Response From Farmers To NBR Article On WINZ

Friday, 2 March 2001, 4:02 pm
Press Release: Mediacom press release distribution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 2 March 2001

A National Business Review (2 March 2001) article entitled “Undercover probe exposes corrupt Winz bureaucrats” contained references to Farmers.

Farmers Trading Company Limited Chief Executive Officer, Nick Lowe today made the following statement:

“Farmers does not condone, tacitly or otherwise, the illegal acquisition of credit defaulters’ addresses by our own personnel or our agents.

“In February 1999, when media reports first accused Winz staff of selling addresses to debt collectors and repossession agents, Farmers confirmed to its debt collection agency that such illegal and immoral practices were not to be undertaken on behalf of Farmers.

“Farmers currently employs the services of four highly reputable publicly listed debt collection agencies. Today, each of these companies has confirmed that they do not purchase addresses from any government department nor do they condone the practice” Mr Lowe said.

[ends]

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