Note of caution - Lowell portfolio/financial/Hamptons Legal & bankruptcy proceedings

fermi

Lowell financial, Lowell portfolio, Hamptons Legal, Red Debt Collection, statutory demand, bankruptcy petition

While most debt collectors use the threat of bankruptcy proceedings as a scare tactic without any real intention of going through with those threats, it seems that Lowells have stepped up their game.

The stats below speak for themselves.

NOTE: These are actual bankruptcy orders granted by the courts. NOT the number of statutory demands issued, nor the number of failed or defended petitions. It is where people have actually been made bankrupt.




(source: London Gazette)


Obviously, not every threat of action will be followed through, but if you receive what appears to be a valid statutory demand or information that one may have been served or attempted to have been served, then this should be taken seriously and advice taken.

See here for info on dealing with these: Dealing with a statutory demand

If at all in doubt, and you have grounds to do so, then taking action to get any demand formally set aside is advisable. Even if Lowells claim it is unnecessary.

There have also been quite a few cases where demands, petitions etc have "allegedly" been served or sent to previous addresses, meaning that people find they have hearings or even final bankruptcy orders made against them without prior warning.

Examples:

- Help please - I'm bankrupt and didn't know it.
- Been made bankrupt !!
- URGENT HELP PLEASE - Bankruptcy petition advised by Land Registry
- Lowell portfolio and bankruptcy petition
- Help Required - Lowell

IF

Blimey Fermi!! _pale_ _pale_

debtinfo

dont rely on this but from what i have seen they mainly push for bankruptcy when the person has equity in their property, im not sure how they find that out beforehand but that is my experience of them

fermi

For a fraction it is undoubtedly that.

But other debt collectors aren't doing things in these numbers (or most not at all), so Lowells are clearly trying to make a "point" of some kind.

iwhite

I despise these people, they are the scum of the earth

Bullying vulnerable people who in most cases do not owe

How can they keep getting away with this?

debtinfo

Not saying they are angels but in my experience in most cases the person did owe the debt

debt_doctor

Well done Fermi for highlighting this. As per the PM sent to me a couple of days ago, I haven't seen a creditors petition (other than a trade creditor or HMRC) for ages in our office and I would know about every petition that comes through our very large office.

You also sent me the petitions from Lowells in my area, and i'm amazed that none of those people faced with such a situation did not seek advice from us. They may have sought advice elsewhere of course.

I shall look at Lowells very closely in future.

DD

IF

Bumping up the board x

fermi

Someone else falling foul of these.

Link --> https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3939579

Don't ignore stat demands from these.

IF

Thanks Fermi :beer:

fermi

Stats brought up to date.