Is it illegal for a debt collector to threaten me in Singapore?

Yes. MHA told Parliament the rules ban collectors from threatening your physical safety, including by threatening texts or social media messages. Breaking the regulations can mean a fine of up to $10,000, jail of up to 12 months, or both.

Can a debt collector put up a notice about my debt?

No. The rules described by MHA ban notices about a debt on property that does not belong to the debtor or in any public place, such as on a neighbour's door.

How do I check if a debt collector is licensed in Singapore?

Ask for the company's UEN or Debt Collection Business Licence number and enter it at go.gov.sg/verifyme. Individual collector approvals are not public, so ask the person for documents showing who employs them.

Where do I report debt collector harassment?

Make a police report, or call 999 if you feel unsafe. Keep the dates, times, names and screenshots of every contact.

Can I get a protection order against a debt collector?

You can apply to the Protection from Harassment Court for a protection order, or an expedited protection order if the matter is urgent. The court can also award damages.

What should I do if I dispute the debt?

Tell the collector in writing that the debt is in dispute and keep a copy. MHA said the rules stop collectors from continuing to collect once a debtor has told them the debt is disputed or has started another way to settle it, such as mediation or court.

How is a debt collector different from a loan shark?

A licensed collector acts lawfully for a creditor and must hold a Police licence. A loan shark is an unlicensed moneylender, and harassing on its behalf is a crime. Report it to the Police Hotline on 1800 255 0000.

Debt Collector Harassment in Singapore: Your Rights

Key facts

The Debt Collection Act 2022 took effect on 1 December 2023. Since 1 March 2024, every debt collection company must hold a Police licence.
MHA told Parliament the rules ban threats to a debtor's physical safety and notices about the debt on property that is not the debtor's or in public places.
Check a company's licence at go.gov.sg/verifyme using its UEN or licence number.
Breaching the regulations can mean a fine of up to $10,000, jail of up to 12 months, or both.
The Protection from Harassment Court can grant protection orders, expedited protection orders and damages.

Who counts as a debt collector

The Debt Collection Act 2022 took effect on 1 December 2023. Since 1 March 2024, every debt collection company in Singapore must be licensed by the Police. The Act covers any business that collects debts on behalf of someone else, or collects debts it has bought.

The law defines debt collection activity widely. It means finding the debtor of a debt, or requesting, demanding or collecting money due under the debt. The Police say this applies whether the contact is a visit, a phone call, an email or another remote channel. Each person a licensed company sends out to collect must also have Police approval.

Banks, finance companies, card issuers and licensed moneylenders are treated differently. They collect their own debts under a class licence with its own conditions. If they hire an outside agency to collect for them, that agency must be licensed.

What a collector must not do

When the Bill was debated in Parliament, the Ministry of Home Affairs set out the conduct the rules would ban. A collector must not:

Threaten your physical safety, for example by brandishing a fist at you or threatening harm to you or your family.
Send texts or social media messages threatening physical harm to you or your family.
Put up notices about the debt on property that is not yours, or in a public place. Pasting your details on a neighbour's door is one example MHA gave.
Collect from someone without first checking that the person really is the debtor.
Keep collecting after you have told them the debt is in dispute, or that you have started another way to settle it, such as mediation or court.

A licence can also carry conditions requiring the company to make sure its collectors obey the Penal Code 1871 and the Protection from Harassment Act 2014. MHA said harassment would still be dealt with under those laws.

Breaking the regulations can lead to a fine of up to $10,000, jail of up to 12 months, or both, with higher limits for repeat offenders. The Police can also suspend or revoke a licence. Running a debt collection business without a licence carries a fine of up to $20,000, jail of up to 2 years, or both.

How to check if a collector is licensed

Ask for proofAsk the person who contacts you to show documents proving who employs them. The Police do not publish approvals of individual collectors.
Get the company UENThe online check needs the company's Unique Entity Number (UEN) or its Debt Collection Business Licence number.
Check on GoBusinessEnter it at go.gov.sg/verifyme to see whether the company holds a valid licence issued by the Police.
Report if it does not add upIf you have reason to believe the person or company is not licensed or approved, make a police report so the Police can investigate.

You can check us the same way. Speedy Debt Collection Pte. Ltd. has UEN 201610411E.

How to report a collector

If you feel unsafe, call the Police on 999. For threats, notices on your neighbour's door, or a collector who will not stop after you have disputed the debt, make a police report. Keep a record of each contact: the date, time, the name the person gave, and screenshots of messages.

For questions about the licensing rules themselves, the Police Regulatory Department takes calls on 6835 0000, from 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. You can also write in through go.gov.sg/spf-prd.

Protection orders for harassment

Separately from a police report, you can apply to the Protection from Harassment Court. The main remedy is a protection order. It directs the harasser to follow set terms, such as to stop harassing you or people related to you, or to remove harassing publications.

When you need help urgently, you can ask for an expedited protection order, which is temporary. The court can also order the harasser to pay you compensation, known as damages. Simplified cases are started online through the Community Justice and Tribunals System, and standard cases through eLitigation. The Judiciary website has a pre filing check to see whether your case is eligible.

Licensed collector or loan shark

A licensed collector acts for a creditor, such as a business or a landlord, and must follow the rules above. Unlicensed moneylenders, often called loan sharks or ah longs, are criminals. The Police describe persistent and dangerous harassment of borrowers and their families, such as setting fire to or splashing paint at homes and chaining gates to lock people in.

	Licensed debt collector	Unlicensed moneylender
Who they act for	A creditor owed money for goods, services, rent or a lawful loan	An illegal lending operation
Legal position	Company needs a Police licence; each collector needs Police approval	Criminal; harassment on its behalf is an offence
How to check	GoBusiness check with the company UEN	Nothing to check; report it
Where to report	Police report	Police Hotline 1800 255 0000, or 999 in an emergency

Harassing on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender is an offence under the Moneylenders Act 2008. First time offenders face up to five years in jail, a fine of $5,000 to $50,000, and three to six strokes of the cane. You can report unlicensed moneylending to the Police Hotline on 1800 255 0000 or online at police.gov.sg/i-witness.

If you do owe the money

Harassment is never part of lawful collection. Ignoring a real debt does not make it go away either. Ask the collector to set out the amount, who it is owed to, and how it was worked out. If you agree you owe it, propose a payment plan you can keep. If you dispute it, say so in writing and keep a copy.

Contacted by Speedy? Our page for people we have contacted explains how to check the amount, raise a dispute and agree a plan. Unsure what a term means? See our debt collection glossary.

Debt collector harassment in Singapore: what the law allows