Littlewoods direct catalogue debt

[geriann]

I bought £229 of littlewoods direct catalogue purchases in october 2008...that's not including shopping insurance.

i got into money problems and couldn't pay it.

 

i got my first [littlewoods direct] 'arrears collection dept' letter in december 2008.

 

in march 2009 i received a letter from littlewoods direct stating they intended to use the

'gone away information network'

to determine if i have created an account and have no intention of paying...in otherwords fraud.

*since that letter i heard nothing about that matter*

 

i got my first letter from a debt recovery company [nationwide debt recovery ltd] in april 2009. they threaten court action.

 

the same debt company started threatening a "debt collector" or "agent" coming to my house from may 2009.

 

in june 2009 littlewoods direct sent me a letter with the heading

'default notice'

.

are companies allowed to threaten court/agent visits before sending the default notice?

 

by july 2009 te debt had got to £450.01p...because of charges and interest...and has stayed at that amount since then.

 

in sept' 2009 Lowell bought my debt...the legal action and home visit threats continued.

 

in november 2009 Lowell started to threaten getting a CCJ, which could lead to furthur court action, a bailiff or sheriff taking my possesions, a charge against my property, payments being taken from my bank account.

 

later in noverber 2009 they passed my account to Hampton's Legal, which Lowell said was thier litigation specialists...Hampton's Legal continued with the same threats.

 

in january 2010 Lowell appointed my account to Red debt collection services.

Red even threatened a petition for bankruptcy

'if

the balance exceeds the insolvency threshold of

£750'

.

in february they started the threats of court action or a field agent visit.

 

In june 2010 Lowell appointed my account to Philips Specialist Bailiffs and Debt Recovery Agents.

they will

'commence recovery proceedures'

on behalf of Lowell.

from july-september 2010 Philips were threatening a debt recovery agent coming to my house.

 

on the 20th of January 2011 i got a letter [no date on it] from Tocatto Ltd, a 'specialist debt recovery agent'. i've never heard of them.

has anyone else?

saying Lowell had passed my debt [450.01p] to them.

they might even consider a monthly repayment plan. is that the best idea? how much do you think i'd have to pay per month?

btw i live on Income Support.

[silverfox1961]

Hi,

I think you would be paying £1 a month. You are on IS so that is the minimum the Government say you have to live on.

What I would be doing is writing to the DCA and telling them that and enclose a £1 postal order.

 

In the meantime, write to Littlewoods asking them to remove the excessive charges on the account which will bring the amount owing down to a more reasonable level.

 

If you need to, you could use the letters of negotiation which are in the library

[42man]

Tocatto Ltd. are another name for Lowells.....what they hope to gain by passing it on between 3 different companies in the group I don't know....tax purposes perhaps ?

 

TOCATTO LTD

INTERCHANGE

3 APEX VIEW

LEEDS

LS11 9BH

Company No. 05069843

 

 

Status: Active

Date of Incorporation: 10/03/2004

 

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Company Type: Private Limited Company

Nature of Business (SIC(03)):

7487 - Other business activities

Accounting Reference Date: 31/08

Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/08/2009 (FULL)

Next Accounts Due: 31/05/2011

Last Return Made Up To: 10/03/2010

Next Return Due: 07/04/2011

Last Members List: 10/03/2010

Previous Names:Date of changePrevious Name12/03/2010LOWELL PORTFOLIO II LTD07/05/2004PRECIS (2414) LIMITED24/06/2004KYTE SPV LIMITED

[silverfox1961]

Tocatto Ltd. are another name for Lowells....

 

Well you learn something new every day!

So as well as Lowells,Red Debt and Hamptons, we now have to contend with a stupid name

[im-mad]

subbing 8)

[geriann]

wow i did't know lowell have so many names:!:

[silverfox1961]

wow i did't know lowell have so many names:!:

 

many names does not intelligence make

[Tingy]

You have mentioned above you are considering this monthly arrangement. If I'd sent you a letter from Tingy Enforcement accepting monthly payments, would you contemplate paying me? I doubt it.

