AZE.US
A complaint over debt collection practices by non-bank credit organizations has sparked discussion in Azerbaijan after a borrower said a delayed loan payment led to calls to his relatives, acquaintances and other people from his phone contacts.
The borrower, identified as Kanan Alizade, said he had taken a loan from a non-bank credit organization several months ago. After a payment delay, he claimed, employees began calling not only him but also people from his contact list. One report said calls were made to more than 100 people, including relatives, acquaintances and others who had no connection to the loan.
Alizade suggested that access to his contacts may have been obtained through a mobile application used by the credit organization. He said a user may formally allow access to contacts when installing an app, but would not expect that information to be used later as pressure through friends and relatives.
Alizade said his total debt to two non-bank credit organizations was close to 2,000 manats, or about $1,175. He argued that if there is a debt or a payment delay, the issue should be resolved through lawful channels, such as a payment schedule, restructuring or court proceedings, not by calling unrelated people.
Lawyers commenting on the case said information about a person’s financial position and debts is considered personal data. If debt information is disclosed to relatives, acquaintances or other third parties without a legal basis or the borrower’s consent, it may be treated as a violation of rights.
Legal experts said a borrower in such a situation may be able to go to court and seek compensation for moral damages if they can prove reputational harm or emotional distress caused by the credit organization’s actions.
One of the companies mentioned in the reports, Azpulmat, rejected the allegations. The company said the phone numbers shown in the video material did not belong to it, were not registered in its name and had never been used by the company. It also said it had no technical ability to make calls from those numbers and that its interest rates and loan terms comply with existing legislation.
According to the television report, another credit organization mentioned in the complaint did not respond to a request for comment.
The case has drawn attention because it goes beyond one delayed payment. It raises a wider question about where lawful debt collection ends and pressure through a borrower’s private circle begins. A debt remains a debt, but a borrower’s contact list should not become a public pressure tool.
AZE.US