When a loan agreement is signed, the borrower is separated from their circle of contacts so the creditor can interact with people in their network. In practice, if the debtor later delays repayments, collectors often reach out to acquaintances they can find. This perspective comes from Arseny Poyarkov, arbitration manager and head of the BusinessDrom analytical center, speaking to socialbites.ca.
He explained that collectors search for additional information about the debtor through open sources. They may examine social media footprints, review the debtor’s workplace, and look for acquaintances who could be contacted for information or leverage in the collection process.
Poyarkov noted that if collectors call people not listed in the loan agreement, that behavior can amount to hooliganism and may be addressed within the law by filing a complaint with the police or the supervisory body over collectors.
He added that collectors often operate in disguise and do not clearly disclose the organizations they represent, making it difficult to identify them. Stopping such activities typically requires contacting the relevant authorities, but because multiple numbers can be used, dozens of complaints may be necessary. Relatives and friends should not be contacted by phone. If a debtor wishes to minimize interruptions, they might block unknown numbers or restrict calls from unfamiliar numbers when feasible.
For a fundamental understanding of the issue, there are two main paths: paying off the debt or, if payment is not possible, pursuing bankruptcy proceedings.
In this scenario, the debtor would file for personal bankruptcy. Once the case is filed, the creditor’s attention fades as interest in the case declines. Both options can lead to the cessation of calls from collectors to the debtor and their social circle, since renewed contact becomes unlikely and the debt recovery costs drop. The process often leaves creditors with little incentive to pursue further collection activity if the debtor is entering bankruptcy and unlikely to repay.
Public records show that Russia has confronted cases where collectors breached repayment regulations, highlighting the ongoing need for clear rules and effective enforcement in debt collection practices.