Thread: Why is LOWELL FINANCIAL LTD making repeated searches on me? (see screenshot)

My credit file says a company called Lowell Financial Ltd has been making repeat searches on me. Ive never had anything to do with them and a Google search indicates they are debt collectors.



I am otherwise of good credit standing, income over 50K a year and plenty of investment products on the go, I’ve never had credit problems but I need to keep my credit report in check because I take out lots of mortgage renewals for my own property and buy-to-let properties. The interest rate is based on my personal credit score and thus, can seriously affects my income.

I am concerned why this company is sniffing around, why would they be doing this? And can I get it removed?

Edit: more info

The address for Lowell Financial Ltd is not in the list of addresses at the back of the Experian report.

its an unrecorded enquiry and so shouldn't effect your credit rating or ability to obtain credit.

However I. would write a strongly worded letter to Experian informing them that at no time have you ever given Lowell permission to search your credit file or permission to process your data nor have you asked them to carry out an enquiry, quotation or verification check.

Permission? Ok, I didnt know they needed my permission, is there a rule book which says they need permission?

Then again, if this enquiry has no impact on my credit rating, then is there any point in writing to them?

In theory they need permission, but a letter or email to the CRA wouldn't hurt.

OK, these are the letters I'm sending. This is the leter about Merton...

Ref: xxxxxxxxxx

14 March 2010

Dear Sir,

I write on receipt of the above-mentioned credit report received by me today.

I am writing in query to entry numbered P11 London Borough of Merton I confirm I have lever lived or worked in the jurisdiction of London Borough of Merton, or drawn services from them. I named them as a defendant in a county court credit card fraud claim last year which they were named as a defendant. They obtained a credit money transfer in my name under false pretences in June 2007

The money was refunded and the court decided the bank was liable (Bank of Ireland – Entry number C6), but at no time have I have ever given London Borough of Merton a permission to search my credit file, process my data, or asked them to carry out an enquiry, quotation or verification check.

I ask that one of the following is carried out.

• Provide a copy of the permission that enables London Borough of Merton to search my credit file giving rise to search entry number P11

• Permanently remove entry P11 from my credit file within 14 days, and confirm in writing this has been done.

If you are unable or unwilling to provide either of the above, or you think I should ‘contact a solicitor’ or similar, please say why, in a letter that is clearly marked at the top with the words FINAL RESOLUTION.

This letter is not a Subject access request and does not ask you to provide any personal data about me as it is defined in the 1998 Data Protection Act.

Yours faithfully

letter #2 - about Lowell Financial Limited

Customer Support Centre
Experian Ltd
PO Box 9000
Nottingham
NG80 7WP

Ref: xxxx

14 March 2010

Dear Sir,

I write on receipt of the above-mentioned credit report received by me today.

I am writing in query to entries numbered P2 and P3 both of 27/01/10 by Lowell Financial Limited.

I write to inform that at no time have I have ever given Lowell Financial Limited a permission to search my credit file or to process my data, or asked them to carry out an enquiry, quotation or verification check.

I ask that one of the following is carried out.

• Provide a copy of the permission that enables Lowell Financial Limited to search my credit file giving rise to search entries P2 and P3, or

• Permanently remove entries P2 and P3 from my credit file within 14 days, and confirm in writing this has been done.

If you are unable or unwilling to provide either of the above, please say why, in a letter that is clearly marked at the top with the words FINAL RESOLUTION.

This letter is not a Subject access request and does not ask you to provide any personal data about me as it is defined in the 1998 Data Protection Act.

Yours faithfully

Maybe put something in about Lowell not having permission to search your file and in future unless it is authorized by you you will seek compensation for damages.

Theres some EU regulations it may be worth quoting as well, I'll try to find them. I think they will reject the request but its worth letting them know and keeping a written record of Lowells tactics.

I would be interested to see what legislation requires a permission to be obtained to access data, and who is liable for beeach, Lowell, or the credit agency holding the data, or both.

they will answer that when you signed the CCA it gives them permission to search CRA, however EU legislation states permission must be granted individually.
My argument is if the DCA/OC can not locate the true copy of the CCA where is the proof I signed in order to give them permission?

this is it, I've never signed any CCA or anything remotely like it. All my known CCA's are counted for on my credit report.

European Directive 95/46/EC (the Data Protection Directive) states that data can only be processed when

'The data subject has unambiguously given his consent.'

Well done! and thank you!

Does this apply to local authorities as well?

Originally Posted by 247orbital

they will answer that when you signed the CCA it gives them permission to search CRA, however EU legislation states permission must be granted individually.
My argument is if the DCA/OC can not locate the true copy of the CCA where is the proof I signed in order to give them permission?

As I signed a CCA with the Original Creditor and not a debt collection Agency, can the DCA simply use the original permission from the original CCA to search a credit file - or would they have to have their own permission?

Just wondering, as I myself have had my file searched in the past, but I've never received either a Notice of Assignment, nor have I received any sort of Fair Processing Notice or anything to sign giving them authority to look at my credit file.

Could I pre-empt any further searches (old ones have dropped off) from the DCA by telling the Credit Reference Agencies that these companies have not had my permission to search my file?

Hope this isn't hijacking the thread at all, it's all relevant I feel, slap me if you don't think so

Lowell can only search your Credit File if one of your creditors have sold or assigned the debt to them.

Before they do this, they should have sent you a Default Notice to comply with and then a Termination Notice.

Keep at it, Lowell will cave in.

Update: Experian replied to my letter, and I copy my reponse below.

What action I take against a firm for making searches of my credit file without my consent?

[NAME]
Customer Support Centre
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG80 7WF

Ref: [REF]

20 April 2010

Dear Sir,

Thanks for your letter of 30 March saying you will investigate Arrow Global (C7), Lowell (P3 & P3) and London Borough of Merton (P11) making searches of my credit file.

I understand that European Directive 95/46/EC (the Data Protection Directive) states that data can only be processed when the data subject has unambiguously given his consent.

I have no record of giving any such consent; I now ask that you request a copy of the consent from the above-named organisations or bodies.

Can you please suggest what action I should take if any of the above is unable or unwilling to provide a copy of the consent?


Yours faithfully




[ME]