lowell portfolio hsbc random letter advice NEEDED ASAP!

[skatepunkdog]

My girlfriend received a letter today saying a debt for over 4k from a hsbc account from 4 years ago has been sold to Lowell portfolio.

 

She new she had some debt it but has kept me in the dark, so as she has no paperwork and I'm usure of the amount before I get the chequebook out what should I do? Should I call them? Or do it by letter?

 

Cheers

[dx100uk]

NEVER call a fleecing DCA

 

they have no legal powers so's dont worry

 

if the OC wanted their money, they would have asked for it years ago.

 

you've prob just got yourself on a phishing list and these muppets are chancing their arm to see if they can catch a mug that knows know different and coughs up.

 

pers i'd ignore them or send the bemused letter.

 

you are under no legal obligation to do anything.

 

lowlife are just that, bottom feeders on debts that no-one will touch with a barge pole.

 

dx

[skatepunkdog]

Thanks oddly tho, there's a letter inside the Lowell one on hsbc letterhead paper saying the debt has been sold both are dated the same with her current address is this normal?

[dx100uk]

and i bet thats not the correct logo for the time is was sold.

 

lowlife are know to 'produce' letters from the oc to make their claims look authentic

 

i would regard the whole thing with a very large pinch of salt

 

if you use our advanced search, top right, for lowells, by reading a few threads, you'll soon get the idea.

 

dx

[sam614]

 

lowlife are know to 'produce' letters from the oc to make their claims look authentic

Aledgeley:lol:

 

 

 

 

Ignore them.

[babybear39]

There's nothing allegedly about it. DCAs often have permission from OCs to use their letter heads in order to cut costs

[skatepunkdog]

So should I ignore this letter? What if they come knocking can they take my stuff? Do they have a legal right?

[dx100uk]

There's nothing allegedly about it. DCAs often have permission from OCs to use their letter heads in order to cut costs

 

i didn't think they could do that if the debt had been sold?

 

collecting on-behalf-of ...yes but not if sold.

 

dx

[dx100uk]

So should I ignore this letter? What if they come knocking can they take my stuff? Do they have a legal right?

 

 

you need to do some reading.

 

DCA's are NOT BAILIFFS

 

they have NO LEGAL POWERS

 

the only time that happens if and a BIG IF it gets through court THEN bailiffs may come if you dont pay up on the CCJ issued.

 

that wont happen

 

pers i'd ignore

 

and go do some reading.

 

dx

[babybear39]

i didn't think they could do that if the debt had been sold?

 

collecting on-behalf-of ...yes but not if sold.

 

dx

 

Unfortunately that is the OCs/DCAs stance on this issue.

[dx100uk]

might be their stance,

but if the debt has been sold to the dca, surely the dca cant just use the oc's letterheads willy - nilly , the contract with them and the creditor is over?

 

know what you mean though.

 

dx

[skatepunkdog]

I've typed out the letters, exactly, both of them came in the same envelope from Lowell, both dated the same with the same reference number attached - just in case anyone else get's a similiar set :

 

Here is the HSBC letter:

 

Date:xx/xx/xx (same as the lowell letter)

 

Dear xxx

 

Reference: xxx

Account No: : xxx

New referenece number: (same as the lowell letter btw??)

 

[it also has a QR code on it that when scanned has the initials LW and the date - I think i can safely assume this is an internal tracking system for passing accounts to Lowell, or lowell printed it!.]

 

We are writing to notify you that HSBC bank plc has assigned all of it['s - spelling mistake] respective rights, title and interest in respect of the above referenced account (including the outstanding balance) to Lowell Portfolio I Ltd, effective xx/xx/xx.

 

The total balance sold was £xxxx, as at the date of sale xx/xx/xx. You should cease making paymetn to HSBC Bank plc or any agent acting on their behalf and immediately arrange to contact the servicing agent whose details are provided below.

 

Under the terms of this assignment, and as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998, Lowell Portfolio I Ltd is now the Data controller of your Personal Data contained in the records of this account. [very worrying?]

 

Lowell Financial ltd has been appointed by Lowell Portfolio I ltd to manage your account and it is essential that all future payments and correspondence regarding this account are directed to Lowell Financial Ltd at:

 

Enterprise House

1 Apex View

Leeds

LS11 9BH

 

Telephone - 0844 844 4716

 

You should contact Lowell Financial Ltd to organise payment on this account as a matter of urgency.

