Lowell - need advice

tucia

I hope to get some advice here as my partner received letters (notice of sums in arrears, annual statement) from Lowell about the debt they bought from Okam Ltd for the amount of £10,785.89.
Tht was shock for me but my partner remembered what it was. It was loan taken in dec 2012 with his ex wife. Original amount was around £3k. They paid as long as they’re were together. Then couple months later she left him but promised to pay for it. Unfortunately that loan was only on his name. That was very nasty divorceicon and he never thought about it. He moved few times and changed phone numbers maybe that is why he never received any letters from Okam. If he will have any doubts about her not paying he would pay this. We don’t know if Okam send any letters or not. Either she didn’t tell him on purpose or they never send anything.
Now debt is in Lowell. And the amount over 10kis just not real for us. He called Okam yesterday and they couldn’t say much about this debt. They have on file that the loan existed but no more details. They said to contact Lowell. So he called them. Guy on the phone was not pleasant at all. Tried to take his expenses which most of them my partner didn’t know about them as I look after all the bills. He could only say how much he earns (his self employed) and they told him that universal credit will be taken fully as his earnings as well. Then they calculated that he will have to pay around £480 pm. My partner did not agreed to this and said he will discuss all expenses with partner. Then he called Lowell again and spoke with manager. They offer to call us on 14/02 to find reasonable solution and agree repayments. But tbh I don’t know why from 3k now he has to pay almost 11k. He doesn’t remember when exactly was last payment. Definitely something in the begging of 2013 so it’s almost 6 yearsicon. He doesn’t remember how much was already paid. And we have received letter only with the total amount owed. My partner once paid off some phone bills debt (his ex and kids) to Lowell and now they back again. We are not able to pay this. My partner only works. I had to quit my job to look after our 2 years old daughter. We are receiving universal credit.
What should we do now. How to deal with Lowell?

LawAbiding

First of all, stop talking to them over the phone and do everything by email:

support@lowellgroup.co.uk

What I would do at this stage, is email them making it clear the account is in dispute and no further collection action can be taken whilst the account is in dispute.

In the email ask for a full statement of the account with a breakdown of every transaction.

That will get them off your back, and I am sure other more experiences members on here will soon be able to comment further.

tucia

I am going away to visit my family for one week but when I will be back will send CCA request to Lowell’s.
I am just wondering why Lowell contacted us just now when they bought the debt in September 2017. Why to wait for so long? For more interest to add? :eek:
We have done credit report yesterday and that is the result:
He has two loans under settled accounts:
Lowell Portfolio (balance on 07/02/18)
Start date: 27/12/2012
Default balance: £5311
Last delinquent date:Sept 2013
End date: 28/09/2013
Start balance: 0
If you go to account history:
Date: January 2018
Status: default
Balance: £10,785

Second loan - Oakam Ltd
Balance on 15/09/2017 - £0
Start date: 27/12/2012
Default balance: £7474
Last delinquent date: September 2013
End date: 28/09/2013
Start balance - £0
Fixed payment- £333
Account history
Date: August 2017
Status:settled
Balance: £0
Date: July 2017
Status: default
Balance: £6903

Default balance with Lowell was first £5311. Now balance is £10,785
So waiting 17 months cause over £5k interest? Shocking
We are really in trouble. Worried that Lowell will come to my house. It’s not my partner’s place. He only lives here. He is added to my housing association contract as family member.
It’s really scary .
What to do?

fatbelly

You seem to have had good advice from CAG

SAR to Oakam
CCA to Lowell

What you're looking for in the SAR is the default notice. Probably Sept 2013 but post again when you find the date it was sent.

tucia

I have spoke to Oakam twice yesterday and they say that all documents they send to Lowell and they can’t access my account. I should contact Lowell about this.
What if they really don’t have papers anymore? So what is the point to send them SAR?

[Deleted User]

tucia wrote: »

I have spoke to Oakam twice yesterday and they say that all documents they send to Lowell and they can’t access my account. I should contact Lowell about this.
What if they really don’t have papers anymore? So what is the point to send them SAR?

If they don't have paperwork then I think that means they can't take you to court.

Either way it looks like it drops off your credit files (statute barred) this September coming so Lowell are ramping up the communication in an attempt to get you to pay something before then. Try and keep them hanging on until then and don't admit the debt to them.

tucia

Deleted_User wrote: »

If they don't have paperwork then I think that means they can't take you to court.

Either way it looks like it drops off your credit files (statute barred) this September coming so Lowell are ramping up the communication in an attempt to get you to pay something before then. Try and keep them hanging on until then and don't admit the debt to them.

Sending CCA to them is not admitting the debt to them?
What about phone calls?

[Deleted User]

tucia wrote: »

Sending CCA to them is not admitting the debt to them?
What about phone calls?

No it's not admitting debt to them.

What I mean is don't go saying you will pay £xx a month to them.

sourcrates

Care needs to be taken here, if Lowell are still charging interest on this loan, they can only do this under certain circumstances, either because the original agreement allows them too, or it did not default in the first place.


You ask how interest could accrue so much in just a few months, this is there typical APR taken from their website :


"1421% APR representative (variable)" :eek:

Stay off the phone to Lowell, sending CCA request is not an acknowledgement of the debt, see what comes back in the form of paperwork.


Oakam seem to have very little information on the loan, which is typical of a debt sold on in this way, its likley, but not impossible, they wont be able to supply compliant paperwork for this account.

tucia

My partner spoke with Lowell. They asked for household expenses but he doesn’t really know as I am paying for everything. They knew that we are receiving universal credit so they added to his earnings. They have done some calculations and told him that he will pay £480 a month. He didn’t agree with it. They informed that they will call next day to agree some payment plan but we didn’t answer. Are they gonna treat this as a admitting to debt?
Can they start taking money from our Universal Credit?

sourcrates

tucia wrote: »

My partner spoke with Lowell. They asked for household expenses but he doesn’t really know as I am paying for everything. They knew that we are receiving universal credit so they added to his earnings. They have done some calculations and told him that he will pay £480 a month. He didn’t agree with it. They informed that they will call next day to agree some payment plan but we didn’t answer. Are they gonna treat this as a admitting to debt?
Can they start taking money from our Universal Credit?

Makes no difference how they treat it, a debt can only be acknowledged legally by payment, or in writing.

Calling these people is never productive as it puts you on the spot for a decison, and you end up agreeing to something that you will later regret.

You can contact Lowell by email, or by private message from there website, there is no need to ever resort to calling them again.

I really do hope you or your partner have not given Lowell any payment card details at all, or agreed to any payments verbally ? Lowell are just a debt purchasing company and have no more rights than you or I do, they certainly cannot debt your account without your express permision.