Lowell and credit searches

[rainydb]

Hello and thanks in advance if anyone can offer advice.

I keep having 'unrecorded' searches on my credit file showing up from Lowell and up until now they have never sent me anything, just silently kept searching my file.

This last time they searched it on 5 Jan. Today I recieved a letter from Link Financial Outsourcing stating a credit application had been made in my name but at a different address and to call them to discuss it.

Having previously had debts with Link, I am well aware of their rogue attitude to collecting debt but they never usually put something so misleading in writing. I have googled this and they seem to send this letter out on a regular basis. How do they get away with it when it is so clearly a breach of regulations. They are only meant to give a truie representation of why they are contacting people.

What I am wondering is if Link and Lowell are the same people? Otherwise, how did Link get my details as I have certainly never told them I live here.

I'm not sure what to do now, any debt will be very old but I thought everything was cleared.

[Angry Cat]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

Link will do almost anything in order to get their victims to call them;
they pretend to have quantities of returned mail waiting for it to be claimed, when they actually know precisely where you reside;
they always need to speak to one urgently within the next three days.

Link are desperate to engage you in conversation.

Never speak to a DCA, especially Link or Lowell on the telephone.
And if they have you mobile phone number, change the sim card asap.

Link Financial and the Lowell are not of the same group of companies.
However, it is quite possible that Lowell has outsourced some dead donkey debts to Link Financial Outsourcing.

It is difficult to decide who is the the worse:
The Leeds Losers or, the Caerphilly Clowns?
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
Lowell Group launches new option - Business Credit News UK

[rainydb]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

Thank you. A few years back I had huge problems with Link looking for my ex husband and calling me and our neighbours saying they were a 'mate' and needing to talk to him etc etc. They did everything possible as they clearly believed he was living with me. He actually lives in a caravan so has no fixed address hence they chased me.

Lowell have been searching my credit file for a few years now and when I contacted Experian it seems they were looking to confirm my ex partner is linked to me still. He is because I cannot get my name off an old NatWest account he still owes money on unless I pay it but the bank are being very cool about it and this activity is not being instigated by them.

I can only think it is an old mbna credit card and abbey overdraft in joint names which I paid my share of. Nightmare. Link made my life a misery for months when I owed them money for my share and I cleared it completely. Under joint and several liability I suspect the worse of them and they've probably not stuck to their agreement not to hound me anymore.

If the link contact is not via the information given to lowell on the credit search then I wonder where they got this address from. Possibly electoral role as i've just gone onto the edited version but I gather they can still search it.

Thanks for the reply. I will ignore the letter and see what they do next. I'll keep it though to report at a later date as misrepresenting what they are contacting me for. It's shameful these people can do this.

I genuinely owed them money before but after the way I was bullied, there is no other word to cover it, I will never contact them again. I remember Link telling me that they could not contact my ex if he ignored calls / letters to get his share of the debt as they have no field agents. If this is true then if I do the same then I don't think they can do anything to me either.

Lowell are freaky though, I wonder why they keep searching me yet not contacting me. Horrid people.

[bluebottle]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

Hi Rainydb,

Get straight onto the Information Commissioner's Office. You can download a complaint form at the ICO website. It might pay you to contact their helpline first. Be aware, though, that they get very busy.

The OFT might be interested in what's going on, too. DCAs are regulated by the OFT's Consumer Credit Licensing Department. Go to the OFT website for contact details, unless another Legal Beagles' member knows the number, that is.

Let us know how you get on.

Bluebottle

[Angry Cat]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

The OFT have already imposed Requirements on Link Financial Limited:
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/pre...quirements.pdf

They then started a new limited company: Link Financial Outsourcing Limited, same address, same everything.

Perhaps, Link believe that they can get away with circumnavigating the guidelines and DPA by using this relatively new company?

At the end of the day, when these lowlife firms step out of line consumers MUST report them!!
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
Complaints about data protection policy - ICO

[bluebottle]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

The OFT have already imposed Requirements on Link Financial Limited:
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/pre...quirements.pdf

They then started a new limited company: Link Financial Outsourcing Limited, same address, same everything.

Perhaps, Link believe that they can get away with circumnavigating the guidelines and DPA by using this relatively new company?

At the end of the day, when these lowlife firms step out of line consumers MUST report them!!
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
Complaints about data protection policy - ICO

They never learn, do they? Let's hope ICO and OFT give them the hammering they deserve.

[Angry Cat]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

They never learn, do they? Let's hope ICO and OFT give them the hammering they deserve.

No and they will not stop, until the general consumer reports them!

Debt collection practices - The Office of Fair Trading

[rainydb]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

Thank you for the info. I will send off the relevant letters and ask that my personal details not be confirmed to Link but that they note the complaint. Hopefully that is possible as I do not want Link knowing this is my correct address.

[bluebottle]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

No and they will not stop, until the general consumer reports them!

Debt collection practices - The Office of Fair Trading

I don't know about you, Angry Cat, but I've noticed that people are beginning to fight back, either themselves or through forums like Legal Beagles or Consumer Direct, against abuses by big business, bailiffs and other assorted low-life. It's been long coming, but the backlash is taking place and when it kicks in fully, I wouldn't like to be where the banks, bailiffs and other scrotes are standing. No, siree!

[rainydb]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

I guess people are scared. When I had to deal with Link before I was in lots of debt with other companies too and it terrified me. All the letters from fake legal departments etc take their toll until you get clued up and realise how worthless most of the threats are.

