c) whether any disciplinary action has been taken against these agencies for misconduct; and (d) how many of such agencies are engaged by public hospitals.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Since the commencement of the Debt Collection Act on 1 December 2023, there were eight cases of unlicensed collection by debt collection companies and/or individual debt collectors.

2. Police have issued stern warnings, in lieu of prosecution, to three companies involved in unlicensed debt collection activities. Investigations are ongoing for the remaining cases.

3. In general, Police do not track the customers of debt collection companies. But none of these eight cases involved debts owed to our public hospitals.