QUOTE(IceBikers @ Sep 22 2008, 09:02 PM)
No....the news and the agency here is different.
Like I explained, the business entity for carrying out those so called EPP conversion is not legitimate. It exploits the loophole of banks.
Whereas in this news article, it's basically referring to AKPK
http://www.akpk.org.my/ which helps only those certified really in debt trouble.
But there's sacrifices whereby this government agency would help convert all your loans outstanding into term loan with minimal interest. But within those periods, one cannot get another loan until one pays off all his debt.
Whereas the rampant modus operandi which you provided in your first post is not related to any legitimate financial institution. It is like what I explained. A falsely declared company to get the merchant terminals and help you swipe your card and convert it into EPP.
Say you owe the bank RM5k. You'll need another card or the existing card must have another RM5k limit not used.
This company would swipe the RM5k and convert it into EPP and they would hand over to you the RM5k (usually they would charge you some fees, so you might not be getting the full RM5k).
Than, you're suppose to use this RM5k cash to go pay your debt the RM5k that you owed.
Now you're left with another RM5k debt which instead of the credit card statment billing you RM5k in total every month, you'll pay the installment amount converted. Get the drift!?
But like I explained, the company doing so is not legitimate as they have falsely declared their services to the banks and also to SSM.
Banks when find out usually wouldn't do much towards the said company. They would just terminate the merchant terminal services the rented out. But some would go to the extreme to go file a case against the said company for fraud and hand over to SSM to do the investigating instead of getting their own hands dirty.