I'm scared now that if I give my details to complain about these lowlife companies that it will only confirm to them where I now live. It's easy to say people that owe money should expect to be chased but their really are limits to how they should be allowed to impact on peoples lives. Last time I dealt with them i'd just been through an awful marriage break-up and been the victim of a stalker so could have done without all the silent calls, the stream of letters and the threats of court despite me paying them all I could. I sold everything I had that wasn't the children's to get htese people off my back and wish i'd not bothered. If i'd had a computer I could have been more savvy but it was too embarassing and frightening to deal with.

I'm angry now. I've realised that in fact there is every possibility that I paid them for a debt that would have been classed as uncollectable. I stupidly paid them in installments but when they got even worse I ebayed things gave in to a settlement to stop the charges and interest that I now know they should not have been charging as the account was under dispute.

I'm a lot more aware now but most people aren't still. Until it happens to them, most people are completely ignorant of how badly these companies operate.

One thing I cannot understand. Why on earth do the original creditors not just offer the debtor the chance to settle the account for the same amount that they are prepared to sell the debt for? It would alleviate the need for these muppets in many cases.

Letters will be sent tomorrow and i'll let you know how I get on. I can feel my blood pressure rising at the thought of them ever getting my phone number or contacting me again. I used to be so nice to them pathetically thinking that honesty would be rewarded. Ha. You co-operate with them and they get ten times worse. Leeches.

[bluebottle]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

I guess people are scared. When I had to deal with Link before I was in lots of debt with other companies too and it terrified me. All the letters from fake legal departments etc take their toll until you get clued up and realise how worthless most of the threats are.

I'm scared now that if I give my details to complain about these lowlife companies that it will only confirm to them where I now live. It's easy to say people that owe money should expect to be chased but their really are limits to how they should be allowed to impact on peoples lives. Last time I dealt with them i'd just been through an awful marriage break-up and been the victim of a stalker so could have done without all the silent calls, the stream of letters and the threats of court despite me paying them all I could. I sold everything I had that wasn't the children's to get htese people off my back and wish i'd not bothered. If i'd had a computer I could have been more savvy but it was too embarassing and frightening to deal with.

I'm angry now. I've realised that in fact there is every possibility that I paid them for a debt that would have been classed as uncollectable. I stupidly paid them in installments but when they got even worse I ebayed things gave in to a settlement to stop the charges and interest that I now know they should not have been charging as the account was under dispute.

I'm a lot more aware now but most people aren't still. Until it happens to them, most people are completely ignorant of how badly these companies operate.

One thing I cannot understand. Why on earth do the original creditors not just offer the debtor the chance to settle the account for the same amount that they are prepared to sell the debt for? It would alleviate the need for these muppets in many cases.

Letters will be sent tomorrow and i'll let you know how I get on. I can feel my blood pressure rising at the thought of them ever getting my phone number or contacting me again. I used to be so nice to them pathetically thinking that honesty would be rewarded. Ha. You co-operate with them and they get ten times worse. Leeches.

Hi Rainydb,

Regarding fake legal departments, under the Legal Services Act 2007, it is a criminal offence to pretend to be a legal professional. Litigation is what is known, under the Act, as a "reserved" activity and requires registration with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA). If you are concerned about any letter claiming to be from a legal department, check it out with the SRA. If it turns out to be false, the SRA will refer you to their Fraud Intelligence Unit (FIU). The first a fake legal department will know they have been reported is when a load of hairy-arsed police officers come crashing through their door.

I hope this calms any anxieties you may have about these fake legal departments.

Bluebottle

[bluebottle]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

I guess people are scared. When I had to deal with Link before I was in lots of debt with other companies too and it terrified me. All the letters from fake legal departments etc take their toll until you get clued up and realise how worthless most of the threats are.

I'm scared now that if I give my details to complain about these lowlife companies that it will only confirm to them where I now live. It's easy to say people that owe money should expect to be chased but their really are limits to how they should be allowed to impact on peoples lives. Last time I dealt with them i'd just been through an awful marriage break-up and been the victim of a stalker so could have done without all the silent calls, the stream of letters and the threats of court despite me paying them all I could. I sold everything I had that wasn't the children's to get htese people off my back and wish i'd not bothered. If i'd had a computer I could have been more savvy but it was too embarassing and frightening to deal with.

I'm angry now. I've realised that in fact there is every possibility that I paid them for a debt that would have been classed as uncollectable. I stupidly paid them in installments but when they got even worse I ebayed things gave in to a settlement to stop the charges and interest that I now know they should not have been charging as the account was under dispute.

I'm a lot more aware now but most people aren't still. Until it happens to them, most people are completely ignorant of how badly these companies operate.

One thing I cannot understand. Why on earth do the original creditors not just offer the debtor the chance to settle the account for the same amount that they are prepared to sell the debt for? It would alleviate the need for these muppets in many cases.

Letters will be sent tomorrow and i'll let you know how I get on. I can feel my blood pressure rising at the thought of them ever getting my phone number or contacting me again. I used to be so nice to them pathetically thinking that honesty would be rewarded. Ha. You co-operate with them and they get ten times worse. Leeches.

Hi again Rainydb,

I've only just noticed you've been the victim of a stalker. Has this been reported to the police? The legislation used to deal with stalkers - Protection from Harassment Act 1997 - can also be used to deal with DCAs and their clients. There is protection against these morons. Please don't feel the situation is hopeless. Use the law to your advantage.

Bluebottle

[rainydb]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

Thank you. It has been dealt with now but was awful at the time as I wasn't sure half the time if it was the stalker or the debt company calling. Turns out it was a it of both. I'd always assumed most stalkers were men but it was in fact a woman - partner of my ex had guessed he was lying about being married and got a friend to do it then when she split up with him carried on for a laugh. Really frightening how nasty some people are and how devious.

[rainydb]

Re: Lowell and credit searches

I have sent off the letters now and will update when I get a response.