15-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) A shocking incident unfolded on the eve of Chinese New Year when a man was caught on camera assaulting debt collectors with a motorcycle helmet. The video, which was shared on Facebook by Singapore Debt Collection Service (SDCS) on February 14, captured the confrontation between the man and the debt enforcement team in an HDB open-air carpark.
In the video, one of the debt collectors demanded money from the man, who responded with repeated inquiries of “What money do you want?” However, the situation escalated when the man noticed that the debt collector was recording the interaction. He sarcastically remarked, “Oh, recording, huh? Am I supposed to be scared?” It was at this point that the man struck the debt collector’s head with his helmet. Another debt collector intervened to push the man back, only to be struck with the headgear as well.
In the Facebook post accompanying the video, SDCS provided context, explaining that the man owed money to their client—a vinyl flooring installer. According to SDCS, their client had offered a special Ramadan early bird promotion in 2023, featuring a 12-month installment plan at $296 per month for vinyl flooring. The debtor had availed of this offer, and installation began on April 29, 2023. However, despite the agreed-upon terms, the debtor made only three payments in July, September, and October 2023.
SDCS recounted their efforts to recover the debt, stating that they sent a letter of demand to the debtor’s residence in November 2023, which went unanswered. Subsequently, their debt enforcement team made multiple visits to the residence, but the debtor was consistently unavailable. It wasn’t until February 2023 that the debtor’s family members finally engaged with SDCS. Unfortunately, during that encounter, the debtor himself appeared and instigated a confrontation with the debt collectors.
The video sparked strong reactions from netizens, with many condemning the behavior of the debt collectors. One commenter expressed, “Debt collectors behaving like thugs. To me, you simply deserved it!” Another remarked, “Shiok la, act like a gangster, be treated like one.” However, there were also those who applauded the debtor’s actions, stating, “Good one, my Indian brother, all these so-called licensed debt collectors need you to teach them to behave.”
In response to the comments, SDCS addressed the situation in their own video post, emphasizing that they are not loan sharks but rather a debt collection agency working on behalf of their clients. They clarified that their client had made unsuccessful attempts to recover the debt, which led them to serve a demand letter to the debtor. Despite several attempts to visit the debtor at his home, he consistently avoided contact. SDCS explained that the confrontation captured in the video occurred when they finally managed to speak to the debtor’s family, and the debtor himself became confrontational.
