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SEC MC 18 (2019) — File a Complaint Against a Lending Company

SEC Memorandum Circular 18 (2019) — file a complaint against SEC-registered lending and financing companies. Covers contact-list harassment, abusive collection, high APR. Includes GMS Philippines, online lending apps, and any SEC-registered entity.

⏱ SEC acknowledges within 5 business days; investigation timeline varies by case

Not sure the Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines is the right body for your complaint? Check which regulator handles your case →

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We write your SEC letter for you.

Addressed to flcd_complaints@sec.gov.ph. Copy it, email it, or print it.

Generate my letter File on LabanPH first

Sa FilipinoPara sa mga reklamo laban sa mga online lending app, financing company, o investment scheme — ang Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ng Pilipinas ang tamang regulator. Maaari kang mag-file sa SEC I-Message Mo portal (imessage.sec.gov.ph), pumunta sa SEC Headquarters sa Makati, o mag-email ng verified na reklamo sa Consumer Affairs Division ng SEC (cad@sec.gov.ph) — ito ang ginagamit ng LabanPH kapag ito ang nag-file para sa iyo.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Document everything: contract, payment history, all correspondence, dates and amounts of disputed charges.
2
Write a formal complaint addressed to: Director, Financing and Lending Companies Department (FLCD), Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Headquarters, 7907 Makati Avenue, Salcedo Village, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City 1209.
3
Include: complainant's full name and contact, company name and SEC registration number (findable on sec.gov.ph), nature of complaint, relief requested, and all supporting documents.
4
Submit through the SEC I-Message Mo portal at imessage.sec.gov.ph — the Commission's online complaint intake — or in person at SEC Headquarters in Makati. You can also email a verified complaint to the SEC's Consumer Affairs Division at cad@sec.gov.ph, which is the channel LabanPH uses when it files on your behalf.
5
SEC will evaluate and may issue a show-cause order to the company or conduct an investigation.
6
For lending companies with predatory practices or unlicensed operations, SEC can suspend or revoke their license.

We'll fill out and send the form for you

LabanPH pre-fills the official Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines complaint form using your complaint data and sends it directly to cad@sec.gov.ph. You're CC'd on the email.

File via LabanPH →

First: check whether your loan actually broke a cap

Before you file, confirm the charges break a hard cap under SEC MC 3, s. 2022 / BSP Circular 1133. The checker tells you which figure is over the limit and the exact rule to cite — or tells you plainly if your loan is outside those caps, so you don’t file a frivolous claim.

Check my loan’s interest →

Not sure the lender is even registered? See SEC-flagged illegal lending apps →

Official Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines portal

https://imessage.sec.gov.ph ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GMS Philippines' SEC registration number?

Global Mobility Service Philippines, Inc. is SEC-registered. You can verify their registration and any regulatory actions at sec.gov.ph using their company name.

Can the SEC order a company to refund me?

SEC can order restitution as part of its enforcement action. However, for individual refund amounts, small claims court (no lawyer required) is often the faster and more direct path.

Can't afford a lawyer?

Free legal help is available in the Philippines — the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), IBP legal aid, law-school clinics, and the DOJ Action Center, organized by region.

Find free legal aid →Do I qualify for a free PAO lawyer?

See all Online Lending answers →