Someone Used My Number for Their Home Credit Loan Application Without My Consent. Here's What I Did

 

I got a text message from Home Credit.

"Hi! We would like to inform you that our customer Ms. Mary .....has provided your name and number as a trusted contact last May 2026, and we may contact you in the future if we are unable to reach him/her."

I read it twice.

Then a third time.

I searched my memory. Coworker? Neighbor? Old classmate? my Ex?. I have absolutely no idea who this person is. And yet somehow — my name and my number are now sitting inside her loan application at Home Credit Philippines.

No call asking if it was okay. No text. No permission. Just — surprise, you're someone's reference now.

Wait, Is This Even Legal?

Short answer: No.

Under Republic Act 10173 — the Data Privacy Act of 2012, your personal information — including your name and mobile number — cannot be collected, used, or shared without your knowledge and consent. When Ms. Montenegro listed me as her trusted contact, she submitted my personal data to a financial institution without asking me first.

That's a privacy violation. Not by Home Credit — they were just doing their job notifying me. The violation is on the borrower who listed someone else's information without consent.

Now to be fair — this happens all the time in the Philippines. Someone needs a character reference for a loan, they remember a name and a number, and they just use it. They probably don't even think it's a big deal. But it is. Especially if that loan goes bad and the company starts calling you to collect.

What I Did About It

I didn't ignore it. I didn't just block the number and move on.

I went to homecredit.ph and found their contact page. They have a ticket submission form there, but I also found something better — a direct email address. info@homecredit.ph

I composed a formal email. Subject line: Data Privacy. Those two words matter. They signal immediately that this isn't just a complaint — it's a rights issue.

In the email I explained clearly: I don't know this person. I did not consent to being listed as her reference. I am requesting that my name and number be removed from her loan records and from their database entirely. I attached the screenshot of the SMS as supporting evidence.

Then I added one important line before closing:

"I am invoking my rights under Republic Act 10173, the Data Privacy Act of 2012, specifically my right to erasure and blocking of my personal information."

Sent.

here's a screenshot of my email with AI assist. 😂

They Responded — Fast

Within hours, I got a reply from Jhen, a Customer Service Operator at Home Credit Philippines.

They acknowledged my concern and asked me to provide some details so they could process the removal: my full name, my contact number, how long I've been using that number, my location, and the loan account number from the SMS.

I replied with all the information — and clarified that there was no loan account number in the SMS I received. I attached the screenshot again for reference.

A few hours later, a second reply came — this time from Cabs, another Customer Service Operator.

"We already escalated your concern, here's the ticket for your reference OPS-471xx, also this will take effect 24-48 hours for deletion of your number."

Done. One day. No lawyer needed. No formal complaint filed anywhere. Just a clear, calm email invoking the right law — and Home Credit did exactly what they were supposed to do.

What You Should Do If This Happens to You

If you receive a similar SMS/Text message from any loan company saying someone listed your number as their reference — don't ignore it. Here's exactly what to do:

Step 1: Screenshot the SMS immediately with the timestamp visible.

Step 2: Find the company's official email address or contact page. For Home Credit it's info@homecredit.ph and homecredit.ph/contact-us.

Step 3: Send a formal email. Subject: Data Privacy. State clearly that you don't know the borrower, you did not consent to being listed, and you are requesting removal of your information.

Step 4: Invoke RA 10173 explicitly. Use the phrase "right to erasure and blocking." Companies have legal obligations once you say this.

Step 5: Attach your screenshot as supporting document.

Step 6: Keep your ticket number. Follow up after 48 hours if you don't hear back.

That's it. Just clear communication and knowing your rights.

One More Thing Worth Knowing

This situation is different from a scam — Home Credit is a legitimate company and their SMS was legitimate. The issue was the borrower using my information without permission. But the process of disputing it is the same energy you'd apply to any privacy concern: document, communicate, invoke your rights, follow up.

Also — if a loan company ever contacts you demanding payment for a loan you never took out, that's a different and more serious situation. Reply immediately in writing, state it's a case of mistaken identity, and if they persist, file a complaint directly with the National Privacy Commission at complaints@privacy.gov.ph.

Your data is yours. Nobody gets to use it without asking — not even someone who just needed a reference for a gadget loan.

Disclaimer: This is based on my own personal experience and is not legal advice. I'm just a guy who received a weird SMS and figured out what to do. For serious concerns, contact the National Privacy Commission

[Also Read: How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams]

Mavs' Final Diagnosis

The whole thing was resolved in one day. One email. One ticket number. One less stranger's loan attached to my contact details.

If this ever happens to you — don't panic, don't ignore it, and don't just block the number. You have rights. Use them.

And maybe remind your friends and family: if you need to list someone as a reference for anything — please ask them first. It takes thirty seconds and it saves everyone a lot of unnecessary stress. 

Hope this helps anyone going through the same thing. Has this ever happened to you — someone using your number or email without telling you? 

Share your experience in the comments.