Lowell Portfolio

princessmoneysaver

I have been sorting mine & my husbands debts out over the last few months, nothing major all at 0% but my husband has had problems with his ex fraudently setting payments in his name so we've been checking his credit file on Clear Score regularly to make sure nothing else gets added.

Today his Clear Score account shows the following as updates for July :-

You opened your Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd

Your Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd account went into default

You closed or settled your Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd

Neither of us have heard of the company, we googled them & emailed asking for details to be told my husband apparently owes a debt from Orange/EE/Three for almost £500 from 4 years ago.

He did have a contract with Three around that time but as far as he was aware this was paid off & voided. He doesn't remember having a contract with Orange at all but this is what the email says

[FONT=&quot]Your account and your credit file[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Orange originally defaulted your account on 24th August 2013. When the account was sold to Lowell Portfolio I Ltd, we took over the responsibility for reporting the default to the credit reference agencies. Defaults are reported to the credit reference agencies for six years. This is so companies can make informed decisions about lending. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Updating your credit file[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We’ll update the credit reference agencies with details of any payments you make. If you pay your account in full, the default will show as “satisfied”. If we agree to accept a discounted amount as settlement, the default will show as “partially satisfied” when paid. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Updating your credit file to show you are making payments or that you have paid your account could improve your credit rating.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What are your intentions for this account?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We’ve placed your account on hold for 14 days to allow you time to get back to us with this information.[/FONT]




I have seen a few other people having problems with this company, can anyone advise what to do now please? He has not had anything in writing, just the above email. He has had nothing from EE/Three/Orange asking for payments in the past either. Clear Score shows closed or settled account so surely they can't still say he owes it?

sourcrates

Hi,

Lowell are a major player in the debt purchasing sector.

They buy up all kinds of delinquent debt from various lenders.

It will normally show as settled on his file when a debt gets sold on.

If he docent recognize the account he should send the "provit" letter to Lowell, see what evidence they come back to him with.

But you do not need to respond to an email, only a letter.

If it proves to be fraudulent, he must then decide the value of reporting it to action fraud.

princessmoneysaver

We reported the previous fraud to Action Fraud & although eventually got the money back through his bank account we heard nothing back from Action Fraud themselves.

Is there a template available for him to send off if they come asking for this money via letter? He doesn't live at the same address that he was at in 2013 but if any post arrives there it is passed on to us.

sourcrates

princessmoneysaver wrote: »

Is there a template available for him to send off if they come asking for this money via letter? He doesn't live at the same address that he was at in 2013 but if any post arrives there it is passed on to us.

Link to provit letter here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247

princessmoneysaver

We sent the provit letter via email as we couldn't find any address for them.

All contact as been via email - nothing at all in writing to either the address they had on file or his new address.

They are saying they have 3 seperate accounts for him, 2 with Orange mobile & one from Three Mobile.

My husband as never held any account with Orange at all & did have one with Three Mobile.

They are saying he owes £484.87 for one of the Orange accounts, saying it was first started in September 2012 & no payments made since December that same year.

They have not given details of how much is owed on the second Orange account.

They have said he owes £438.66 on the Three accout, which is made up of usage £98.40 & cancellation fee £340.26. The account he did have with Three was voided out by them due to signal coverage & he was told at the time there he would not have any cancellation fee to pay as he'd had the account for a number of years at that point - first opened 01/08/10 & last payment was 01/08/2012. He's had nothing from Three regarding anything else owed to them in the last 5 years & as far as he knew the account was fully closed.

Just wondering where he stands now regarding this? Can anyone offer advise as to what to do now & how to get them taken off his credit file.

Thank you very much in advance

sourcrates

Lowell will not just take your word for it an go away unfortunately.

You need to report them, again to action fraud, send a letter to Lowell disputing the debts, and tell them you believe them to be fraudulent accounts, ask for them to be removed from his credit file.

Its very difficult to prove fraud, especially on a mobile account where a phone must be sent to the address of the person taking out the contract, can he explain how this could of happened ?

Could it be another family member taking out contracts in his name ?

The more answers you can come up with the better.

princessmoneysaver

They are saying the first Orange account was set up instore at Carphone Warehouse. Still no details on the second account they have mentioned with Orange.

