Lowell, can they track me?

Tixy

For other personal reasons, I really don't want the addresses associated.

They will only be associated on your credit files, not to the general public. Only people with your permission to search your credit files will be able to see the link.

NotNormallyNaughty wrote: »

Thank you sourcrates and eyeopener2
(and everyone else who has written in).

My big concern about writing in, and requesting proof, is that I will then be ultimately providing my current address and confirming that the information they have for me is correct. I really want to avoid this.
Or, is the fact that they have obtained my UK mobile number an indicator that they already know this?

Could I email them instead?

I would guess they have a fairly good idea that you are the creditor in question already. It is quite likely that they may link your current address to your old address anyway on your credit files, or may have already done so (have you checked all 3 agencies already or only experian).

For a CCA request to be valid it needs to be in writing by post not by email.

I would ask them to provide evidence/proof of the debt, either by a CCA request or you could send the prove it letter template.

If you don't want to deal with it and choose not to reply then that is an option some people take. They do run a risk of the creditor just adding the entry to their credit file anyway and run the risk of the creditor taking court action.

NotNormallyNaughty

(have you checked all 3 agencies already or only experian).

What other agencies are there, please?

Tixy

Equifax. £2 for your basic file (or they do have free trials you can sign up to and cancel)
And callcredit which also trades as noddle. £2 for your basic file or you can get free access to your callcredit report via the noddle website.

NotNormallyNaughty

Thanks Tixy
Just checked all three reports and I'm clean at my current address and no links to the credit address.
I suppose there could be a seperate report for my other address but I'm not even going there.

NotNormallyNaughty

Soo... I received two letters today, one from Friedrikson, and the other from Lowell. (just as I had just returned the last one to them).
The Freidrikson one was regarding a payment from Vodafone after closure of the account with them (the sneaky beggars told me it was all paid off, but forgot to mention the 'final payment, but that's a story for another day), which was less than ten days overdue!!! I phoned Vodafone, and paid them direct, minus the 15% that Friedrikson had slapped on, so, hopefully that's the end of that.
(and hopefully an indicator that Lowell don't have my mobile number - just yet!)

As for Lowell, this one cut to the chase, no "are you this person?" request, just including a letter from the specific mail order company citing a debt being sold on to Lowell, followed by Lowell's 'how to pay' instructions.

I'm pretty sure the letter from the mail order company is faked, looks like their logo has been cut and pasted on, and the letter bears the legend "LOW101_240614_38722_MACHINE\146438\334815\1of6" which looks to me like a document/printer time stamp for Lowell.
(intriguingly,the 'genuine letters from Lowell, bear a similar legend, with 2of6 to 6of6 respectively.)

Also, the address on my mail order account is not the one to which 'they' have 'written'. It is my current address which I never advised them of.

So, what now? Is it time to send the 'Prove It' letter?

sourcrates

NotNormallyNaughty wrote: »

So, what now? Is it time to send the 'Prove It' letter?

Yes, they have to prove you are liable, otherwise anyone could write to you asking for money.

Vodafone

Hi NotNormallyNaughty,

Thanks for making of aware of this.

If you'd like me to make sure that everything is resolved for you, email me with your details via the link in our profile here.

All you need to do is copy and paste the link into your web browser and it'll take you to the Contact us form on our website. To make sure it reaches me, quote the code WRT135 - MSE in the subject line.

Once sent, you'll receive an automated reply with a reference number. Post back with this and I’ll check I've received it.

Kind regards,

Lee

Social Media Comms

Vodafone UK

System

NotNormallyNaughty wrote: »

As my user name suggests, I'm not normally naughty, but now I need advice.
Five years ago, I was living abroad and took out a mail order account using a PO Box address in the other country. Due to horrendous personal circumstances (I had to leave very suddenly) I defaulted and moved back to the UK nearly three years ago.
I cut off all connections with my foreign life and left no forwarding address.
All the while I was abroad, I rented my UK home and remained on the electoral roll there etc. I have since moved from there to another UK address. Thank goodness I had somewhere to go when I first got back.
Today I received a letter from Lowells, citing my foreign PO Box address stating "we are attempting to contact the above named person (who previously lived at the above address) in relation to a personal matter. Based on information supplied by Experian, we consider that your address may be a possible address for our customer".
It can only be for the defaulted account.
I checked my Experian details today and there is no reference to the foreign address on my files, nor the account I used there. I have a 'good' rating with them.
There doesn't seem to be any record of any recent searches by the likes of Lowells.
I've never, ever defaulted before, but I'm afraid that if I 'fess up to being the person they are pursuing, it will screw up my rating.
I'm aware that this is an immoral suggestion, but can I just deny being the person they want to contact?
Do they have other ways of linking me? All payments prior to the default were made through a foreign bank account which is now closed.
How did they find me at this address? I have a relatively unusual name, was this just a lucky fishing expedition.
I'm not comfortable with doing this but I really don't want to dig up all the horrors of a few years ago for the sake of a couple of hundred quid, and pay the price with a black mark on my credit file.

I'm sorry but I think you need to deal with this. I ended up with a similar situation with Lowell. But I actually remembered them and dug them up and told them I wanted to pay off an old bill. Face what you owe and cough up the money. Don't be greedy. I'm of very little means and still paid my dues. You will feel much better having paid it off. I have found Lowell very friendly and understanding to how much you can pay each month. Work with them. Clear your conscience.

sourcrates

I`d have no problem paying a creditor money I owed, however, when it comes to DCA`s, that's a different matter altogether.

The fact they can buy your written off account for a few quid, then proceed to chase you for the full amount, does not sit right with me, although it is legal (for some unknown reason).

Lowell especially are a mixed bag, you say they were "friendly and understanding" do you work for Lowell by any chance ?
this is also the company that hands out statutory demands like sweets, so your description of them is far from the truth I can assure you.

Lensman_2

sourcrates wrote: »

I`d have no problem paying a creditor money I owed, however, when it comes to DCA`s, that's a different matter altogether.

The fact they can buy your written off account for a few quid, then proceed to chase you for the full amount, does not sit right with me, although it is legal (for some unknown reason).

Lowell especially are a mixed bag, you say they were "friendly and understanding" do you work for Lowell by any chance ?
this is also the company that hands out statutory demands like sweets, so your description of them is far from the truth I can assure you.

The "unknown reason" is the Law of Property Act (1922 or 1925, the latter I think) which allows them to purchase the rights and duties to the debt. Not the debt itself.

It is well established practice and not something I would advocate banging your (or anyone else's) head against.

"Purchase of the debt for a reduced amount" is a misconception. That leads to a common misbelief that the amount paid for those rights is a true reflection of the value of the debt. It isn't.

The law is clear that someone possessing the rights to the debt can claim the full amount.

I truly wish it was not so. Someone who pays 20% of £1,000 should only be able to collect £200 in my opinion. But that is not the way the system works.