Debt Collector help / advice needed

PatrickBlue

Hi all

Need some advice or help with a debt collector agency, Lowells / Overdales solicitors (which is really Lowells) / and now also engage Services
 
Over two years ago (2022) I started getting numerous letters from Lowells saying I owed some debts

I ignored the letters at first due to not knowing anything about the debts (as I do not have credit or loans etc, I always pay cash and if I cannot afford to buy something outright I don't buy it)
 
Eventually due to the amount of letters and them stating they have given me a CCJ which I knew nothing about, I contacted them via email using a letter asking them for the paperwork to show the debts are indeed mine (using a letter template I found on a debt advice site) which was sent for all debts they say I owed (2 in total) emails I sent with the letters attached was in August 2022    

I received the automated response so know they received the emails sent to them (which is why I emailed them instead of snail mail, to make sure they received it) 
I also received replies off them asking for further personal details or for me to sign up / register to their site and also provide details of mine to sign up / register before they would discuss the debt,

They refused to acknowledge the letters sent in email due to me refusing to join / sign up to their site and not providing any more personal details to them

I point blank refused to give them any further personal details or to join or register on their site, and the letters / emails sent to them included the details they have already which is Reference numbers for the debts and My Name and My address, so they have everything they needed already (IMO) 

Since then they have continued to ask for details and also continued to send more threat letters from Overdales Solicitors and also Lowells and now have also started sending Engage Services to my front door who hand delivered a letter (partially typed and partially poorly hand written) after knocking on it and I never answered due to being in the bath at the time 

Not sure how to handle them and what is the best course of action / option for me to get them to stop harassing me for debts they will not send proof of 

My main questions are - where do I go from here ? 

And are Lowells / Overdales obligated to treat the letters I sent them in email as they would if I had of sent them in snail mail ? (as it is still written communication asking for debt confirmation / proof) 

Sorry for the long winded post        

PatrickBlue

Forgot to mention In my main post  

I have kept ALL emails sent and received to and from Lowells and Overdales

sourcrates

They say that legal action has been taken on at least one of the alleged debts, so the obvious question is do you have any judgements on your credit reports?

And have you received any court papers?

Emails can come from anyone, anywhere, and Lowell have to adhere to GDPR, so they won`t talk to you without confirming your identity first.

A good old fashioned letter via snail mail is deemed to have been sent by the writer of the letter and is legally regarded as having been sent by you, so yes, there is a massive difference, as you have discovered.

Send the PROVIT letter, in the post, if you want a response.

Signing into the account on their website will only tell you the original creditor and the amount owed, could you have been a victim of identity theft do you think?

Basically they should answer the PROVIT letter, but may still ask you to confirm your identity, and to get to the bottom of things that`s what you may have to do.

PatrickBlue

Thanks for the reply Sourcrates 

I have not checked my credit report is one exists as I do not have any credit, and do not intend to have any now or in the future 
 
No, I have not received any court papers at all, the only way I knew of any CCJ is from the letters / emails Lowells / Overdales have sent

It is possible (in this day and age especially) for anyone to be a victim of ID theft
I did have in past some purchases being done on one of my Debit Cards but sorted that out with the bank and got refunded a long time ago 

I will send the prove it letter to them via snail mail then and see what happens from there, (unsigned like I have previously been advised to do)

fatbelly

There's no problem with signing the prove-it letter. I assume you do want a response.

If they do not answer then you follow up with the letter in the thread

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

And then complain to the FOS

sourcrates

Not signing letters all stems from signatures on copied credit agreements.

There is no requirement for a copy agreement to bear a signature, never has been, back in the dim and distant past some unscrupulous debt collectors would copy and paste a signature from a letter onto a credit agreement.

But as no such requirement exists, or ever has done, the point about not signing letters is a myth, and only leads to issues proving your identity, you should sign the letter.

There are many myths circulating about how to deal with the likes of Lowell, proving who you are is necessary if you want a response from them, a signed letter should do that.