 

The point I'm making is at no stage have they been asked to prove their right to collect this debt. Before anything, I would send a Prove It letter, see how / if they respond and then post back and we'll take it from there.

[geriann]

oh **** i think i've made things worse.

 

i got a phone call i should have hung up, but i thought it mght be about things i've done online; such as quotes and surveys.

they didn't say who they were until i'd confirmed my name and email address.

 

when the man said the name of the company i didn't catch what he said, but i suddenly realised it must be a DCA when he said i owed £450.01p.

 

i wanted to hang up, but i knew they'd keep phoning me, so i thought i should speak to them.

strangely the man was actually quite understanding.

 

he asked if i could pay the whole £450.01p by debit or credit card.

i don't have any debit/credit cards, so that a no even if i had tha kind of money.

 

he asked if i could pay £150 per month...so the debt would be clear in 3 months.

i said that's way too high.

then he asked for £90 per month...so he debt would be clear in 5 months.

i said that's still way too high.

he said they need the debt cleared within 6 months...so the lowest they'd except would be £75 per month.

i explained my only income is Income Support, so those amounts of money are impossible.

i was hoping to pay the maximum of £10 per month...so it woud take at least 15 months to clear the debt.

he said they wouldn't except that.

 

he asked how i would pay the monthly instalements.

i said cash...as in giros or whatever.

he said they usually only except credit/debit cards or direct debit.

i don't want to do a direct debit, so i said i was unsure if my bank accepted them.

he put me on hold...i panicked and hung up.

 

i did 1471 found out the number that phoned me was 0113 3086000.

i googled it and found out it was Lowell.

 

so now Lowell will start to hassle me more about this debt...and maybe my other debts if they have them...so i'm worried what'll happen now.

 

i know i'm a useless idiot, but i need advise.

can anyone help?

[silverfox1961]

I may be coming near Peterborough this weekend and if I do I will have to give you a severe talking to for calling yourself a useless idiot

 

You're not useless, just not fully aware of how demeaning these phone calls are. I have been on the receiving end of the Leeds Losers 'persuasive' attempts at relieving me of the small amount of cash I had.

 

Have a look at section 4 here

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?609-Can-t-find-the-letter-you-want-Look-here

 

Use those letters to help stop the calls.

 

Now, if I were to call you asking for personal details, you would tell me to go forth would you not?

Do the same with the Lowlifes. If you don't want to appear rude just say I'm sorry but I never give out personal details over the phone. Simples

[Tingy]

And in terms of what you pay them, I assume you've sent them the Prove It letter to prove they are allowed to be collecting this debt. You don't want to be paying the wrong people! Then you need to see there is a valid agreement so you send a CCA request. IF everything is above board and fine, then you tell them what you can afford each week / month. If it's £1 then so be it. If they want you to pay more, let them take you to court. If that telephone call today had been in writing, a judge would take a very dim view of it.

 

If you need help with any of the letters, just shout.

 

Do not worry, I doubt there's a person on this site who hasn't made the same mistake at some stage. It isn't the end of the world, you just take control back again now. Simple!

[geriann]

thanks guys.

 

i've had a look at the template letters link.

i'll def' use the phone call letter if they start phoning me.

 

so i should send a CCA request letter.

the letter template says send it to the company that owns the debt...is that lowell?

 

i don't suppose there's any point sending a 'ask creditors to write off the debt due to your circumstances' letter?

[Tingy]

It's up to you, but I always send a Prove It letter first, before a CCA request. I believe in making them work for their money and you have every right to know you are paying the right people. I could have knocked up an official looking letter and sent it to you, would yo contemplate paying me?

 

A little early for the write off debt letter. It may get written off during the CCa process!

[geriann]

thanks Tingy.

 

am i right this i the 'prove it' letter? http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?428-General-debt-letter-if-you-know-nothing-of-the-debt

[Tingy]

Spot on! That's the beastie!

[geriann]

on the 10th of february i got another letter from Tocatto...dated 7th february.

 

here's some of what it said...

 

we need to hear from your to arrange a repayment plan that fits your current budget and prevent any further action against you.

