Belatedly received a debt recovery letter

TuitionFees

Hi,

My parents received a letter a today from Lowell Solicitors about an alleged debt that they have been instructed to recover. The letter was dated for the 20th of September 2018, however we only received it today as we have moved house about a year and a half ago and collected the letter from the old address today. The debt itself pertains to a mobile phone bill that, to the best of our knowledge, we paid off until the end of the contract, and have subsequently started a new one with another well known provider about a year ago. We have not received a follow-up letter from Lowell, and have had no contact from the original mobile phone services provider. We switched mobile phone contracts a year ago and were not made aware of any debts outstanding at the time when the original contract was over. Moreover, we were required to acknowledge the receipt of this letter within 30 or we would be taken to County Claims Court. As we only took receipt of the letter today (5th January 2019), we have not replied within the 30 day timeline, however we have not been contacted subsequently by any authorities or by Lowells. What should we do?

Thanks

sourcrates

Hi,

Debt collectors/purchases deadlines are meaningless twaddle, as you have discovered.

If you think you may have grounds for a dispute, then send the provit letter to Lowell, as painful as it may be, it’s best to update your address to, otherwise you could risk a CCJ by default if court papers went to an old address.

Provit letter available here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

TuitionFees

Hi,

It turns out that a notice of pending County Court Judgement was sent on the 23/11/18. Again, we did not receive this letter as it was sent to an old address. What should we do?

Thanks

TuitionFees

sourcrates wrote: »

Hi,

Debt collectors/purchases deadlines are meaningless twaddle, as you have discovered.

If you think you may have grounds for a dispute, then send the provit letter to Lowell, as painful as it may be, it’s best to update your address to, otherwise you could risk a CCJ by default if court papers went to an old address.

Provit letter available here :


Hi,

It seems that a notice of pending County Court Judegement was sent to the old address on the 13/11/2018. Again, we did not know about any of this until today. What should we do?

Thanks

sourcrates

TuitionFees wrote: »

Hi,

It turns out that a notice of pending County Court Judgement was sent on the 23/11/18. Again, we did not receive this letter as it was sent to an old address. What should we do?

Thanks

What exactly have you received, is it a claim pack, just a threat letter, or a CCJ by default ?

TuitionFees

On the 24th of July 2018, I received a pre-legal assessment letter informing me that the debt remains unpaid and they were deciding whether to take action through the courts.

On the 20th of September I received a letter of claim that they have been instructed to recover the debt owed. They set a 30 day deadline to prevent legal action.

On the 13th of November, I received a notice of pending County Court Judgement in which we failed to respond to the County Court Judgement with either a proposal for payment or reason why the debt is disputed. They also set a deadline for the 23/11/2018 to contact Lowell's to resolve the matter, or they would ask the court to submit a CCJ against us. It isn't a CCJ by default yet.

Thanks