Lowell Group

[robinp]

Hello im new to this forum. I just recieved a letter from them saying i need to pay off my debt. They have appointed red debt collection services to recover the outstanding balance..

 

The debt is for Abbey National dating back 2000. It for for £2.175.

This is the first letter i have recieved from them, I think the last letter i got from Abbey National was in 2001. Since year 2000 i have move 4 times and on the letter the address they wrote is all mixed up and it only says mr surname....

 

I have heard this group are bullies who try to get debts they are over the 6 year period.....I have seen my credit file and there is nothing on there about Abbey National....

 

What should i do?

Do i phone them up and say its been longer than 6 years?

[clemma]

NO!!! Do not phone them.

 

If you have made no payments and have not acknowledged this in writing then you need to send the Statute Barred letter to them. Send it recorded delivery. Once they have received it, they are not allowed to ask you for payment again. If they do, then complain to OFT, ICO, FOS and Trading Standards!!

 

Letter:

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

Acc/Ref No

 

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

 

We would point out that under the Limitation Act 1980 Section 5 “an action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.”

 

We would also point out that the OFT say under their Debt Collection Guidance on statute barred debt that “it is unfair to pursue the debt if the debtor has heard nothing from the creditor during the relevant limitation period”.

 

The last payment of this alleged debt was made over six years ago and no further acknowledgement or payment has been made since that time. Unless you can provide evidence of payment or written contact from us in the relevant period under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, we suggest that you are no longer able to take any court action against us to recover the alleged amount claimed.

 

The OFT Debt Collection Guidance states further that “continuing to press for payment after a debtor has stated that they will not be paying a debt because it is statute barred could amount to harassment contrary to section 40 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970”.

 

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed and that no further contact will be made concerning the above account after that last letter.

 

We look forward to your reply.

 

Yours faithfully

[silverfox1961]

First of all, DON'T PHONE THEM

 

They will fill you full of misinformation.

 

Next, Lowell group are LOwell Portfolio, Red Debt, Hamptons Legal and Mackenzie Hall (or will be soon). Basically a group of threat monkeys in the same office.

 

As there has been no contact for over 6 years it could be Statute Barred therefore I would send them this letter

 

http://www.consumerforums.com/resources/templates-library/86-debt-collectors/599-letter-sent-when-debt-is-statute-barred

 

Don't sign it, just print your name

Send by recorded delivery

 

Wait for the expected letter saying you paid a pitifully small amount sometime ago

 

fox

[clemma]

Just thought - what is this alleged debt for?

 

Also, Red are part and parcel of Lowells......one and the same

[robinp]

I have never ever made any payments. Where do i get the letter from, thanks

[silverfox1961]

Bu**er, Clemma beat me to it

[mr.ton]

Red are the same company as Lowells....also can be known as Hampton Legal & goodness knows who else?

Anyway..tell them to do one & report them to the OFT/trading standards.

 

(edit - others beat me to it, must have posted at the same time! lol)

[clemma]

@ silverfox - :D

 

Oh, and mr ton - smiles to you too

[clemma]

I have never ever made any payments. Where do i get the letter from, thanks

 

See post number 2

[robinp]

When i was younger i had a cheque book and cheque garantee card, i thought i'll be silly and use them all up and just not pay for nothing. Thanks for your help people

[clemma]

I was only asking because some things have a 12 year limitation period - this is not one of them, so send the above letter to them.

[robinp]

and once i sent the letter what will happen, I guess you will know because you seem to know a hell of alot:) thanks again

[mr.ton]

They will either write back to you offering a huge discount or will simply just wash their hands of it & pass it on to someone else.

The DCA industry is like a merry go round you know

[clemma]

They should not write back to you at all - if they do, you just re-send the letter, with a covering note saying something like:

 

Enclosed is a copy of the letter sent to you on xx/xx/xxxx and signed for by you on xx/xx/xxxx.

 

If you do not understand the contents, then may I suggest you seek legal advice.

 

You can also tell them you will begin charging them per letter and per hour of research as well. I did this with Aktiv Kapital, and they left me alone after that.

 

If they do continue to pursue, just report them, and tell them you have reported them

 

If any other DCA comes along, send the same SB letter to them as well.

[ODC]

Next, Lowell group are LOwell Portfolio, Red Debt, Hamptons Legal and Mackenzie Hall (or will be soon).

 

Dont forget J2 Solutions.

 

These are all trading styles of the Leeds losers:eek:

[skegleg]

i am dealing with lowell portfolio/ lowell financial/red and whoever else they like to name themselves, you will get a lot of help and advice here, and please do COMPLAIN to OFT, the more complaints about these( and any other) of these bullies the better

[robinp]

i have just posted the letter to lowell, lets just see what happens now, i will keep you all informed:lol:

[robinp]

so do you all think i wont need to pay a penny back...

[Blondmusic]

Once a debt is Statute Barred then no you won't have to pay it. As long as you have not acknowledged the debt or made any payments for more than 6 years then it is Statute Barred and there is nothing the Leeds Losers can do about it.

[robinp]

Well I Have Never Ever Made Any Payments....leeds Losers (pmsl)

[sam614]

i have just posted the letter to lowell, lets just see what happens now, i will keep you all informed:lol:

 

presume that you have not sent it recorded?

 

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

[robinp]

presume that you have not sent it recorded?

 

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

 

 

It was recorded:-D

[sam614]

It was recorded:-D

 

:lol:good, saw posted ,and sat afternoon,thought you had just posted it.

 

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

[robinp]

just an update...I recieved a letter from red debt collection services today.This is how it goes:

THEY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY LOWELL PORTFOLIO TO RECOVER THE DEBT BLA BLA BLA

I HAVE TO PAY THE FULL BALANCE OR MAKE A REPAYMENT PLAN ASAP

THIS DEBT WILL NOT GO AWAY AND IGNORING THIS PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE AND THERFORE STRONGLY RECOMMEND I CONTACT THEM NOW.....FROM KEVIN ALLMARK, COLLECTIONS MANAGER...

So i gather this is their version of a warning letter...much different to Lowells letter...

I sent a statute barred letter recorded to Lowells and now i get this 1 from Red....

I know they are in the same building as Lowell.....

 

So what is the next step for me to take........thanks for reading:lol::lol:

[Blondmusic]

Just do what Clemma advised in post number 14. Send them the Statute Barred letter again with a covering letter as advised by the wonderful Clemma.