Owner of scandal-plagued Panthera Finance tells court it was not technically operating illegally in Victoria

Francom claims that because Panthera had ‘acquired’ the debts, it was not technically engaged in collecting debt owed to a third party

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

One of Australia’s largest debt collection firms has claimed that scandal-plagued Panthera Finance was not technically banned from operating in Victoria after it was blacklisted by the state’s consumer watchdog.

Consumer Affairs Victoria launched legal action against Panthera Finance last year, alleging it operated in the state illegally after a federal court ruling in 2020, and despite warnings that doing so could amount to a criminal offence.