Notes » September 2005

Pay Up Or Else

Annoyed by the stream of debt-collection letters in your mailbox?

Be glad you don't live in Hong Kong. A letter to the editor commented on the concept of regulating collectors:

When your family is threatened and intimidated, surely it is time for government action.

I also went through hell from debt collectors. A few years ago someone in Hong Kong alleged I owed him $12,000. I considered that I did not owe the money.

The fax machine in my office began churning out endless abusive threats of harm to me and my 11-year-old son, while the phones rang continuously with foul language and threats to my receptionist, my secretary and myself.

I made a statement to police, who then sent a detective to my office. Here is what he told me: "Okay, the guy says you owe him $12,000. It's not a lot of money. There's nothing we can do. If we find the people who are making the calls, and that is almost impossible, we have to prove they did these things. Even if we get a prosecution, the law allows for just a small fine.

"The next day they would be at another location doing it again. These people could hire someone to chop off your arm for $1,000. I suggest you pay up."

I did.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

If regular debt collectors are that bad, imagine dealing with Hong Kong loan sharks.

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