 

if you persist in non-payment we will advise Lowell to obtain a copy of your credit file from a credit reference agency and then use the information to determine the best option available to recover what you owe, an example would be to use legal action.

 

if Lowell decide to take legal action against you, you could end up in court having to pay not only what you owe us but legal costs and interest as well.

 

please call us today and together we can agree a bespoke repayment solution that works for you and our client.

both Lowell and ourselves do not want to have to take further action, but you will leave us with little choice if you do not get get in touch.

 

if you have enough funds to clear the outstanding balance [450.01p] in one go we may be able to offer a discount.

 

if you do not enter a repayment plan or settle your account you will leave us with no other option than to consider the use of the court system, which could lead to serious consequences if you don't pay.

 

you can order a copy of your credit file for around 2 pound directly from the credit reference agengy.

 

they gave the website address www.mycreditdetails.co.uk

what is the credit file stuff about?

should i get a copy?

 

i love the way they say they'll arrange a repayment plan to 'suit my budget' but on the phone [on the 31st january] they def' didn't want to do that.

it was all about getting a large amount of money asap.

 

i got a phone call at 8.15am on the 11th of february from Tocatto...i hung up.

[geriann]

am i right this i the 'prove it' letter? http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?428-General-debt-letter-if-you-know-nothing-of-the-debt

 

should i send this letter to Tocatto or Lowell?

[Bazooka Boo]

Send that letter to Tocatto, what another pathetic name Lowlifes have come up with! Utter morons, c'mon trolls, have a pop...

 

Keep a diary of events regarding their futile phone calls, with a view to reporting these sad sorry losers to the Police for the criminal offence of harassment, misuse of the communications network, and offences under the admin of justice act.

[geriann]

thanks BAZOOKA.

 

i had several phone calls during the last week of february from Tocatto.

 

i got a letter [dated 24th february] from Tocatto on the 1st of march.

the letter said...

 

you are contractually responsible for paying this debt.

we have told you in previous letters that we would help you by agreeing a monthly repayment plan that fits your current financial situation.

[that's not what they were saying on the phone to me on the 31st of January]

we are willing to offer you one last oppotunity to enter into an affordable monthly repayment plan.

in an attempt to demonstrate our willingness to help below are three different repayment proposals that we are willing to accept...

*pay 50 pound per month by direct debit

*pay 40 pound per month by direct debit

*pay 25 pound per month by direct debit [the lowest offer so far, but still more than i'd expected]

if you are still unable to take advantage of one of these options, or you would like to repay using an alternative payment method, we will be happy to discuss this with you. call us today.

[why are they so set on direct debits?]

if you do not pay us by the 10th of march we will recommend to our client they use the county court to recover what you owe.

we accept most forms of payment, however paying over the phone by car is quick and easy. [quick and easy if you have a card]

[Tingy]

thanks BAZOOKA.

 

 

we accept most forms of payment, however paying over the phone by car is quick and easy.

 

Bit excessive isn't it, demanding your car as payment!:-D:-D:-D:-D

[Hotmamma2babes]

I bought £229 of littlewoods direct catalogue purchases in october 2008...that's not including shopping insurance.

i got into money problems and couldn't pay it.

 

i got my first [littlewoods direct] 'arrears collection dept' letter in december 2008.

 

in march 2009 i received a letter from littlewoods direct stating they intended to use the

'gone away information network'

to determine if i have created an account and have no intention of paying...in otherwords fraud.

*since that letter i heard nothing about that matter*

 

i got my first letter from a debt recovery company [nationwide debt recovery ltd] in april 2009. they threaten court action.

 

the same debt company started threatening a "debt collector" or "agent" coming to my house from may 2009.

 

in june 2009 littlewoods direct sent me a letter with the heading

'default notice'

.

are companies allowed to threaten court/agent visits before sending the default notice?

 

by july 2009 te debt had got to £450.01p...because of charges and interest...and has stayed at that amount since then.

 

in sept' 2009 Lowell bought my debt...the legal action and home visit threats continued.

 

in november 2009 Lowell started to threaten getting a CCJ, which could lead to furthur court action, a bailiff or sheriff taking my possesions, a charge against my property, payments being taken from my bank account.

