Matel Coordinators Respond to Strong Criticism as OJK Investigates

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Debt-collection practices that have distressed borrowers, and the use of the Mata Elang app, have become topics of discussion. Recently, there was a stabbing incident involving a debt collector targeting a lawyer in Kelapa Dua, Tangerang. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) subsequently summoned the financing company working with the individual for further investigation. In addition, some debt collectors have used the ‘Mata Elang’ app to hunt down debtors with outstanding debts at multifinance companies. This has drawn attention from OJK.

Friderica Widyasari Dewi, known as Kiki, the Executive Head of the Supervisory Board for Conduct, Education, and Consumer Protection of Financial Services Institutions at OJK, said the authority is examining potential violations related to the app. “Regarding the matel app, we have coordinated with Komdigi for its closure; we will see whether there are consumer violations here,” Kiki, who is often referred to as Kiki, said at a RDKB press conference in Jakarta, quoted on Saturday (7/3/2026).

Kiki stressed that the agency consistently protects consumers who have the intention of repaying their debts. OJK also condemns behaviours that do not comply with regulations, including violence against customers. She also emphasised that leasing companies bear full responsibility for the debt-collection activities conducted by debt collectors. “Regarding debt collectors that harass, essentially we have imposed numerous sanctions on Financial Services Providers (PUJK) because they are responsible for their employees or third parties working with them,” she said.

In a separate interview, one of the Mata Elang coordinators, Budi Baonk, stated that every third party or debt-collection service provider that collaborates with a finance company already has a registered business licence with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkum).

“In other words, the companies working with the finance partners are legal and legitimate,” Baonk told CNBC Indonesia.

For reference, Mata Elang (Matel) is a term commonly used in Indonesia to describe a group of debt collectors who specifically pursue motor vehicles with overdue instalments. Their taking is often carried out on the streets or in public places. They are usually employed by financing/leasing companies or appointed by a debt-collection agency (outsourcing) to locate debtors’ vehicles that are overdue. Their modus operandi involves stalking vehicles on the road (including matching license plates recorded in debtor data in the app) and then chasing or seizing the vehicle if it matches the target.