 

Yours sincerely

 

(printed hand written signature)

 

Mike Heath [no contact details, job title or signature]

HSBC Bank plc

 

-----------------------------

 

The Lowell letter:

 

 

name

address

postcode

 

Date: xxx (same as HSBC)

 

Lowell reference number: xxxxxxxx (same as HSBC letter)

Original company name: HSBC Bank plc

Original account number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

YOU OWE: £xxxx

 

 

Dear xxx

 

Introducing Lowell

 

We are Lowell Portfolio Ltd. Your outstanding account with HSBC bank plc was sold to us on xx/xx/xx and we will now be recovering what you owe. We have set out your Lowell account details on the right.

 

Our aim is to help you bring your outstanding account up to date and we have many payment options to suit you. Repaying your debts may help you to obtain credit in future as it will have an impact on your credit rating.

 

Setting up

You now ned to pay us £xxxx. The easiest way is to phone us on 0844 844 4716 and pay the full balance by card, or, you'll find some other ways to pay over the page. (Back page lists pay by phone or bank transfer)

 

If you have a query about your account or you need to talk to us about your current financial situation, please phone us on 0844 844 4716.

 

Lowell Financial Ltd

If we don't hear from you or receive your payment shortly, we will instruct Lowell Financial Ltd, Our recovery specialists, to contact you about paying.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

(printed hand written signature)

 

Andrew Bartle

Chief operations Officer

 

Your next steps

1) Check the details of your account carefully.

 

2) Call us with questions or queries you have regarding your account.

 

3) Please pay £xxxx using one of the ways to pay over the page.

 

---------------------------

[babybear39]

I've had letters from idiots inc. and freemans.com both ACUSING me of owing money. After speaking to each organisation it was determined that this was an admin. error and that a number of ghost accounts had been created and sold to idiots inc. Experian, who are in bed with lowlife, changed a lot of info. on my CRF. I contacted them and they have instructed lowlife to remove the data.

 

I now fully intend suing all three for defamation, slander and libel as co defendents because my CRF was above average before lowlife and (in)experian started adding garbage to my CRF

[dx100uk]

blind phishing trip BTW:

 

The total balance sold was £xxxx, as at the date of sale xx/xx/xx. You should cease making paymetn to HSBC Bank plc or any agent acting on their behalf and immediately arrange to contact the servicing agent whose details are provided below.

 

 

they dont know who/if you are paying?

 

you need to fill us in on the background please.

 

i'd say that almost an automated letter.

 

dx

[skatepunkdog]

The background:

 

My girlfriend has a previous debt with HSBC for an overdraft over 4k, i don't really think the bank would have given her a 4k overdraft, i assume it was much lower and rolling charges took the balance to this level. She couldn't keep up with payments or pay it off in march 2007 so she was in talks with a IVA company, who was going to arrange payment with HSBC.

 

She never went along with the IVA and has just stuck her head in the sand and not been in touch with HSBC or the IVA company since that communication ended in 2007.

 

She has had no other correspondence, and this is the first time I have known about it.

[dx100uk]

pers i'd ignore them then.

 

if the oc had wanted their money, then the would have asked lots of times since 2007

 

i think they wrote this off against tax years ago, knowing that most of it was unlawful charges, not having a chance in hell of getting it settled through the courts.

 

now lowflife has brought it on a phishing list and chanced their arm to see if thy could find a mug that will cough.

 

ignore them

 

dx

[skatepunkdog]

Ok Will do - i'll keep you guys posted in the coming weeks if there's any updates/other letters.

 

Thanks again.

[skatepunkdog]

Ok Will do - i'll keep you guys posted in the coming weeks if there's any updates/other letters.

 

Thanks again.

[Danny27404]

Funny that i just received one today to lol the debt is 8 years old!!! I shall be phoning and telling them its statute barred and they wasted their money buying the debt.

[dx100uk]

no dont phone them, ignore them

 

dx

[Danny27404]

At risk of hijacking this fellah's thread ignoring them wont do anything they'll just hound me with letters and phone calls i just found it funny we both got letters and from HSBC maybe lowells were getting bored so tried thier hand at HSBC accounts

[skatepunkdog]

Does yours have a hsbc letter head too? - can you scan the QR code on the header?

[Danny27404]

HSBC logo yes but the QR code will not scan at all

[skatepunkdog]

Mine looks really suspect - i'm a graphic designer so i can tell when somethings not right - the print is blurred and the logo image looks degraded and stretched.

 

I reckon lowell made it, as it has a signature but no job title or contact details for this 'Mike Heath' fella.

[Danny27404]

Yup it was printed by a inkjet printer i can tell you that not a lazer!!!!

 

 

EDIT lowell searched my report on 08/10 but bought the debt on 28/10/2010 that is very very strange

Edited November 13, 2010 by Danny27404