Who can i go to, to complain?

KatieShopstoomuch

I',m really not sure if i've put this post in the correct place i just couldn't find anywhere else sorry if it's in the wrong part!

I want to complain about a company that is driving me up the walls but i'm not sure who i would complain to.

The company is a debt collecting one who i owed £500 to. Which i paid, the £500 cheque was cashed by THEIR company on 2nd March. They have continued to bombard me with constant phone calls and letters, so i called them last week to say that the cheque had been cashed and i have proof of it and i gave them the cheque number, they apologised and said they would pass on the information to the finance department. Several days later and it's all started again on Friday they demanded i paid £500 with a debit or credit card. There is no way on earth i'm paying £500 again, it's not my fault that they have lost it! I just cannot believe the stupidity of these people and it's really getting to me as they still don't seem to have located the payment. I've decided to print off my bank statement hightlight the date it went into their account and post it to them, although the bank i'm with says i have to pay for this - i just hope this sorts it i just can't get over how 'dumb' they seem!!! So obviously i want to complain but where to??? lol Any help would be really appreciated

bcl999

Bring back the long-gone days when banks still sent your cashed cheques back to you with your statement. You could ahve copied it and sent it to the debt company and solved this problem pronto.

Not really sure which 3rd party to complain to - Citizens Advice or your local council's consumer service maybe. I do know that continued approaches by debt companies can be considered harassment but you would probably need a solicitor for that.

If your bank does charge you for a statement, get a receipt and ask for the fee back from the debt company (assuming it shows you are int he right & they have been paid).

Just one otehr thought - above you say "cashed by their company" and I'm assuming you mean cashed by the debt company - or do you mean cashed by the company they represent? In which case, just refer them to their client.

Good luck!

KatieShopstoomuch

No it shows it's cashed by the company that continues to write and phone. Lowell group it's called it was on behalf of a catalogue but it was paid and cashed directly by lowell

KatieShopstoomuch

And thank you for the advice i think i will try citizens advice because i need this sorted it's not like i have £500 to just throw about and they still can't seem to locate it - driving me mad lol

Pollycat

I appreciate you're angry about being chased for this debt that has been fully paid (I'd be bloody furious) but I'd be more concerned about getting this company (Lowell) to stop this harrassment rather than complaining about them to a 3rd party.

I've found THIS letter on the DFW board and maybe with a few alterations (bearing in mind you've paid the debt so you don't want to tell them to contact you only in writing, you want them to STOP altogether) it could put a stop to letters and phone calls:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11571485&postcount=4

I think the threat to report them to a number of institutions - especially as they have no reason at all to keep contacting you - may do the trick.

SueMaggie

If it's the same Lowell, then they're members of the Credit Services Association. Click below for the details they've given the Association

http://www.csa-uk.com/uk-members-list/details/84/lowell-group

and here for details about how to make a complaint to the Association about one of their members

http://www.csaconsumers-uk.com/page/i-have-a-complaint

bryanb

KatieShopstoomuch wrote: »

No it shows it's cashed by the company that continues to write and phone. Lowell group it's called it was on behalf of a catalogue but it was paid and cashed directly by lowell

How do you know who cashed the cheque? On all my statements all that is given is the cheque number. Apologies if your bank is different.

pinkshoes

If you're going to send them a copy of the bank statement showing they've cashed the cheque (don't forget to blank out account number and sort code details), then send it with a covering letter stating that the debt has been paid in full, and that will they stop harassing you for a debt that has now been paid.

Send it recorded delivery.

KatieShopstoomuch

I checked my statement online to check that it had cleared and then asked in the local branch, even though i knew i had crossed the cheque and made it out only to the group i wanted to be sure, that's when they told me there would be a charge for having it in writing/statement/paper etc..... Thank you for the advice it's been really helpful i'm just fed up being chased by them and obviously it's stressing me out that they can't seem to locate the payment. Thanks again for the links as well will look at it all now

elisebutt65

KatieShopstoomuch wrote: »

I checked my statement online to check that it had cleared and then asked in the local branch, even though i knew i had crossed the cheque and made it out only to the group i wanted to be sure, that's when they told me there would be a charge for having it in writing/statement/paper etc..... Thank you for the advice it's been really helpful i'm just fed up being chased by them and obviously it's stressing me out that they can't seem to locate the payment. Thanks again for the links as well will look at it all now

Can't you do a screen print or print off your online statement and send that to them?

hunts42

Lowell? Not Lowell Portfolio/Financial by any chance? If so they're somewhat notorious and have managed all manner of TV Watchdog type mentions.

I'm not allowed to post links as i'm a new user but Google 'Lowell Portfolio" and you'll find a few interesting articles on them, including a full report from the BBC Watchdog programme...

They buy unpaid debt from various sources, including Barclays Bank, and they use all manner of techniques in an attempt to get their unsuspecting victims to pay money they don't actually owe.

A favourite trick is to ignore both the Consumer Credit Act and the Limitation Act 1980 to chase people for money that is Statute Barred, essentially, if a debt is six years old or more, and there has been absolutely no contact from the company to whom the money is owed, then it is unenforcable in law. Lowell ignore this and demand payment, they start off being quite nice about it but soon turn the screw and begin threatening legal action & debt collectors etc.

I'd advise you to contact the CAB but in the meantime, send any letters via recorded delivery. Ask them to confirm that your debt is paid in writing and threaten them with a complaint to the Ombudsman if they fail to respond in a timely manner. You may need to send more than one letter but eventually you'll win the day. Lowell are bullies who rely on people not knowing the law, with a little research you'll beat them.

I appreciate that your debt is now paid and that the information i've added is probably useless regarding your specific problem but hopefully it'll highlight who you're dealing with and the tactics they employ, forewarned is forearmed after all.