Singapore – Lawyer and opposition leader Lim Tan made headlines when five debt collectors who brand themselves as “money-recovering avengers” dropped by his law firm to address an outstanding debt.
Legal debt collection service, SDCS Holdings Pte Ltd, filmed the entire process and live-streamed the footage on Facebook last Tuesday (Sept 21).
One of the collectors explained that it was a matter of principle, although the money owed is “not a big amount.”
Although the group did not initially reveal the person they were visiting, a collector said it was someone viewers would recognize.
They eventually arrived at Carson Law firm, with Mr Lim appearing on camera, shaking his head and saying he would settle the amount.
According to SDCS officers, Mr Lim owed S$4,905 to a company after engaging their services to post something on The Straits Times.
The 18-minute video ended with the collectors receiving a cheque for the alleged amount owed.
The SDCS team market themselves as superheroes, “providing justice for their clients.”
They have a photo of the team with nicknames akin to Marvel’s Avengers.
“It’s meant to be something fun, but in a way, it’s how we judge ourselves,” said ‘Justice Boy’ to 8days.sg.
Regarding their fees, SDCS said they “take a small upfront fee and a commission upon recovery”, although they provide pro bono jobs too.
“It’s based on our assessment. We even had secondary school kids coming to us to say they were conned by people but they didn’t want to tell their parents. We helped them for free,” said ‘Justice Boy’ who is also known as Kenneth Tien.
When asked if their videos showing the debtors’ faces was a violation of privacy, Mr Tien said that they didn’t have issues so far.
“We cannot comment on whether it’s illegal or not. We just do what’s right.”
Another ‘mission’ the “money-recovering avengers” tackled was collecting debt from multi-label retailer Naiise at Jewel Changi Airport earlier this year in April.
“SDCS will always stand up for our helpless client whose money has been cheated or scam(med). Be it who you are, even if you are a celebrity, the debt has to be cleared! It’s a matter of principle,” wrote SDCS on their page./TISG
Read related: Debt collectors show up at Lim Tean’s office demanding payment with court order
Debt collectors show up at Lim Tean’s office demanding payment with court order
Follow Google News
Join us on WhatsApp
Follow us on Telegram