Can anyone advise on following problem?

blaizered_2

Hi everyone again I'm a newbie to posting on forums (get easily confused with reading through all the different threads).
I'm going to just outline what it is that I need some guidance on here and hope that a kind samaritan will help me out !

Ok well I have just recieved a letter from the lowell portfolio people saying that they bought a £5570 debt (graduate loan) on 01/12/2004 and will now be recovering what I owe. They also enclosed a letter dated 10/10/2011 with it with a barclays letter head saying:-

We hereby give notice of the assignment of the debt due to us from you in respect of the balance of £5570 outstanding on your barclays bank plc account.

On 23/10/2004 your account was sold to Lowell Portfolio I ltd. etc

Right well what occured back in 2003 I owed £13k approx and lost my job broke up with a partner. I then got 2 jobs to try and survive defaulted on that account had my credit cards terminated.
Basically went downhill, moving houses working in greece etc...
Then met a girl got a council flat upon my return, got a letter from mackenzie hall approx 2004 jan. set up a £100 pymnt plan.
Contacted many times MH to get a copy of what I'd paid etc nothing just £100 coming out every month.
Well 2 months ago I cancelled the £100 pymnt with MH as never heard anything when asked for statement or any communication, plus i couldn't afford it.(due to some major financial constraints)
All I am asking is for some guidance on what I can do next if there is any light at the end of the tunnel and any way of lessening this financial burden?
please
Thanks

Tixy

Hi

I'd start by sending lowell a prove it letter - asking them to prove you owe the money. A notice of assignment is not enough in itself to prove you owe the debt.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2
If they can provide proof the money is owed I would write again asking for a full breakdown of all transactions on the account to prove the balance they claim is owed.

Once you've had that from them then at that point you can then decide what to do next, what you could afford to offer as a monthly payment etc.

Some might suggest as you know you do owe some money that you miss out the prove it letter and just start by asking for a transaction list - but I'd always start with the prove it letter. Its not unheard of for places like lowell to not be able to produce any documentaty evidence of the debt.