Does the BSP protect me from harassment by a bank or credit-card collector?

Last updated: 2026-07-11 · Educational content; not legal advice.

Short answer

Yes. If your creditor is a bank, credit-card issuer, or other BSP-supervised institution — not an SEC-registered lending app — unfair collection is barred by RA 11765 (Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, 2022) and, for credit cards, by RA 10870 (Philippine Credit Card Industry Regulation Law), which states that a card issuer or its collection agent 'shall not harass, abuse or oppress' you. The issuer must also inform you in writing before endorsing your account to a collection agency. Because the regulator differs, you complain to the BSP (through its Consumer Assistance channel) rather than the SEC.

The dividing line is who supervises the creditor: the SEC oversees financing and lending companies and online lending apps (SEC MC 18 applies), while the BSP oversees banks, credit-card issuers, e-money issuers, and similar institutions (RA 11765 and RA 10870 apply). Knowing which regulator to file with matters — see /which-regulator.

Primary sources

Frequently asked

How do I know if my creditor is BSP- or SEC-supervised?

Banks, universal/commercial/thrift/rural banks, credit-card issuers, and e-money issuers are BSP-supervised. Financing companies, lending companies, and online lending apps are SEC-supervised. Check the entity's registration; complain to the matching regulator (see /which-regulator).

Are the collection rules different for a credit card?

The core protections are the same in effect — no harassment, abuse, threats, or third-party disclosure — but the legal source is RA 10870 and BSP rules rather than SEC MC 18. RA 10870 also requires written notice before your account is endorsed to a collection agency.

Can I still involve the NPC?

Yes. If a bank or its collector disclosed your debt to third parties or misused your data, the RA 10173 (Data Privacy Act) complaint to the National Privacy Commission applies regardless of whether the creditor is BSP- or SEC-supervised.