Ikano / Lowell sent post to EMPLOYERS address??!!!

[MrBill09]

Hi all,

 

We've been trying to deal with our debts with help from people on here for a few years and something happened yesterday which I'd appreciate some comments on;

 

One of my OH's smaller creditors, a New Look store card (Ikano) has written to us to tell us that on 30th August, the account was sold to Lowell Financial and that our reduced repayment can just continue as normal, but to them instead.

 

We've had these sort of letters before, so no problems there. HOWEVER;

 

The letter was sent to my OH's EMPLOYER (to be precise, she left less than a month ago).

 

Bearing in mind that my OH used to work for an Accountancy firm, this has caused considerable embarrassment.

 

We have literally NO IDEA where they got the address, and why they have so clearly totally fudged up their address records.

 

There's only less than £140 left owing. I'm seriously, seriously annoyed that they've done this, especially since they point out in the covering letter that they are 'aware that you have been working with a Debt Advice Agency to help you manage your financial affairs'.

 

Surely this is a breach of data protection or something?!

 

The address of the previous employer is made out to look like a street address (i.e. 25 something street, somewhere), when the actual 'proper' business address is a unit number on a business park, so it doesn't make sense where this address has come from. The original card was taken out way way before she even started working there, so my idea that maybe they asked for her employer when she applied for the card doesn't tally.

 

Anyone else had this experience?

 

It might sound daft, but I'm so bloody annoyed!!!

 

And how do I know they haven't sent other stuff elsewhere?!

 

GGGRRRRR!!!

[Bazooka Boo]

You see for that mahoosive error on their pathetic part, I would retaliate and pay no more than £1 a month whilst you exhaust their complaints procedure and escalate it to the ICO, the OFT&TS need to be made aware of this also, every complaint helps.

OFT&TS via http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/Governmentcitizensandrightscontacts/DG_195948

 

ICO http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/data_protection.aspx

[MrBill09]

Thanks for the prompt reply,

 

Thats the kind of thing I was thinking.

 

The problem is, if Ikano don't own the debt any more, will kicking off the Lowell make any difference?

 

I'm assuming it's Ikano that have screwed up, so to be fair, is it Lowells fault?

 

Can anyone suggest any letters etc I can send to Ikano to ask them exactly HOW and WHERE they dreamt up that address from and *bit cheeky this* - tell them to p*ss off and close the account if they can't deal with it in a proper manner?!?!!?!?!?

[Bazooka Boo]

I wouldn't care whose fault it was, lowlifes sent the mail to the wrong address they get to carry the can, let lowlifes and Ikano argue it out between themselves whose to blame.

The more people who kick up a stink every time DCA's or OC's make a hash of things the sooner they will be made to act in the correct manner, LAWFULLY!

 

Don't go soft on lowlifes, they know only too well the OFT's stance on things, if they can't act in the correct manner then they will lose their licence.

 

I'm serious, drop the payments to £1 a month and your reason for doing so, is that they have acted outside of the OFT guidelines and until the start behaving in a mature professional manner then they get what they're given and they'll like it.

[MrBill09]

Ok - I've drafted the below letter. Will this get laughed at, or is it worth a shot? I don't actually want to end up in court...

 

 

"

Lowell Financial Ltd

PO Box 172

Leeds

LS11 9WS

CC: Ikano Financial Services

Your ref: ##########

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have recently received letters sent by both Ikano and Lowell Portfolio 1, sent to my employers address (photocopies enclosed). This has caused me a great deal of embarrassment and distress. It is not uncommon for my employer to receive work-related mail addressed to me and as such, you letters have been opened and read by my colleagues, who are now fully aware that I am in a debt management plan and that I am in debt (as clearly stated in your letter).

I have not provided you with the address you have sent these letters to at any time. Nor have I given you permission to discuss my account with, or disclose information to, anyone other than myself or my legally appointed representatives, for which I have provided prior written authorisation.

As such, I will be contacting both the Information Commissioners Office and Office of Fair Trading/Trading Standards, as it is clearly apparent that you have broken both the Data Protection Act and the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection guidance.

As it is clear that you are incapable of handling my account in an accurate and lawful manner, I will not be sending further payments to this account and demand that you close my file with immediate effect, or face further action in court for committing the offences mentioned previously.

I look forward to receiving your written confirmation of this.

Kind regards,"

I'm no lawyer, so any feedback greatly appreciated!!!

Cheers,

Bill

[MrBill09]

...any feedback on my letter? I want to catch the post tonight if I can! Cheers

[Bazooka Boo]

I'm no lawyer either, but I would drop the last para and not make any reference to any offences they may have committed, they will clearly see it differently.

 

A bloody good effort mind!

 

And the 3rd para, I'd be a little bit more in their face, with "Due to your inept and unprofessional work ethics, I have reported your failings to the OFT, trading standards, and the ICO.

 

You won't end up in court, your simply telling them to treat you with a little bit of respect and your not going to bend over and adopt the position.

[citizenB]

BB, I suspect that last bit about the lawyer was more for the CAggers who might be minded to help.. and did not form part of the letter

 

Yes, MrBill, the letter is good to go

[MrBill09]

Oh right - I'm a bit confused....and I've just posted a copy to both Lowell and Ikano!

 

I thought BB meant 'do not include the bit about them facing further action in court', so I took that last paragraph out!

 

Hmm....

 

Thanks for the replies anyway guys - will be interesting to see what happens!

 

I was half tempted to say - "the account balance is approx £140 - I'll pay you, say, £10.00 as a settlement right now if you close the account" - but I'm that annoyed, I'm hoping they'll just bu**er off!!!

[Bazooka Boo]

See what, if anything, they muster up as a response.