At all times, people were not too fond of giving back debts. In Russia, Friday was a day off. Everyone went to the market: some to sell, others to purchase. Money was not always enough, because the goods were sold in installments. The buyer vowed to give the full amount on the next market day - next Friday.
Due to cunning or banal forgetfulness, debts often did not return. They said of a man who constantly broke promises: "He has seven Fridays in a week."
Over time, the situation only worsened. According to the United Credit Bureau, 7 million people in Russia have already stopped paying loans.
How to collect debts in Russia
In those days, the methods of dealing with defaulters were not distinguished by humanity and philanthropy.
Pigeon
"Edit" in the old Russian language meant "exact". Every day the debtor was placed in front of the courthouse and was assiduously beaten with finger-thick sticks. Blows were made on bare legs, but for a bribe it was allowed to wrap them in leather or steel. The creditor, too, could give money so that the debtor could be mutilated half to death. The execution was closely watched by the judge. To get rid of the punishment, the borrower had to pay the debt or find a person who would do it for him.
Pigeon had not only economic, but also instructive meaning. A man was tortured in public, so that others would be disgraceful.
Bonded Service
If corporal sanctions did not help, they gave the poor fellow to the creditor, and he became his serf. The conditions of service were prescribed in a legal document, which was called "bondage." From here came the expressions of "fall into bondage" and "bondage deal." The defaulter received pennies for the service, all of which went to pay off the growing interest. As a rule, he was in such an unenviable position until the end of his days, because it was impossible to fully repay the debt.
Debt Pits
In the XVII century, Peter I abolished the rule, taking an example from civilized Europe. Instead, they built prisons, where only debtors were put. The lender paid a monthly fee ("feed"), which went to the maintenance of the prisoner. The cameras were located in basements below ground level, from which came the concept of "debt hole." The borrower sat in prison until he gave the money back, or until the lender stopped paying feed.
Debt recovery in modern Russia
Today, collection has taken on more civilized forms. However, not without brutal excesses.
In 2017, in the city of Ulyanovsk, the collector decided to convince the debtor to give money with the help of a Molotov cocktail. As a result, a two-year-old child was badly burned.
The reaction followed immediately. The government urgently adopted Federal Law No. 230-FZ, the provisions of which uphold the rights of borrowers.
Unfortunately, those who do not care about the Criminal Code are not interested in observing any new law there. Because the "dirty" working methods are in use today.
Of the most harmless leprosy of the collectors, we distinguish:
- posting offensive leaflets with a photograph of the debtor;
- SMS messages with promises of quick reprisal;
- pouring door locks with glue;
- painting with paint and wall markers in the porches;
- damage to vehicles;
- calls to work to disgrace the borrower in the eyes of colleagues;
- threats to friends and family on social networks.
In this business, there are also decent organizations operating under the law. They are carefully monitored by the state and included in a special registry that is publicly available on the website of the Federal Bailiff Service.
What is forbidden to collectors?
Federal Law No. 230-FZ establishes severe restrictions.
Not allowed:
- Disclose debt information. The recoverer does not have the right to come to friends or relatives of the borrower and tell him that he did not give the money. An exception is possible if the consent was given when signing the loan agreement.
- Calling for work and complaining about the borrower.
- Send letters on social networks.
- To exert psychological and physical pressure.
- To cause damage to another's property.
- Call more than two times a week, send more than 4 SMS messages, unless otherwise specified in additional agreements.
Important: the debtor may refuse to communicate with the collector after 4 months from the beginning of the delay. To do this, just send a statement to the collector.
Where to complain?
To protect your rights, contact your local Office of the Federal Bailiff Service if the collector is officially employed and is on the registry.
If "lucky" to deal with illegal collectors - a direct road to the prosecutor.
It is desirable to attach evidence of illegal actions to the application: printouts and audio recordings of calls, SMS messages, letters with threats, leaflets.
