Littlewoods / Lowell Portfolio Default

SophieLoui23

I have a default on my credit file but I'm pretty certain the default date was registered much later than it should have been.

I've been trying to get hold of my old Littlewoods transactions from circa 2011 but having difficulty getting anyone to get back to me. I've just opened a live chat with a Littlewoods advisor who said they could put in an request for an account statement and there would be a £5 charge. Fine with me but I don't want the account reopen and on my credit report, so asked how I pay for it... They told me in that case I need to write a letter asking for a statement of my old account and then they will reply telling me how I can pay. Seems a bit long winded and I have a feeling they may not reply to my letter!.... Does anyone know how I can go about accessing a statement and paying the £5 charge without reopening the account?

sourcrates

Hi,

All you need to do is write an official complaint to littlewoods, no need for statements, tell them you think the account should of been defaulted earlier, give your reasons.

They will then investigate it as a complaint.

They will then do the legwork for you.

Make sure you follow there correct complaints procedure (look it up on there website).

ashp_2

I think you can ask lowell to provide evidence of the debt. Have you payed it or made any contact with lowell?

pogofish

Send them a "prove-it" letter - search here for a good example you can customise.

sourcrates

SophieLoui23 wrote: »

I have a default on my credit file but I'm pretty certain the default date was registered much later than it should have been. ?

The OP's disputing the default date, not the debt itself.

ashp_2

sourcrates wrote: »

The OP's disputing the default date, not the debt itself.

The idea behind the prove it letter being that it's likely they will send a statement showing the default balance and date?

Anthorn

SophieLoui23 wrote: »

I have a default on my credit file but I'm pretty certain the default date was registered much later than it should have been.

I've been trying to get hold of my old Littlewoods transactions from circa 2011 but having difficulty getting anyone to get back to me. I've just opened a live chat with a Littlewoods advisor who said they could put in an request for an account statement and there would be a £5 charge. Fine with me but I don't want the account reopen and on my credit report, so asked how I pay for it... They told me in that case I need to write a letter asking for a statement of my old account and then they will reply telling me how I can pay. Seems a bit long winded and I have a feeling they may not reply to my letter!.... Does anyone know how I can go about accessing a statement and paying the £5 charge without reopening the account?

I don't understand the "account reopen" bit: From that do I assume correctly that the debt is statute barred due to no action on the account for the last six years? In that case inquiring about the debt will likely unbar it.

Otherwise defaults stay on the credit report for 6 years after the default date and the default date cannot be changed even if the debt is sold. So asking for further information about the debt is unlikely to put it back on the credit report if it has already fallen off.

Lastly the onus is on them to prove you owe the debt and not on you to prove you don't owe it. So if they can't prove it by producing the credit agreement and a statement of account then you don't owe it. Simple!

PixelPound

ashp wrote: »

The idea behind the prove it letter being that it's likely they will send a statement showing the default balance and date?

The OP knows that information, but disputes the date. The prove-it letter will surely just give the date he already knows.
As regards the default date, surely this is the date littlewoods registered the default not necessarily a set time from the last payment (http://debtcamel.co.uk/debt-default-date/)

Anthorn

nic_c wrote: »

The OP knows that information, but disputes the date. The prove-it letter will surely just give the date he already knows.
As regards the default date, surely this is the date littlewoods registered the default not necessarily a set time from the last payment (http://debtcamel.co.uk/debt-default-date/)

Not true: Some credit agreements state the time when an account can be defaulted, sometimes appearing as when recovery proceedings can be started due to non-payment and that's the default date. It doesn't really matter that the actual default date is different: The credit agreement dictates. If not then it comes down to common practice which I believe is the second consecutive month that no payment is made but don't quote me on that!

But I see light: If as according to the Opening Post which admittedly I find confusing, the debt has fallen off the credit report the default will have been removed by the CRA which will hold the record of it. So in the case of a dispute the CRA should be contacted in the form of a complaint.

fatbelly

Is the OP not saying that the default should have been registered in 2011 (and so dropping off this year) but was actually registered later?

Just follow sourcrates' advice

SophieLoui23

Sorry for any confusion. The account was opened in 2010 and I believe I defaulted that year. The default date was marked as 2012 and I paid the balance in 2013 and closed the account.

I'd like to obtain a statement from them for two reasons:
1. After communicating with them recently I don't trust Littlewoods to look at my complaint properly / tell me the truth regarding my account so I hoped that obtaining a statement before complaining would help my case.
2. I'd like to see if there was any form of insurance / PPI on this account.

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far.