Letter from Lowell financial Ltd.

Rodge531

Hi, I received a letter today from Lowell financial Ltd. telling me they have been appointed collection agents for £455 balance oustanding from 1st Credit.

I've never heard of either company and as far as I aware I have no debts.

Do I contact them and risk giving out more of my personal information than they already have?

RAS

Welcome
While you wait, you might find the following useful.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=755939

Would strongly advise against telephoning them.

fermi

They are both debt collectors. So they have probably bought an old debt from somewhere which may (or may not) be yours.

Do they give any indication of the original creditor, or what type of debt it is; e.g. loan/card/overdraft/....

rog2

Rodge531 wrote: »

Hi, I received a letter today from Lowell financial Ltd. telling me they have been appointed collection agents for £455 balance oustanding from 1st Credit.

I've never heard of either company and as far as I aware I have no debts.

Do I contact them and risk giving out more of my personal information than they already have?

Send them the template letter that you will find in the following link:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=getting_a_copy_of_your_credit_agreement_and_account_details

Just 'preface' the letter with the words 'I do not acknowledge any debt to your Company, or any other organisation that you claim to represent'

Lowell are legally obliged to furnish this information and it will give you two options;

1. It will prove, conclusively, that the 'debt' is not, and never was, yours. You can, then, report Lowell to trading Standards, as they have an obligation to ensure that the person that they are pursuing is, in fact, the correct person.

2. They will, and this is the most likely, be unable to provide the information, within the legally prescribed time-frame. This means that any 'debt' will be unenforceable and you can, if they continue to harass you, report them to Trading Standards.

Rodge531

No, that is all the information I have, Lowell Financial Ltd. are telling me they have been appointed authorized collection agents for recovery of the outstanding balance of £455, and the original creditor is 1st credit

fermi

Rodge531 wrote: »

No, that is all the information I have, Lowell Financial Ltd. are telling me they have been appointed authorized collection agents for recovery of the outstanding balance of £455, and the original creditor is 1st credit

You could send the letter suggested by rog2, but that only covers debts which requires a credit agreement. If it isn't one of those then that letter won't get you anywhere.

It might be best to start with the simple "bog off until you prove I owe you a penny" letter from National Debtline.

Adapt to suit.

1 High Street,
Newtown,
Kent
R21 4RH
October 9, 2007

The Loan Company
Company House,
Church Street,
Newtown,
Kent,
R1 7HG

Dear Sir/Madam

Ref: xxxxxxxxxxx

You have contacted us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by ourselves.

We would point out that we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Loan Company.

We are familiar with the ‘Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance’ which states that it is unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

We would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore, ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

We would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to our liability for the debt in question.

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise we will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully





Mrs A N Other

RAS

Rodge
Just to get one other thing straight.

The collection agents are almost certainly mythical beasts designed to frighten the whats its out of you and get you to telephone.
If by any chance (1:10000) they are real, they have the same rights as your paper boy - none. Tell them to go and if they decline, call the police.

Rodge531

Does the letter I send need to be recorded delivery? what if they refuse to sign for it?

fermi

Rodge531 wrote: »

Does the letter I send need to be recorded delivery? what if they refuse to sign for it?

It's more likely that the Royal Mail will forget to ask. They won't turn the letter away, it might contain a cheque.

RAS

I think that has only been reported once and the person concerned reported the DCa to Trading Standards.