Strange letter from a Debt collection agency! re:SKY

kaja_3

Harrassed gave the following info earlier...he said report to both Trading Standards AND Watchdog. There's a link on the BBC website, (he thinks)... You can also put in a complaint to the OFT. Link below, download the form and post to the address at the bottom.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/Adviser/News/debt.htm

Andy Lowther
Omar Hanif,
Office of Fair Trading
1C/015
FREEPOST
London, EC4B 4AH

kaja_3

Hello all...

I had the Trading Standards docs printed and signed, ready to post..On Friday morning, I received the statements from Lowell.

But wait for it...they had someone elses name AND address on them??

So, what now, since they HAVE supplied SOME information, but not the right information...can I still send the documents off to Trading standards, with the statements?

Kaj

FatJock

Hello,

I was staying with a landlady in the summer of last year and she received almost the same letter from, I believe, the same company. She did have Sky installed but it never worked (3 years previously) and she informed several times Sky but they picked up their dish/box. No bills where ever sent and the matter was forgotten until the letter arrived.

She contacted the company and Sky and convinced them that she did not have Sky in the house. Apparently the debt recovery company should never have contacted her and from what she told me, Sky was just touting for new customers (wether the debt recovery company got a slice of new customers revenue I do not know).

Cheers,
Jock

Karma67 wrote:

Hi all,
I'm hoping to pick your very knowledgable brains about
a letter my hubby received today from 'Lowell Portfolio I Ltd'

I will type it out so you can get the idea of it with my comments i brackets!

"Dear Mr *******

Our ref: **********
Original Creditor: Sky Subscribers Services Limited
Balance Outstanding: £300.00

We write to give you fromal notice that we, Lowell Portfolio I Ltd, have been instructed by Sky to collect the above outstanding balance, which relates to your digital subscription account with Sky.
(Hubby was a customer with them about 4 yrs ago and as far as I am aware owed nothing to them espescially not £300! He had the account well over the minimum year)

If you are an existing active Skydigital customer who had paid all amounts due from you to Sky, you should telephone the following number immediately quoting your Skydigital account number or veiwing card number (no idea what they were...was 4yrs ago!!) to avoid receiving any further correspondence regarding this matter.

If you are NOT and existing active Skydigital Customer who has paid all amounts due from you to Sky, but would be interested in reinstating your Skydigital accoune, which may avoid further persual of the abovementioned debt, then please contact the number below without delay. (surely they would know if he owed money to Sky since they want money from use thus the letter??!!!)

Lowell Financial Ltd have been appointed buly authorised collection agents on behalf of Lowell Portfolio I Ltd abd any further communications and payments in connection with the Debt referred to above, should therefore be addressed to Lowell Financial Ltd at thee address below:

LOWELL FINANCIAL LTD
PO BOX 172
LEEDS
LS11 9WS"

So...any advice ideas would be gratefully received!!

Thanks

harrie_2

Karma67 wrote:

Hi all,
I'm hoping to pick your very knowledgable brains about
a letter my hubby received today from 'Lowell Portfolio I Ltd'

I will type it out so you can get the idea of it with my comments i brackets!

"Dear Mr *******

Our ref: **********
Original Creditor: Sky Subscribers Services Limited
Balance Outstanding: £300.00

We write to give you fromal notice that we, Lowell Portfolio I Ltd, have been instructed by Sky to collect the above outstanding balance, which relates to your digital subscription account with Sky.
(Hubby was a customer with them about 4 yrs ago and as far as I am aware owed nothing to them espescially not £300! He had the account well over the minimum year)

If you are an existing active Skydigital customer who had paid all amounts due from you to Sky, you should telephone the following number immediately quoting your Skydigital account number or veiwing card number (no idea what they were...was 4yrs ago!!) to avoid receiving any further correspondence regarding this matter.

If you are NOT and existing active Skydigital Customer who has paid all amounts due from you to Sky, but would be interested in reinstating your Skydigital accoune, which may avoid further persual of the abovementioned debt, then please contact the number below without delay. (surely they would know if he owed money to Sky since they want money from use thus the letter??!!!)

Lowell Financial Ltd have been appointed buly authorised collection agents on behalf of Lowell Portfolio I Ltd abd any further communications and payments in connection with the Debt referred to above, should therefore be addressed to Lowell Financial Ltd at thee address below:

LOWELL FINANCIAL LTD
PO BOX 172
LEEDS
LS11 9WS"

So...any advice ideas would be gratefully received!!

Thanks

we had similar problem with sky we canceled over the fone kept us on the line 4 20 minutes then decided 2 pass on to someone else which took a further 20 minutes canceled direct debit sky dissconected had it more then the year still kept getting bills they kept saying i hadnt canceld even though i was disconnected each call cost a fortune as its premiernumber thats why they keep u on the line hubby sent very nasty letter recorded delivery that done the trick my experience fone is a waist of time hope this helps

Harassed_2

kaja wrote:

Hello all...

I had the Trading Standards docs printed and signed, ready to post..On Friday morning, I received the statements from Lowell.

But wait for it...they had someone elses name AND address on them??

So, what now, since they HAVE supplied SOME information, but not the right information...can I still send the documents off to Trading standards, with the statements? Kaj

In a word, YES. They have not supplied the information you requested and are therefore in breach of law.

Report them.

Karma67

Well, I've not heard a thing since I sent off the letter about 5 weeks ago..... :j

Now...should I just keep quiet and not 'rock the boat' since they haven't returned to me asking for the alleged money??

OR...should I go and complain to Trading Standard and Fair trading people?

kaja_3

I received another letter this morning...an apparent final demand for payment.

"We regret to note that despite previous correspondance regarding the above account we have not received payment or a valid reason for non payment.

Failure to respond to this notice may result in further action being taken to recover the monies owed by you.

We urge you to call one of our advisors to prevent action being taken, please call 0845 300 9416".

This really is beginning to scare me now. I called them...probably shouldn't have. Anyhow, I told them to stop harrasing me and that I expect a letter within 24hours saying that I do not owe this debt. He asked me who's name and address was on the statements which have been sent. I told him I would not disclose this information as they should know this.

I will send the letter to Trading Standards TODAY! Should I be seeking advice from Citizens Advice as I really do not have time.

Regards, Kaj

Harassed_2

We urge you to call one of our advisors to prevent action being taken, please call 0845 300 9416

Usual scare tactics from these scum. Don't let them frighten you, they haven't got a leg to stand on.

kaja_3

Thanks for your kind ear and advice mate.

westernpromise

kaja wrote:

I received another letter this morning...an apparent final demand for payment.

"We regret to note that despite previous correspondance regarding the above account we have not received payment or a valid reason for non payment.

Failure to respond to this notice may result in further action being taken to recover the monies owed by you.

Note bold: it's an empty threat.

I am going through something similar with a gym I used to belong to that insists I owe it money. I do not and unless they can prove I do, to a standard that will satisfy a county court, they know they will never collect. So they send out vague threats instead, hoping that I will pay and knowing that they dare not go to court or they will lose.

I would write as follows:-

"You have previously written to me claiming I owe you money. I do not, and I have asked you to prove that I owe you money. You have not.

You know very well that I do not owe you any money. You are in my view attempting a fraud whereby you make legal-sounding threats to people in the hope that some of them will pay you money they do not owe.

If you contact me again, you will be reported to the police for attempted fraud and harassment. I have already reported you to the OFT.

Now phuck right off, scum. Right off.

Love

Kaj"

That ought to do it..it's worked for me...