Online loan platforms have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, there is also an increasing concern about how these platforms harass their customers who fail to repay their loans on the due date. This has become a major issue that cannot be ignored. In such cases, some of these loan platforms would keep calling and threatening their customers that defaulted. In fact, their persistent phone calls can even make one go into a coma.
Online loan platforms have become a problem for many people who are unable to repay their loans. The interest rates on these loans are often very high, which means that people are often trapped in a cycle of debt. The problem is that many loan apps operate without proper regulation, and they are not held accountable for their actions. This means that they can harass their customers without fear of consequences.
Some of the loan apps would go as far as calling or sending messages to the contacts of the loan defaulter, telling them that the customer has taken their money and refused to pay it back. Some would even send messages to contacts, family members, and friends, reporting that the customer is a thief and they are wanted. All these are disturbing and uncalled for.
The Nigerian Government has taken notice of these wired acts, and has in the past suspended the operation of some loan apps. This situation is really embarrassing. I believe the reason some people borrow money from online loan apps is probably because they don’t want to ask anybody for money or they don’t want anybody to know that they borrowed money. But it’s quite unfortunate that some of them later get exposed in an embarrassing way that they never expected.
It is always advisable to never attempt to borrow money, especially from online loan apps if you don’t have any means of paying back before the due date. However, we understand that things may not always go as planned sometimes; so, in case you are trapped and unable to pay back your loan as expected on the due date. All you have to do is to be very polite and explain to the loan platform from which you took the loan. I believe they are also human beings. But if they refuse to understand you and choose to keep embarrassing you unnecessarily, you may have no option but to report them.
Fortunately, there are ways to report online loan harassment in Nigeria. This would allow people who have been victimized to take action against loan apps that are harassing them. Below are some ways to report online loan harassment in Nigeria:
1. Report On Google Play Store Or App Store
Immediately you are victimized in any form of online loan harassment, the first thing to do is to report the app on the Play Store or App Store. You might ask about the process you undertake to properly report the app. For Android users, just go to your android play store and report the app to Google that such an app is overrunning your privacy and you are under onslaught for harassment or abuse.
The reason for this is to permit Google to review your report immediately when it receives your notification and take instantaneous action against such a loan app and discard it from its platform. So, once this is done, Google removes any loan app from its platform that is abusive to avoid any further victimization.
2. Report To A Media House
Reporting to a media house is another way to make your online loan harassment known. Many online media platforms can assist you to publish your entire story on their platforms free of charge. For instance, suppose you are a victim of online loan harassment. Just send a harassment case to the media house. They will publish it instantly and once Google checks for statements against such a loan app, it would discard it.
In fact, if after thorough evaluation and your story is found genuine, it will attract the awareness of the government both the state and the federal. They will further apply local laws against such loan apps and notify Google of unexpected activities against such loan apps.
Conclusion
We will never support anybody to take a loan online and refuse to pay it back. It is expected of you to pay back your loan even before the due date; never take a loan if you don’t have any hope of getting the money to pay it back before the due date.
If any unexpected circumstances make you unable to pay the loan on the due date, you should try to explain politely to the loan platform; just try your best to make them understand. But if they refuse to give you a listening ear and choose to harass you, you may have to report the loan platform to save yourself from such harassment. However, still look for a way to pay back your loan.