Interesting little piece in the on the Malaysian Insider website reporting that…
The Singapore Law Society has banned firms in the city state from hiring debt collectors to try and collect unpaid bills… deeming the practice improper
This is what the Malaysian Insider says…
Lawyers in Singapore barred from hiring debt collectors
SINGAPORE, July 8
The Law Society has put lawyers on notice that they should not hire debt collectors to redeem unpaid bills.
In an advisory that took effect yesterday, the society said such a practice is improper and raised potential issues affecting professional conduct.
It could compromise client confidentiality, as case details are disclosed to debt collectors. Also, fee arrangements made with them could breach current rules on payments to lawyers.
Hiring debt collectors, it said, would belittle “the dignity of the legal profession and adversely affect the standing and perception of the legal profession in the eyes of the public”.
No specific details were available, but it said a client had lodged a complaint.
It warned of the potential dangers of “abusive, deceptive and unfair debt collection practices by debt collectors”.
It said lawyers cannot take the approach of ordinary creditors by hiring debt collectors when they are owed fees.
Full article at http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/31669-lawyers-in-singapore-barred-from-hiring-debt-collectors
