SIM Card Registration Law and Your Credit Card Debts

SIM Card Registration Law and Your Credit Card Debts
by Bayanihan

SIM Card Registration Act

May mga utang ka ba na di nabayaran? Credit card dues na naka-endorse na?

Where you forced to change your phone number due to collection agents calling you day in and day out? To the point that they are threatening you. Giving you undue stress everyday.

Naiintindihan kita. Changing your phone number is one of the few escapes that we have. At least, to give you a small peace mind. May utang ka na nga, eto pa ang mga CA hindi ka tinatantanan.

Don’t get me wrong. Of course, you need  to pay your debts. It’s your obligation.

(Disclaimer: This article is purely based on the opinion and speculation of the author. This is not a legal advice. I am not helping people escape their debts but rather provide insight or input on how they can pay it with their dignity intact. Safe from harassment. If you need legal help, please contact a lawyer.)

Pero hindi mo din deserve ang harassment. To escape this, you change your phone number that is registered with the banks system. A relief.

But this small peace of mind might be threatened when the bill, SIM Card Registration Act, will become a law.

What is this SIM Registration Act?

The legislation will mandate public telecommunication organizations (PTEs) to require the registration of SIM cards prior to sale and activation to limit the spread of crimes enabled by SIM cards and other forms of electronic communication.

 

With SIM Card Registration Act - You will be compelled to register your SIM card

This means na pagbumili ka nang bagong SIM card, kailangan mong ibigay ang pangalan mo para iregister nang Telco like SMART or GLOBE ang number under your name. Parang telephone na may address book.

This applies to pre-paid sims or yung mga sim na binibili natin sa tindahan. You can activate the SIM card unless it is registered your name.

This is actually a very good law. This helps prevent scammers and other illegal activities that are done through text messages and even social media accounts. Actually, this is already long overdue and very much needed by our country that is full of fraudsters and scammers.

But how will this affect those in Credit Card defaults?

I think this is the important topic for us which has debts with credit card bank. This is still preliminary speculations. Chances are this will not happen to anyone.

Credit Card info and SIM number

The worst case scenario is that the “Agents” will know your current number since it is under your name. They will have the data since all SIM cards are registered. They will know the number to call.

The small peace of mind that you have built will slowly shutter away. And changing phone number will not be ideal as you will need to register that number under your name again. Sooner or later, these C.Agents will again know your number and kept on calling you.

But I still have my prepaid SIM. This is not a new SIM so it's not registered.

Yung number na hawak ko ngayon. Hindi naman to nakaregister kasi hindi naman to bagong bili.

That was also a small tiny hope that I saw. But unfortunately, all existing prepaid numbers must be registered within one year upon enactment of the law.

Ibig sabihin nito, sa loob nang isang taon na naging batas na ang SIM Card Registration Act, tayong mga may hawak na SIM card na prepaid ay kailangan i-register ang SIM Card na ito.

Eh paano kung hindi ako magregister?

Telcos will have the right to terminate your number. So, all unregistered SIM cards will be terminated after one year.

So paghindi ka magregister, mateterminate number mo. You will have no choice but to buy a new sim card which will compel you to register your name.

Now, all “Agents” will try to look for your name in the address book or datasource from this Telco.

So malalaman at malalalaman din nila yung current number mo.

Then, like your first day, they will keep calling you. Nightmare.

But again, this is only speculation. It's not fixed. Chances are, hindi naman to mangyayari. 

And bakit mo naman nasabi? How can you say that this might not happen, after explaining that your name will be registered on the sim card as mandated by law.

Yes, your name will be registered that you are the owner of the SIM card. This one is unavoidable (legally) once the law is passed.

But it does not mean that your name and number will be open for public. That anyone from the public will be able to get your number.

We still have laws that protect DATA privacy. And our name with our registered cell number is part of it. Even if the Telco’s have your name and number, they can’t just give it to anyone. There are procedures that needed to be done before they can divulge your contact number or publish it.

Data Privacy Act - Your data should be protected

As an entity holding data of millions of Filipino’s, they have the obligation to protect it.

So, hindi basta basta makukuha ng sino man ang data mo. They will need to do it in a legal way. Unless magfile nang kaso against you, hindi makukuha ang impormasyon mo unless mayroong court order.

This is the most likely scenario that will happen. And I am hoping that our legislators; Senators and Congressman, had made sure that we are protected.

Again, this is all speculation and opinion on my end. The bill is still with the President and has not yet been signed.

I am sharing this information so that you can be prepared for what might happen. Start thinking of ways how you can protect your small peace of mind.

And of course, slowly, if able, pay your debts.

. . . . . . . . . .

Also, if you have problem with Agents, you might want to re

ad the article below.

• Who will help you against Collection Agents?

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