Panel SA: Public Ministry investigates action by app and Serasa in microcredit that blocks debtor’s cell phone

The Public Ministry of the Federal District opened an investigation to investigate the performance of Serasa and the SuperSim application in granting a type of microcredit that takes the debtor’s cell phone as a payment guarantee.

According to the rules of the service offered, the delay in paying the debt causes the blocking of the debtor’s device features.

For the prosecution, there are indications of disrespect for consumer rules and the LGPD (General Law for the Protection of Personal Data), insofar as the creditor company accesses the consumer’s cell phone to prevent free access.

The companies will have ten working days to present the standard contract models and the authorization or not of Anatel to block their customers’ cell phones.

Sought by the SA Panel, SuperSim says that, so far, it has not been officially notified and that its business model has authorization from the appropriate regulatory bodies and is based on the law. In a note, it also says that it is available to the authorities to provide clarifications.

Serasa states that it does not act as a banking correspondent in the questioned operation and that it is not responsible for granting credit and operating applications from other companies that block cell phones. The company says that it has not yet been notified of the opening of the Public Civil Inquiry and reinforces that it strictly complies with current legislation.

“Serasa e-Cred is just a platform that brings consumers closer to several companies that grant credit in various modalities, such as personal loans and credit cards”, says Serasa, in a note.

Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Ana Paula Branco