Lowell, Hamptons and now court with Bryan Carter - Debt I've never owed

adxax

Hi,

I am new to this forum and did a lot of research on this website before posting this question so here it goes:
I started getting these letters from Orange(mobile phone company) in 2012 i think regarding an unpaid account. It said that I owe them £360 and need to pay it off otherwise it will be sold to the debt collectors. I never had an Orange account and have always been with T-mobile.

After the first letter I contacted Orange customer services over the phone and they told me that they will contact me soon. I went to their store and they asked me to call the customer services which i already did and was of no use. I then went to the police station and told them the story but even the police couldnt help me with anything.

Anyway, I stopped thinking about it as it was too much stress. I kept getting the letters from Orange, then the debt collectors started off. Red Debt, Lowell, Hamptons and now Bryan Carter. Probably had a few more but cant remember all of them. I just kept ignoring them until now and I am thinking of fixing it once and for all.

I dont wanna pay for anything i never had. The last letter I received is from bryan carter solicitors and stating that a claim will be issued in the county court and that if it is unpaid CCJ will be issued against me.

Can anyone please help me as to what options I have. I have never had any debts and never applied for one.
Please let me know if you need any other information.

Thank you

Regards,
Adele xx

Lips_and_Lashes

Can you send them a 'prove it' letter then maybe CCA them?

I don't know what to do about the court issue but someone better informed will be along shortly. Didn't want to read and run.

fermi

Write to Lowells and BC saying what you have said here, that you have never had an orange account or owed a bill such as this.

Point out that you will defend any court claim in full.

Tell them that you will also be reporting them to the FCA for chasing and threatening court action on a debt you have never owed.

If they are stupid and issue a court claim, then ask for help on a legal forum such as https://www.legalbeagles.info

harveybobbles

Sounds like a standard threat o gram from Uncle Bryan to be honest.

Letter will be full of "may" "if" "could" etc..

rozmister

fermi wrote: »

Write to Lowells and BC saying what you have said here, that you have never had an orange account or owed a bill such as this.

Point out that you will defend any court claim in full.

Tell them that you will also be reporting them to the FCA for chasing and threatening court action on a debt you have never owed.

If they are stupid and issue a court claim, then ask for help on a legal forum such as https://www.legalbeagles.info

Don't bother with Lowell at all, insist on dealing with Orange.

My identity was stolen & someone took out catalogue accounts in my name. I didn't know for years until I was turned down for credit due to defaults. I contacted Lowell SEVEN times in 3 months & reported it was fraud, they never did anything about it or informed the original company who were responsible for investigating their fraud. I gave them my address for correspondence re: the fraud and they used that address to send me letters threatening court action. They are absolute scum & they'll only refer it back to whoever they bought the debt from to investigate so you might as well go directly to them.

It took me 7 months to get it accepted it was fraud and another 3 months to get it removed from my credit report. I spent an hour every two weeks complaining to get it all sorted but it was worth it in the end

fermi

If BC/Lowells have sent a letter before claim, then the court will expect you to have observed pre-action protocols and replied to that with your dispute.

By all mean dispute with the original creditor as well, but BC are issuing quite a few court claims on debts like this lately, so it's best to cover all bases.

spot3

Orange and T-Mobile merged and are both owned by EE now, could this originally be a T-Mobile debt?

adxax

thanks everyone for replying so quick.

@fermi, should i email them or use the royal mail recorded delivery for proof. an can you also give me a link for a template letter that i can use as i have never been in this kind of a situation. do you think they are even bothered to go to court for £360

@rozmister, i rang orange again today and they gave me a number to ring. I asked them if this number was for another department in orange, they said yes, I asked them what department is it and she goes it doesnt say what dept so i hung up. googled the number, its red debt. so i dont think i can contact orange anymore. what else do you think i ca do?

@spot3, i have never missed a payment with t mobile and the letter specifies that its and orange account.

Thanks for replying everyone and hope to hear again soon

harveybobbles

Can I ask what is the exact wording if their threat of court?

Sounds like a standard threat-o-gram full of words like:

If
May
Might
Could

fermi

adxax wrote: »

@fermi, should i email them or use the royal mail recorded delivery for proof. an can you also give me a link for a template letter that i can use as i have never been in this kind of a situation. do you think they are even bothered to go to court for £360

One here where they went to court for £354

http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/showthread.php?48194-i-ve-been-stupid-need-help-with-Bryan-Carter

and others if you google

They didn't even bother to send a threat or letter before claim on that one. The court papers just turned up out of the blue.

That is why you need to reply so they at least know this is disputed.

fermi

adxax wrote: »

@rozmister, i rang orange again today and they gave me a number to ring. I asked them if this number was for another department in orange, they said yes, I asked them what department is it and she goes it doesnt say what dept so i hung up. googled the number, its red debt. so i dont think i can contact orange anymore. what else do you think i ca do?

Phone or write again and complain, telling them not to fob you off to a debt collector this time, otherwise you will be taking them to the communications ombudsman/CISAS.