 

later in noverber 2009 they passed my account to Hampton's Legal, which Lowell said was thier litigation specialists...Hampton's Legal continued with the same threats.

 

in january 2010 Lowell appointed my account to Red debt collection services.

Red even threatened a petition for bankruptcy

'if

the balance exceeds the insolvency threshold of

£750'

.

in february they started the threats of court action or a field agent visit.

 

In june 2010 Lowell appointed my account to Philips Specialist Bailiffs and Debt Recovery Agents.

they will

'commence recovery proceedures'

on behalf of Lowell.

from july-september 2010 Philips were threatening a debt recovery agent coming to my house.

 

on the 20th of January 2011 i got a letter [no date on it] from Tocatto Ltd, a 'specialist debt recovery agent'. i've never heard of them.

has anyone else?

saying Lowell had passed my debt [450.01p] to them.

they might even consider a monthly repayment plan. is that the best idea? how much do you think i'd have to pay per month?

btw i live on Income Support.

 

Too many fingers in this pie for my liking! I would contact Littlewoods and ask them who it is you need to speak wth to arrange some sort of payment plan. They can only have what you have to spare. If this went to court, yes you would have incurred charges..BUT a payment plan would be reached via the court in conjuction with your income (this is why you have to complete court papers stating your circumstances ie financial income/breakdown). But, trying to resolve this matter between you and the 2nd party (because Littlewoods may have sold it on, but normally only to one debt collection company)is far better. I have just received a letter from Tocatto Ltd (formely Lowell Portfolia II, and yes they will be connected to Lowell finacial Ltd) asking for £21.77 from 2007. This is the first contact that i have and i know nothing about it but it wont be the last....personal vendetta! Me think something not right????? Always try to resolve debts asap, it is easier to put your head in the sand (got the t-shirt) but facing head on and know the light will come. Dont get down...it does help to talk!

[Hotmamma2babes]

Have been following this conversation and "HOW DARE" Tocatto, lowells or whatever the spineless face of the company wants to call itself......this company needs to be taught a lesson. I told them to Feck of and stuff the amount owed until they could prove there worth.....i wont hold my breath....lol! Glad to see that there are so many supportive peps out there!! Like you say, we might not be able to bet them, but by heck we can make them work for their miserable ****-sucking jobs and maybe if they stopped and looked at them selfs maybe they might consider others......LOL as if!!

[geriann]

Have been following this conversation and "HOW DARE" Tocatto, lowells or whatever the spineless face of the company wants to call itself......this company needs to be taught a lesson. I told them to Feck of and stuff the amount owed until they could prove there worth.....i wont hold my breath....lol

Good for you.

 

i got a letter [dated 16th may] from Tocatto on the 19th of may.

this is what is says...

 

Your account is now closed.

We have reviewed your accont with us and taken the commercial decision to close it and return it to Lowell Financial Ltd - Shop Direct.

Lowell Financial Ltd - Shop Direct will be in contact with you shortly, advising you of what will happen next in regards to this account.

[Bazooka Boo]

So Lowlifes have stopped harassing you using their name Tocatto (PMSL)

And are Giving it back to themselves (Lowlifes) And will then continue the Harassment using the name Red, or even Hamptons illegal?

 

They must think we all came down in the last shower! Complaints to all and everyone, OFT, TS, FOS, MP, Watchdog, yadda yadda yadda..

[geriann]

i got a letter from Lowell on the 23rd of July [dated 20th of July] saying...

 

Lowell is commited to helping you resolve your debt problems.

we are willing to listen to any agreement offer you can realistically afford to help repay the outstanding balance. the repayment can be weekly or monthly.

when you enter into a repayment arrangement with us it should give you comfort knowing you are getting your finances back on track.

as long as you make your agreed repayments on time, you will not receive furthur phone calls and letters from us or any other third party debt collectors appointed by us and we will no take furthur action against you to recover the debt.

 

i did have a little giggle when i read this letter because on the 2nd of June i got the exact same letter from Lowell for my Additions debt... http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?277302-Additions-catalogue-debt

Edited August 2, 2011 by geriann