JD Williams passed debt to Lowell even though I was on an arrangement to pay!

betweenarockandhardplace

Not sure if this is common or not?

I had an account with jd williams which I struggled to pay, I set up and arrangement with them for £40 a month which I’ve been paying every month for last 12 months,

I called jd williams about looking to settle my account at the end of January and they told me they had just given the debt to Lowell last week! I told them I haven’t defaulted though so why give it to Lowell?! She assured me it hadn’t been defaulted just past over to them to “manage” and to make all future calls to them

I called Lowell who agreed they hadn’t defaulted the debt and said they weren’t going to but said I can’t make any payments until the account is “unlocked” on there end for me to be able to make payments which they said could take a few weeks!

I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them! I’m just waiting for a default to be slapped on my credit files after 18months of hard work gaining positive history is going to be wrecked by these idiots!

I am able to settle the entire balance at end of jan I just pray they don’t default it before then, I don’t want to tell them I can pay it off in full then because I’ve seen threads on this forum we’re people have paid the debt and then BAM default has been given and there’s naff all you can do because you have paid it!

Worried sick and don’t know what to do :mad:

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't worry. Just pay when they ask.

[Deleted User]

If in doubt ask for confirmation in writing

betweenarockandhardplace

well it was actually a good thing JD Williams was passed to Lowell because ive just managed to get a f&f settlement of 50% off my debt! i owed £1600 and i called this morning to ask about a settlement and thought il try my luck at 50% and they accepted! they assured me that the debt hadnt defaulted with the original creditor so it will just change from arrangement to pay to partly settled on my credit file and thats good enough for me saving £800!

[Deleted User]

So it will show as a partial settlement rather than a full settlement for the next 6 years.

A full settlement would look better on your report to prospective lenders, rather than a partial

betweenarockandhardplace

i know this but its saving me money, otherwise it would of taken years to pay this off, i had to borrow money from a family member but they are in no rush for it back

PixelPound

I guess it was assumed you had the money, from your initial post, but if you have limited cash flow an £800 saving may be worth the implication for 6 years.

sourcrates

Lowell will of bought your debt, as they are the purchaser of choice for defunct J D Williams accounts.

They are actually very easy to deal with as long as you keep communication channels open, and offer good discounts a lot of the time.

It appears to be getting more common for debts to be sold with out defaulting them, which technically breaks the terms of the consumer credit act, although the section concerned appears to be just guidelines rather than law, which is why the FOS tends to side with creditors when complaints are made.

You should be fine, make keeping your account from defaulting a nessessary action when negotiating repayment terms, get them to confirm in writing before releasing funds to them.