Lowell? I don't think so!

Jambala

Hello people!

Hope I'm posting in the right place on the boards here.

Here's the situation. A couple of years ago I received a horrible letter from Red (aka Lowell) claiming that I owed money on an O2 account. Having never actually HAD an O2 account, nor missed a payment on anything, I was anxious to clear this up. So a phoned them and explained.

About a year ago, I got a similar letter about the same account. I rang them up and got a bit bolshy about it, telling them basically to bog off.

Fast-forward six further months and they're at it again. I told them that I would be taking it further if they didn't leave me alone. I went onto Experian's site and found that they'd linked me to an address in London with this account. I cleared that mess up with Experian and it's now off my file.

I have NOW received another letter from Lowell. They say:

We write further to recent communications regarding the above account.

After reviewing the account, we are prepared to take a commercial view in relation to this matter and as a gesture of goodwill and strictly without admission of liability, we are prepared to close the account and write-off any outstanding balance.

We trust that you will find this satisfactory and that this matter is now closed.

Well, no actually, I don't find this satisfactory: the letter is worded to make it sound like it was my fault but I 'got away with it', and I'm one lucky Jack.

I'm smarting a bit. Do you think I should just let sleeping dogs lie, or should I put this in writing to them?

Thanks for any advice,

James

4743hudsonj

Jambala wrote: »

Hello people!

Hope I'm posting in the right place on the boards here.

Here's the situation. A couple of years ago I received a horrible letter from Red (aka Lowell) claiming that I owed money on an O2 account. Having never actually HAD an O2 account, nor missed a payment on anything, I was anxious to clear this up. So a phoned them and explained.

About a year ago, I got a similar letter about the same account. I rang them up and got a bit bolshy about it, telling them basically to bog off.

Fast-forward six further months and they're at it again. I told them that I would be taking it further if they didn't leave me alone. I went onto Experian's site and found that they'd linked me to an address in London with this account. I cleared that mess up with Experian and it's now off my file.

I have NOW received another letter from Lowell. They say:

We write further to recent communications regarding the above account.

After reviewing the account, we are prepared to take a commercial view in relation to this matter and as a gesture of goodwill and strictly without admission of liability, we are prepared to close the account and write-off any outstanding balance.

We trust that you will find this satisfactory and that this matter is now closed.

Well, no actually, I don't find this satisfactory: the letter is worded to make it sound like it was my fault but I 'got away with it', and I'm one lucky Jack.

I'm smarting a bit. Do you think I should just let sleeping dogs lie, or should I put this in writing to them?

Thanks for any advice,

James

id let it lie

if they contact you again

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

theyre who you need from the sounds of it

fozzeh

My wife had an account with O2 and she honestly isn't sure if she did pay her final bill in 2005. They 'chased' us in February and again in September. The MIL wasn't pleased with Lowell so I took it up with O2 (which all the letters say you shouldn't) and got very pushy but stayed fair. Demanded the proof, documentation, etc etc. O2 sent it and turns out it was right...so I paid the fee (was only around £25) to their office directly (in Leeds) and got the receipt.
As you had no account and they've waived it, it's their way of saying 'we messed up but won't admit it'. I'd let it lie.

Jambala

fozzeh wrote: »

My wife had an account with O2 and she honestly isn't sure if she did pay her final bill in 2005. They 'chased' us in February and again in September. The MIL wasn't pleased with Lowell so I took it up with O2 (which all the letters say you shouldn't) and got very pushy but stayed fair. Demanded the proof, documentation, etc etc. O2 sent it and turns out it was right...so I paid the fee (was only around £25) to their office directly (in Leeds) and got the receipt.
As you had no account and they've waived it, it's their way of saying 'we messed up but won't admit it'. I'd let it lie.

Thanks eversomuch to the people who've replied - I appreciate it. :-)

I take both of your points; however I completely hate the fact that their letter implies they've pretended to 'look the other way' while 'scum like me' attempt to 'get away with it'.

If I were in financial difficulties, as many decent people are, I'd be the first to say "well thanks for that; for taking a 'commercial view in relation to [the] matter' and for 'letting me off' with the debt." BUT ESSENTIALLY the fact remains that the debt wasn't mine to begin with.

I really hate the implication that they've done me a favour - in fact the opposite is true.

Getting on the soapbox for a minute, who do these people fricking think they are? They make a random assertion about me and my random accounts that I have never held (and this could happen to anyone), taint my credit record, hassle me with threats about bailiffs, and then expect my gratitude when they say they've "written off" a debt that I didn't have?!?

B*******s, I say!

Do you still think I shouldn't write? I'm really mad about it, but would heed your collective advice! :-)

Cheers

James

DVardysShadow

I think you are well justified to be angry, but not to write from anger.

If you do write, I think there is a lot of point to a short letter acknowledging that they have called it off, but reiterating that the debt was never yours and suggesting that they have been fleeced. I don't think that they should have the last word on this or be able to close the file, leaving a slur on you.

scullster

Look, your credit history is clear - there is v little to be gained from continuing to be angry about it.

If it were me, get on with the other things in your life and sleep on this for a few days (because time isn't really of the essence here). If, after a few days, you are still incensed (in my experience, something else will crop up in the meantime to take your mind off it!) then write.

Me, I wouldn't bother .

cheapscate

James, I'd be right annoyed too.
How about sending them the following:

Dear Sir/Madam.
I write further to recent communications regarding the above account.

After reviewing your letter I am also prepared to take a realistic view in relation to this matter and as a gesture of goodwill will overlook your incompetence in searching out the real culprit of this debt and also you sending me patronising letters, I am now prepared to forget all about you.
I trust that you will find this satisfactory and that this matter is now closed.

The_Pedant

as a gesture of goodwill will overlook your incompetence in searching out the real culprit of this debt

:rotfl: I like that!