Lowell chasing me for a debt that isn't mine

Fl4kmama

Hello everyone

I thought I would post here after reading so many of your horrible experiences with "Lowell", in the hope that one of you might confirm I'm not in fact going crazy.

From the outset it is important to note a couple of things:

I do not have, and have never had any debt. 

I am a registered vulnerable adult with a brain injury, and have been unemployed since 2014 as a result.

I was a victim of identity theft in 2016.

In late June last year (2023) I received a letter from the above Lowell, demanding payment of some £400, but without any other details whatsoever. Just a phone number to call to make payment. It looked like a scam so it went in the bin.

Then, a couple of weeks later, I receive what appear to be court documents from a civic centre, but this time it was from a company called "Overdales" and it was for a different amount. Bizarre stuff. I Googled "Lowell and Overdales" and immediately thousands of negative results came up (including here) regarding their conduct and bullying, but also that they were both one and the same entity. 

However, on the paperwork from Overdales, they had now included the date of a default from Three Mobile in 2017. Over six years ago.

I call Lowell and explain this is categorically not my debt, and point out it is over six years old. The call taker states he has made a note of everything I have said, and contact will stop. Fabulous, common sense prevails!

Fast forward to the end of 2023, and another duplicate set of papers arrives from the Civic Centre. Eye-rolling myself into another dimension I call the civic centre, and explain the conversation I had with Lowell. I got the rather strong impression she was fed up with Lowell antics, and she advised me to contact Citizens Advice for support.

January 2024 - I duly contact citizens advice (CAB) who take up the mantle on my behalf. The brain injury exhausts me and communicating is difficult. I explained everything, and provided proof of my medical condition and medications. I also informed CAB about the identity theft as that was the only thing I could think of that may be tied to this. 

I contacted the Police and got the crime reference number as further supporting evidence which I also forwarded to CAB. All of this was issued to Lowell.

Lowell are now more than aware that I am a vulnerable adult and all contact should stop immediately, (it didn't, they began calling and sending unblockable SMS messages). Lowell also had the evidence I was a victim of identity fraud. 

CAB requested proof of debt which Lowell ignored entirely for two full months. CAB then sent the request again, and an additional request for a deadlock letter. This too was ignored for weeks, and when Lowell finally did respond there was no deadlock letter, but a lot of word salad that didn't really make any sense to anyone. 

Eventually, CAB sent a formal SAR request. Lowell responded weeks later with a 24hr password protected document. Only Lowell didn't send the password in a separate email, they sent it by post. You couldn't make this nonsense up. Some three weeks later and a reem of nonsense documents, heavily redacted in parts, all out of date order, some with pages half printed and dates missing was sent through. 

It would appear that there was indeed a Three mobile contract taken out in 2017, right after I had my identity stolen. But, according to Lowell who must have much more powerful systems than the Police, decided no such fraud had taken place and ignored that salient fact.

In sheer desperation, I also contacted the Financial Ombudsman two weeks ago to make them aware of Lowell's conduct. 

Last week I receive an email from CAB, telling me that they have shared all the documents and information with FSO, but it has to be dealt with by the Communications Ombudsman instead as Lowell are relying on a 'grey' area that isn't covered by the FSO. Great let's do that!

They (Lowell) have ignored and dismissed my evidence and medical condition entirely. They have unnecessarily delayed and hindered every communication for another six months. They persist in harassing me by phone and SMS. 

Today however things have taken a turn. The postman has just been, and to my utter disbelief Lowell have been awarded a 'Judgement for Claimant' for Lowell for £679.63. To be paid in instalments of £100.00 per month starting in three weeks time. I feel physically sick.

I don't owe the money, and I won't be bullied into paying something I don't owe. But I am really starting to struggle mentally, especially after today.

Perhaps I read my research wrong, but I was under the impression that when CAB is involved on your behalf, they can't just keep pursuing court action silently in the background. Or can they? If so that seems like a incredibly shady way to operate.

It is now one week away from being six months since I contacted CAB, and I simply cannot do this any longer. I simply don't have the energy to keep doing this. The girl at CAB is lovely, but young and inexperienced and less than pro-active.

How can a company allege a debt without any proof whatsoever, and when you do provide evidence refuting their allegation, they ignore it and get a judgement anyway?? In what realm of medieval madness are we living in?

My Daughter has already called CAB main office to complain, but I don't know what do now. 

This has taken me three hours to type so please be patient if anything doesn't make sense, I've tried really hard to keep this as cogent as I can.

Many thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer.

lisyloo

You (or your daughter) need to apply to get the judgement set aside/cancelled.
The CAB are there for advice but they don't work for you.
You (or your representative) need to do this.
Can your daughter help you?

County court judgments for debt: Cancel the judgment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

fatbelly

If you get a court claim you must defend the claim

People seem to think they can phone the claimant or ignore it. This will, as you have found out, result in a judgement by default.

It is then much more difficult to deal with. But not impossible. Advice above is good.