Education on Debt Collection is Important So that Debt Collectors Do Not Have the Freedom to Intimidate

JAKARTA - Debt collection through debt collectors, or better known as hawks, is back in the spotlight.

A series of eagle eye actions continues to attract public attention because the collection actions are not orderly and unethical. In recent months, the case of collection by debt collectors has attracted harsh criticism among the public.

In East Bekasi, ARP (19), who was shopping at a shopping center, was surrounded by a group of unknown men. They then forced ARP to hand over one unit of a Pajero Sport car, which was later found to belong to the victim's uncle. Under pressure and intimidation, the victim was forced to sign a vehicle transfer letter, and the car was hijacked by the perpetrators.

Then on May 6, 2025, a similar case occurred in South Bekasi. This time the victim was T, a 37-year-old man. He was bullied by several vultures, and the ends of T's car were also hit by the perpetrators.

A similar story was repeated in Kalideres, West Jakarta on May 22. In a video circulating on social media, the victim who was riding a motorcycle was beaten by a debt collector gang.

The perpetrator suspected that the owner of the motorcycle was in arrears. Fortunately, the victim was able to escape after a commotion, and the police arrested the three perpetrators.

Aksidebt collectorsaat carrying out his duties to collect delinquent loans has become a topic of discussion again. However, this time the victim is not from the customer or vehicle owner side, but the debt collector himself.

This incident occurred in Kalibata, Thursday (11/12/2025), which was initiated by a dispute between the customer and the debt collector. Coincidentally, this customer is a police officer, who did not accept the eagle-eyed treatment of taking his motorcycle keys randomly.

Bripda AN then called five other colleagues to gang up on the two debt collectors. One eagle eye was declared dead at the scene, while another victim suffered serious injuries and later died at Budi Asih Hospital, Jakarta.

In the evening, the debt collector group came to the scene and burned down kiosks in Kalibata. Residents who didn't know anything became victims, and left trauma.

Without justifying the beating action carried out by six police officers in Kalibata, the actions of debt collectors, which are often accompanied by acts of violence, do disturb the public. In fact, the use of debt collectors is not illegal.

This is regulated in Article 61, Financial Services Authority (OJK) Regulation Number 22 of 2023 concerning Consumer and Community Protection in the Financial Services Sector. In the rules it is written, financial services business actors (PUJK) can cooperate with other parties to carry out the function of credit collection or financing to consumers.

However, criminal law observer Masykur Isnan emphasized that the process of billing and withdrawing vehicles must follow the strict rules set by the applicable legal provisions, in accordance with the Consumer Protection Law, OJK Regulation and Civil Code, especially regarding billing ethics.

"Acts of violence, threats, intimidation, or humiliating the debtor or his family are strictly prohibited and can be punished, and can lead to administrative sanctions for the financial company concerned," explained Isnan when contacted by VOI.

In addition, billing officers must also have certificates and official duty letters. They must not arbitrarily make physical contact, invite third parties, and intimidate consumers.

Unfortunately, this rule often falls apart in the field. What happens a lot is violence and even vehicle confiscation by debt collectors that can be categorized as criminal acts.

Masykur Isnan explained that the procedure for withdrawing vehicles due to credit default has a valid legal basis, as stated in Law Number 42 of 1999 concerning Fiduciary Guarantees. Execution of vehicles due to credit default, said Isnan, must be carried out through the court mechanism if the debtor refuses to surrender voluntarily.

"Forced withdrawal on the road by debt collectors without clear legal procedures is illegal and against the law," Isnan said.

However, in many cases of bad credit, the settlement is often carried out with intimidation, violence, and ends in the confiscation of vehicles on the road. The rampant act of gangsterism by debt collectors, according to Masykur Isnan, is one of the factors due to the loss of credibility of the police in preventing and taking action.

"The rule of law can be weak and it seems like there is a permit. Hopefully there will be improvements in the future so that the public has confidence in the police," he explained.

Meanwhile, regarding the case of beating two debt collectors by six police officers, which resulted in the burning of dozens of kiosks in Kalibata, it should be a reflection for the financial services world to improve, said the Secretary General of the Indonesian Consumer Institution Foundation, Rio Priambodo.

He emphasized the importance of continuous education for both debt collectors and customers to find solutions for the common good.

From the incident in Kalibata, Rio continued, both OJK and the police need to nurture debt collectors so that they do not violate the law in carrying out their duties. On the other hand, OJK must also educate consumers about their obligations as customers.

"Even if there are objections, then consumers must also open a communication channel by the leasing party to find a win-win solution for both parties," he concluded.

In the end, the collection of debts on the streets accompanied by violence is a reflection of the fragile enforcement of the law. As a result, people who don't know anything have to be victims, as experienced by traders in Kalibata. In addition to bearing damage and fear, not a few of them also experience trauma. This happens because the authorities and the eagle's eyes both go beyond the limits.