What is "abusive debt collection" and how do I prove it?

Abusive debt collection encompasses any action taken by a lender or its agent that is intended to intimidate, humiliate, coerce, or cause emotional or reputational harm to a debtor. The law recognizes that you owe a financial debt, but your dignity and mental health are not part of the collateral.

Under the FCCPC's 2025 regulations, examples of abusive practices include:

• Using foul, insulting, or threatening language.
• Publishing or threatening to publish a list of "defaulters."
• Making false or misleading representations (e.g., "We will have you arrested immediately").
• Accessing your phone contacts without explicit permission.
• Contacting your employer or professional colleagues to shame you .

How to Prove It (Gathering Evidence):

Proving abuse is about documenting the lender's actions. Since cases often come down to "he said, she said," your evidence is your most powerful tool. You need to create a "paper trail" of their misconduct.

Example/Illustration:

Imagine the loan app sends you an email saying, "You are a common criminal. We will send soldiers to your house tomorrow if you don't pay N20,000."

• Screenshots: Take a screenshot of the threatening email or WhatsApp message. Ensure the phone number/email address and the timestamp are visible .
• Call Logs: Take a screenshot of your phone's call log showing 15 missed calls from the same number in one hour.
• Call Recordings: Be careful. Nigeria's evidence laws on one-party consent for calls can be complex. However, you can inform the caller, "I am recording this call to document your harassment." After that warning, you may have a stronger position. When in doubt, stick to written evidence (texts, chats).
• Witnesses: If they contacted your boss or family member, ask that person to save the message they received and write down a brief account of what happened. They can serve as a witness.