It's true Lowell/Red/Hamptons can't and won't collect on a debt in dispute, but it is only put on hold for 14 days while your dispute is investigated, if no evidence is found to back your query up, it's thrown back in to the bulldogs! So make your dispute clear, and ask them how they plan on coming to the bottom of it, remember all calls are recorded, and if it doesn't get sorted, request to speak with their manager, get them to listen to the call (where they would have told you when/what will be done) and hey presto, you have them eating out of your hands!

as unfortunate as it is, if you were a few days out, you are liable for the interest. So now you need to come to terms with what to do, can you afford to pay the amount Lowell are collecting? or would you like to pay it over installments? If you can afford the full balance, call them, but don't let them know you can afford full balance, tell them you can't but may be able to borrow money from people, they will offer you a 10% discount straight off. depending where your account is within their chase cycle, and how much it is for, and your circumstances, you could get up to 50% knocked off. if this is something you want to do, let me know I'll tell you how. Alternatively, you can set up an arrangement to pay it off over a period of time, in which case, they are quite nice (in comparison with courts/other DCA) and will usually ask for around 40% of your disposable income as installment (if it goes to court, they state your entire disposable income must go to pay off debts) just remember this 40% info when they ask you for financial information. again, any more questions, let me know. (and yes I have worked within the various companies of Lowell Group for some time)

Lowell are not a DCA, they only purchase debts, so they are the owners. you could try DPA on them, but they can charge up to £10 for this and will be read in their eyes as a delaying tactic and not run in your favour. If you have been making payments for so long, they will not stop or give up anytime soon, if you cannot afford the arrangement you had set originally, call them and tell them that, let them know. but be prepared to be questioned, remember they've heard it all before, and yes, as a senior employee of Lowell Group, I can certainly say we DO read these sites, and some of the advice given is shocking, be careful what you listen to. a lot of the information on here is sound, valid actions that I would take if I owed a debt to Lowell, however, some of this just seems like delaying tactics, unnecessary. Lowell Group (inc Lowell Financial, Red Debt Collection Services and Hamptons Legal services) are there to work with you, if you speak with them, they will come up with a suitable option for you! If you don't think they're helping, request to speak with a manger, but burying your head and ignoring them will achieve NOTHING! Oh, any questions about specifically the running and processes of Lowell, let me know...

ok, firstly ALWAYS REQUEST TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR! secondly, Protection from Harrassment Act 1997 will do nothing for Lowell group, they have the right to contact you (up to 3 times a day unrequested) while they believe the debt is outstanding by you , IF they find out it isn't yours, or the debt has previously been paid, you'll get an apology letter saying so. Lowell aren't a DCA, they are debt purchasers, meaning if you go to HSBC, etc asking for original docs, etc, the monkeys in their call centre won't ever heard of Lowell. surprisingly enough, when seniors at HSBC decide to sell their accounts, they don't inform the muppets in the call centre! They sell the accounts because they don't want to deal with them, and once they do, they have no obligation to speak with you. simply put, once it's sold, anything the muppets in the call centre for HSBC tell you is most likely made up on the spot. When these companies decide to sell the debt, they will send you a letter advising you so, BEFORE Lowell contact you. If you believe the debt is not yours, or has already been paid, do not lose your temper (they get paid to deal with angry people) - just tell them that you do not believe it is outstanding, and you request a copy of original statements (they will them go into schpiel about paying, calmly say you have no intention of paying until statements have been provided). They have 14 days (including delivery time) to contact you and let you know when the original docs will be with you, not when they have to be there. If you don't believe you owe the debt, request original statements as per CCA, I think a lot of you actually owe the debts and just have no intention of paying it off, (time wasting tactics like talking rubbish about Jesus down the phone doesn't help either of you, DUH!) Oh, and Nigel Beaven has been within Lowell Group (Head of their 'Special Projects' department to be precise) since day 1, knows his stuff, and if I'm honest, can be helpful to have on your side if you get the privilege of having him on the phone! Oh, and in case you didn't guess, I work with one of the Lowell Group's companies...any further questions...?