The three account was paid off at termination & he's had no contact from them since.

sourcrates

Ok, well so far all they have provided are a few scanty details about the debt, they have not provided any actual proof.

My advice, send the provit letter (in the post) edit it to say that so far they have failed to provide any concrete proof the debt is his, you believe the accounts to be fraudulent etc, and either prove the debts are his, or agree with your position.

Lowell have a few addresses, this one, is there head office in Leeds, send it there, it will be forwarded internally to the correct dept :

Lowell,
9, Ellington House,
Leeds Valley Park West,
Savannah Way,
Leeds LS10 1AB

The other one i have is in Northampton :

Lowell,
PO Box 1411,
Northampton,
NN2 1BQ

princessmoneysaver

He's just had the following email from them - the amount doesn't match the Orange account details & he has been given previously so assuming this is the second account they referred to. He's had NO previous email or letter with this amount mentioned anywhere else. I'm going to send a letter recorded delivery to the addresses stated thank you sourcrates for that information & see what they come back with.



Our Client:Lowell FinancialOriginal Company Name:OrangeBPO Reference No:
Lowell Account No:
Principal Sum:£390.9007/08/2017

We recently wrote to you to offer you the fantastic opportunity to settle your Lowell Financial account while making a significant saving. We would like to remind you that this offer is still available, and we look forward to speaking to you, and helping you save up to £234.54.
All you need to do to take advantage of this offer is:
1.Log into www.bpopay.co.uk2.Type in your Personal Offer Code
3.Follow the simple online instructions and pay £156.364.You have now saved £234.54If you cannot pay the full 60% settlement as a one off payment then we would still like for you to contact us to discuss your options. We will be able to arrange a settlement on your account over a number of instalments, based on your individual financial situation.
If you are not able to pay online you can also make payments by the following methods.

• Calling BPO on 01413750917 and speak to one of our trained advisors where you can pay by Card or set up a Direct Debit
• Calling our 24hr Automated Payment Line on 0141 375 0999
• Online Banking / Bank Transfer, Royal Bank of Scotland,
• Please send Cheques / Bankers Draft / Postal Orders to our address Marina Quay, Dock Road, Ardrossan, KA22 8DA, made payable to BPO Collections Ltd

In the event a discount option is suitable for you, once we receive your one off, or last instalment payment, we will notify Lowell Financial of the transaction and they will update your credit file as partially satisfied.
If you cannot pay the full 60% settlement as a one off payment then we would still like for you to contact us to discuss your options. We will be able to arrange a settlement on your account over a number of instalments, based on your individual financial situation.
We appreciate that you may not be able to currently take advantage of this offer however we would still like for you to contact us in order for us to discuss your account, and arrange with you an affordable and suitable repayment plan. A variety of payment options are available, all you need to do is call us on 01413750917, our agents are looking forward to speaking with you. It is important to note that clearing your balance may help to improve your credit rating.
If you are experiencing difficulty in making these repayments please see below for useful websites and contact details that provide free advice.
Citizens Advice Bureau
0300 330 1313, www.citizensadvice.org.uk

StepChange
0800 138 1111, www.stepchange.org

National Debtline
0808 808 4000, www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

princessmoneysaver

I have sent the prove it letter via post but we are still getting hounded for payment via email & had nothing in the post at all. What is the best course of action to take now?

The latest email says

Please be aware a County Court Judgment (CCJ) in Default was entered against you on 10 April 2017 with the terms of £50.00 to be paid monthly, you are currently in arrears of £200.00. The CCJ was entered due to no response to the Claim form issued by the County Court on 9 March 2017, under Claim Number *******.
Please contact us to set a repayment arrangement on the above account in line with the terms of the CCJ, within 14 days from the date of this email.
If the Court ordered amount of £50.00 monthly is unaffordable, please send us details of your income and expenditure along with details of any dependants you have, your employment status and your residency details. This is to ensure that any amount offered is affordable to you.

Neither at his current address or previous address has he had anything in the post regarding any CCJ's or any claim form at all.

sourcrates

Does the CCJ appear on his credit file ?

Unfortunately this is a gamechanger if judgement has been awarded by default.

Which account is this for again ?