Philips Bailiffs/Lowell Financial??

caedda_sedai

Hi all

Am new to these forums and could do with some advice please?

Today I have received a letter from Philips Specialist Bailiff and Debt Recovery Agent in Darlington, a "Notice of Instruction" claiming that they have been instructed to recover a debt of outstanding arrears to Lowell Financial. It's only for a small amount, however, I have never heard of Lowell Financial and have not the faintest idea what the debt is for - it says it was due by 08/07/2007. There are no details given other than it saying that it's a "non-consumer" account. The NOI itself is dated 5th Jan so the 7 days quoted in the letter "full payment is hereby demanded within seven days of this notice to prevent further recovery procedures commencing" is up anyway.

I tried to ring Philips and gave up after spending nearly 30 mins in a queue, to be told by the muppet that answered the phone that they couldn't help in any way whatsoever, and had to transfer me to another department - where the phone queue was again going to be 30 mins or so (I was caller 17 in the queue.....). I hung up.

What should I do, please? My OH says to ignore it and that they won't chase for the amount listed, but I am concerned about the small print on the back which says any additional expenses incurred by Philips will be added to the recoverable amount, ie phne calls, further letters, visits etc....

Many thanks for any help

RAS

Hi

What additional charges they can add depends on what the debt was for. if it is something like council tax, then the maximum fees if £42.50 if you do not let them in the house. If it is a magistrates court, for a parking fine, the charges can be higher. I do not however think Lowell get involved in these.

Starting points are:

1. Keep the doors and windows locked and do not under any circumstnace lett the bailiffs in.

2. if you have a car, remove it or "sell" it to OH (as long as this is not regardign a joint debt). Otherwise they can levy on the car.

I would write regsitered post and demand details of teh debt and any fees added.

DarkConvict

Send them the Prove It Letter - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11570893&postcount=2

They need to prove you owe this money.

Note, if they reply asking details from yourself, you are not obliged to supply anything, this includes, name, DOB, current and previous addresses etc. They need to give you the information that proves you owe the money - http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Deceptive and/or unfair methods
2.7 Dealings with debtors are not to be deceitful and/or unfair.
2.8 Examples of unfair practices are as follows
j. requiring an individual to supply information to prove they are not the
debtor in question, for example, driving licences, passports, full name,
date of birth, signatures

caedda_sedai

Can the "prove it" letter be emailed to them, or must it go in the post?

Thanks

RAS

You need to prove that they have received it and e-mail does not have the same legal status. So it needs to get by post.

Also do you really want them e-mailing threats to you all the time?

caedda_sedai

RAS wrote: »

You need to prove that they have received it and e-mail does not have the same legal status. So it needs to get by post.

Also do you really want them e-mailing threats to you all the time?

Good point, hadn't thought of that - thanks.

I will send the letter out tomorrow, registered. Should I ring them again though to see if they can give me any info on what the debt actually is? From what I've read on these/other boards this evening, it looks as though Lowell buy the debts and usually harass people themselves. So, I'm assuming that Lowell have purchased the debt (whatever it is.....) from someone, have done absolutely nothing about/with it, and have then passed it on to Philips for collection....?? I don't get it..!

Ta

DVardysShadow

caedda_sedai wrote: »

Also do you really want them e-mailing threats to you all the time?

Good point, hadn't thought of that - thanks.

caedda_sedai wrote: »

...Should I ring them again though to see if they can give me any info on what the debt actually is? From what I've read on these/other boards this evening, it looks as though Lowell buy the debts and usually harass people themselves. So, I'm assuming that Lowell have purchased the debt (whatever it is.....) from someone, have done absolutely nothing about/with it, and have then passed it on to Philips for collection....?? I don't get it..!

Ta

Ring them? You took the point about emailing. Do you want them phoning you? This is where you have to deal in writing. And keep copies.

Bob_Black_2

Just received a letter from this lot when I got in this evening. Not a clue what it's for! needless to say I couldn't get through to anyone (I was left on the line till just past 8pm when the office closed!). The date on the letter was 5th January and according to their postal service (docmail, their logo is on the envelope, sorry but I can't post the web address) 94% of their mail is delivered within 2 days, and the remaining 6% in no more than 4 days (note they quote days not working days), which means it was posted on Thursday 7th at the earliest!

I'm guessing this may be something left over from when I moved house, but I'll be damned if I'm paying it until they prove exactly what it is and that I do owe it. If I do owe it that's fine, it's a piffling amount, but the methods being employed here are decidedly underhand.

I have emailed the letter you suggest and will be posting the same tomorrow by special delivery to at least ensure I get in under their 7 day requirement. Even though it's quite clear that the date on the letter does not match the actual posting date.

caedda_sedai

Bob_Black wrote: »

Just received a letter from this lot when I got in this evening. Not a clue what it's for! needless to say I couldn't get through to anyone (I was left on the line till just past 8pm when the office closed!). The date on the letter was 5th January and according to their postal service (docmail, their logo is on the envelope, sorry but I can't post the web address) 94% of their mail is delivered within 2 days, and the remaining 6% in no more than 4 days (note they quote days not working days), which means it was posted on Thursday 7th at the earliest!

I'm guessing this may be something left over from when I moved house, but I'll be damned if I'm paying it until they prove exactly what it is and that I do owe it. If I do owe it that's fine, it's a piffling amount, but the methods being employed here are decidedly underhand.

I have emailed the letter you suggest and will be posting the same tomorrow by special delivery to at least ensure I get in under their 7 day requirement. Even though it's quite clear that the date on the letter does not match the actual posting date.

Glad I'm not the only one - is your outstanding arrears also to Lowell or someone else? Not that it matters hugely, just wondering how similar these things are.

I did wonder how it took 7 days for the letter to get to me, I didn't check the postal date on the envelope though so will have to look when I get home. I will be emailing (on a purely one-off for this only address) the letter suggested by the other members, and then posting it as well as a back up. Mine is only for a stupidly small amount, but as I don't know what it's for I'm not paying - also, if everyone paid their stupidly small amounts off then I suspect it adds up to lots! :mad:

Good luck Bob!!

screech_2

We have just received one of these letters at my work today, dated 5th January, for an amount which is less than £50. None of us have a clue what it could be for, and it is on behalf Lowell Financial

Bob_Black_2

Letters now off by recorded delivery to both Philips and Lowell Financial. Lowell Financial are familiar to people I know who work in a collections role and at least a part of their business is to buy up large amounts of small debt from banks etc. So they'll buy debt that wouldn't normally be chased for peanuts in hope of getting some back.

Incidentally if you want to phone Philips and avoid the 5p/minute 0844 line, use 01325 384394 which will take you directly to the switchboard.:D