Criminal charges against one of Australia’s biggest debt collection firms have been dismissed after the company successfully argued it was not technically engaged in debt collection.

In a committal hearing at the Melbourne magistrates court on Tuesday, magistrate Michelle Hodgson dismissed the charges against Panthera Finance and ordered that Consumer Affairs Victoria pay costs.

Parramatta-based Francom Group bought Panthera Finance in December 2024 after it was placed in administration by its financial backers Brookfield.

Francom was not accused of any wrongdoing.

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Consumer Affairs Victoria had launched criminal proceedings against Panthera after a 2020 federal court ruling found that Panthera had unduly harassed three consumers for debts and was fined

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