In the case of debts: A scam by the debt collection company has fatal consequences - the account is emptied
Created: 01/04/2022, 11:32 AM
By: Markus Hofstetter
Caution should be exercised when dealing with debt collection services (symbol photo) © Monkey Business 2 / imago
Debtors should exercise caution when dealing with debt collection companies.
With certain clauses, not only could the account be emptied, but new debts could also be produced.
Hamburg - It is an experience that many people in Germany have.
There is no longer enough money to pay the bills.
The next step can be that a letter from a debt collection company lands in the mailbox.
What a debtor should definitely not do in this situation is to agree on an installment payment with wage assignment with the debt collection company.
The Hamburg consumer center warns of this.
Because this clause empowers the debt collection company to report directly to the employer of the person concerned in the event of non-payment and to collect the attachable part of the salary.
A court order is not necessary for this.
Scam by debt collection companies with fatal consequences: direct access to current account possible
One reason for this warning is that the consumer advice center Hamburg claims that there are numerous complaints from consumers concerned. "Those affected feel betrayed by the debt collection company and many fear that calling a debt collection service will put a strain on their relationship with their employer," said Kerstin Föller from the Hamburg consumer center. “It shouldn't be that debt collection services have direct access to the giro accounts of debtors. This means that they can even plunge those affected into financial problems. "
Another, worse scam by the debt collection company is when they write a clause in the installment payment contracts, according to which the debtor assigns the “current and future account balance plus the overdraft facility”.
Because this is not a seizure, but a voluntary assignment.
Due to this clause, the debt collection service has full access to the account.
He can not only collect the entire credit balance on an account, but also fully utilize the overdraft facility.
Scam by debt collection companies with fatal consequences: A P account offers protection
For those affected, this clause can be a disaster that threatens their existence.
Because the account can not only be emptied, but also be huge in the red.
"If the companies make full use of their possibilities, the debtor no longer even has the subsistence level," says Föller.
There shouldn't be such a clause in a contract, she says.
The only remedy is a so-called garnishment protection account (P account).
The credit on this account is protected from such access.
Scam by debt collection companies with fatal consequences: For those affected it is a disaster
The portal
gegen-hartz.de
is said to be
aware of
a case in which a woman fell for the
scam
, according to a report.
“My entire account is empty,” says Elke W. She no longer knows how to feed her children.
The debt collectors apparently don't care how they should buy groceries over the next few weeks.
"That's a catastrophe!"